Chapter 1
Gigi
“What do you mean, that’s your father?” I blink, my mouth hanging open as I gawk at Pike.
Holy freaking hell.
Pike glances up at me with those stormy green eyes, kneeling next to the guy who just tried to choke me to death. “Like, he’s the guy who knocked up my mom.”
“I know that, smartass,” I snap. My body’s wound so tight, the slightest touch would cause me to shatter into a million pieces.
He turns his gaze toward the asshole who attacked me. “What a fucking mess.” Pike flicks his index finger against the guy’s cheek, but he doesn’t move. “But the bastard’s out cold at least.”
“Why was he in my apartment, choking me?” I rub my neck, soothing the spot where his hands just were.
The reality of what happened starts to settle over me.
I was attacked.
Hell, if Pike hadn’t have shown up when he did, I could have been… The thought is too much for me to even finish.
Pike rises to his feet and reaches for me, pulling my hand away from my neck. “I have no fucking idea why he was in your place, putting his hands on you.” He cradles my face in his palms, and I move into his touch, needing the contact. “All I know is he’ll never do it again.”
I lock eyes with him, knowing he’d never let anyone hurt me. Especially a man whom he loathes.
My heart flutters and my knees wobble as the adrenaline from the fight starts to wear off. “Now what?” I ask, grabbing on to Pike’s forearms, needing his support to stay upright.
Pike’s eyes flash with concern as he slides his other arm behind my back, holding me. “Let’s get you out of here.”
I bat his hands away as he tries to lift me, and I finally find my legs again. “No. No.” I motion toward the jagoff. “We can’t just leave him here like this.”
Pike draws in a slow breath. “He ain’t going anywhere, and I think it’s best if you’re not here when he wakes up.”
I shake my head and point at the bastard. “I’m not leaving you here with him.”
The corner of Pike’s mouth turns up. “You worried about me, darlin’?”
I nod, unable to smile because there’s a guy knocked out on my floor and what was supposed to be a kickass night has now turned into a clusterfuck. “If you’re staying, I’m staying. You may need backup.”
Pike bends his head back as he mutters a slew of curse words under his breath. I stand there, watching him talk to the ceiling.
How did I end up in this batshit crazy situation?
The answer is simple… Tequila.
“Should we get rid of him?” I let out a nervous laugh because I’ve watched way too many crime movies. “What am I saying? He’s not dead.”
Pike narrows his eyes as he dips his chin, studying me. “Who are you, and what have you done with Gigi?”
I punch his shoulder before sobering quickly. “This is no time for jokes. I don’t know what we’re supposed to do when something like this happens.”
Pike strokes my cheek with his thumb. “And you think I know what to do in a situation like this?”
I lift a shoulder. “No, but the only people I know who would know what to do when bad shit like this goes down are my uncles. We could maybe…” I wince at the very thought of calling Uncle James or Uncle Thomas.
Pike closes his eyes, slowly shaking his head. “Fuck.” His jaw tightens as he snarls. “The last thing I want is your family involved in my mess again.”
Ugh. It’s the last thing I want too, but I don’t see another way out of this. We could call the FBI. They are looking for his dad, but after the way they treated Pike last time, I’m pretty sure that isn’t an option he’d entertain.
I press my palm to his chest, looking into his big green eyes. “Then you better grab a shovel and be ready to dig a deep hole, because nothing happens in this town without my family knowing.”
He shakes his head again like he can’t believe the crazy shit coming out of my mouth. “Call James, then.”
I’m out of his arms a second later, and I grab my phone off the floor. I can finally breathe for the first time since I stepped inside the apartment and the jackass lunged at me.
Thank God my dad and uncles taught me how to defend myself, or else… I shudder, trying to shake off what could’ve happened if I hadn’t kept my head together and if Pike hadn’t shown up when he did.
I dial the number which I’ve had on speed dial the last week. I cringe on the first ring, knowing Uncle James is going to lose his shit.
“What’s wrong?” he asks as soon as he answers.
No hello. No, hey kid, how ya doing? Nada. Nothing. Just, what’s wrong?
Sweet baby Jesus.
“So, um…don’t freak out,” I warn.
“Just spill it, babe. I don’t have all night.”
“Umm. Pike’s father is here,” I blurt out, spilling the problem just like he asked. It’s better to rip off the Band-Aid and get it over with, right?
“Is he secured?” is his only response.
I shrug like he can see me. Secure? I guess that’s what you’d call him. He isn’t going anywhere in a hurry. That much is true.
“Yeah. He’s knocked out cold and taped up.”
“Taped?” James pauses.
I meet Pike’s eyes as he waits near the bedroom before answering, “Yeah. It’s all we had, Uncle.”
“Stay put, and for the love of God, don’t call anyone else.” There’s a shuffling noise in the background followed by the sound of metal-on-metal. “Keep him there until we get there. We’re nearby.”
“Do you really have to bring Uncle Thomas?” I sigh, dropping my shoulders forward, knowing it’s about to be a shitshow.
“Gigi,” he says in a tone that tells me I’m not supposed to question him because he’s the boss.
“Fine, Uncle James,” I draw out, staring down the hallway again as Pike leans against the doorway of my bedroom. “We’ll be here waiting. Need the address?”
“Already know it,” he clips out.
Of course he does. He knows everything.
I don’t even get a goodbye before the call ends. “He comin’?” Pike asks before I have a chance to lower the phone away from my face.
“They’ll be here shortly. They’re nearby.” I use air quotes.
Pike lifts his arm, making a spot for me against his body as I walk back toward my bedroom. I slide underneath, tucking myself against him. “Do we just stand here?”
Pike gazes down at me, jaw tight, and the creases in his forehead deepen. “Maybe we should wait outside for them.”
I curl my fingers into his T-shirt and rest my head on his chest. “James said to make sure he doesn’t get away.”
Pike dips his chin toward the motionless body. “Do you see the amount of tape I used on that asshole? He’s not going anywhere, darlin’.”
I grimace at the perfectly hog-tied man. “I wonder what they’re going to do with him,” I mumble.
“Don’t give a fuck. They can throw his ass in the swamp for all I care.”
I stiffen as the weight of his words slams into me. “Pike,” I whisper, turning my gaze upward. “He’s your dad. I’m sure you don’t mean that.”
“He was a sperm donor, Gigi. He’s never been a dad. Never once has the man shown me any affection. Not once has he ever said a nice thing to me. He never gave a shit about me. So, why the hell should I care what happens to him?”
He has a point and every right to feel the way he does. Who am I to tell him otherwise? “Well…” I place my head on his chest again, thinking about his words. “I’m pretty sure they won’t throw his ass in the swamp.”
“Your uncles are pretty badass.”
I lean my head back, smiling up at him. Pike’s a lot like them. All rough edges with a soft center.
“We’re going to have to do something about this apartment,” Pike says, trying to distract me from the reality that’s lying near our feet.
“What do you mean?” I glance around, taking in the white walls, tile floor, and not much else. The place is empty. A completely blank canvas waiting for me to get my ass in gear and decorate.
“You need furniture,” he states the obvious.
“I know. I just got the keys before we were hauled off to the Disciples’ compound, and now this.” I wave my hand toward his father. “Someday, things will calm down enough for me to make this place a home.”
He curls his hand around my shoulder and holds me tighter to his chest, stroking my exposed flesh with his thumb. “I’ll help you.”
We’re standing in what’s going to be my bedroom, his dad lying motionless and bound, talking about moving like it’s just another day and nothing out of the ordinary has happened.
The man could’ve killed me.
I could be the one lying on the floor, not moving, not breathing. If Pike had waited just a few more minutes, I probably would be.
Jesus.
My skin crawls at the reality. I was so busy going through the motions after Pike stormed in, beating the hell out of the guy, I hadn’t really let that sink in.
Pike’s fingers continue to stroke my skin as I start to have another internal freak-out. “Next day off, we’ll get a truck and grab whatever you need at the store.”
“I can do it myself. It’s not that big a deal.” Nothing seems like a big deal anymore after what just happened. What’s a little furniture compared to dying?
Pike takes a step back, staring down at me as he rests his hands on my shoulders. The look on his face is serious and fierce. “Babe,” he snaps.
“Yeah?” I find the edge of his shirt with my fingers, shoving them under the soft material as I tilt my head back, looking up at him. “What?”
“We’re doing it,” he tells me like he’s the boss.
I narrow my eyes. “I didn’t see your name on the lease, and last time I checked, I can do things on my own.”
His eyes match my own as we eyeball each other in a virtual pissing match. “Have you always been this hardheaded?”
I nod, smiling. “Pretty much,” I mutter.
Pike wraps his arms around me, turning our bodies so he’s facing his father and I’m not. “You’re fuckin’ crazy,” he tells me like I don’t already know this.
I bury my face in his chest, wishing I’d just gone to his place like he’d asked. We wouldn’t be standing here, waiting for my uncles, with his father hog-tied on the floor.
But then again, would his father have been here when I did eventually come back to the apartment?
I tighten my fingers around the material of his shirt, staring blankly at the wall as I shiver. “It’s a good thing you love crazy, then.”
There’s a pounding on the front door, making us jump. “Open up, kid!”
“Seriously, did they fly here?” Pike asks.
“They said they were close, and I guess they weren’t lying.” I pull out of his embrace, squaring my shoulders like I’m preparing for battle. “Here we go. You ready?” I ask and get a quick nod from Pike.
When I open the door, Uncle James and Uncle Thomas are standing next to each other, lips pinched, foreheads crinkled, looking badass and pissed off like they always do. It’s their thing, and they’ve perfected it.
“Where is he?” Uncle Thomas asks, pushing past me without as much as a hello.
These men.
“In the back.” I pitch my thumb over my shoulder, but only Uncle James is still in front of me.
James’s eyes sweep across my body as he steps inside. “You okay?”
I nod, not saying anything because I don’t know exactly how I feel. I’m physically okay, but being attacked has a way of changing a person on the inside.
I feel different.
I’m numb. That’s the only way I can describe how I’ve felt for the last handful of minutes. Maybe I’m in shock. It’s not every day I see my life flash before my eyes. “Yeah,” I answer slowly and softly, but not believing my own words, which means he doesn’t buy them either.
James squints and reaches out, running his finger along my neck where Pike’s Dad’s hands had been. “We’ll talk about this later.”
“Later?” I gulp, but I shouldn’t be worried. I’m the victim here, and even if I weren’t, Uncle James would always protect me.
“Later. Got shit to do.” He drops his hand and stalks right by me, heading toward the back of the apartment as I follow him.
When we enter the room, Thomas is crouched down, rolling the big jerk to his side. “You did good with the tape, kid.”
Pike rubs his neck, giving Thomas a halfhearted smile. “I wish I could say it was the first time I’d ever tied someone up,” Pike confesses before his eyes dart to me.
I rock back on my heels at that little revelation. Pike’s tied someone up before? I’d be fooling myself if I thought his life was easy breezy. After all, he did end up with the Disciples after getting shot. I knew it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but there are so many bits and pieces of his life I am missing.
I mean, at no time in my life have I ever had to tie someone up. Never. Not even one of my little sisters when they were being a total pain in my ass…which, let me tell you, was often.
I should’ve known it wasn’t his first time because he didn’t even pause for a moment as he wound the tape around his father’s arms and legs, securing him easily. But I was so inside my own head about what had just happened, I didn’t give it a single thought.
James steps closer, getting his first look at the man’s face. “Damn, you got a few good shots in too. Nice touch.”
“I wasn’t going to let him hurt her again.” Pike reaches out, wraps his hand around my arm, and pulls me toward him.
I tuck myself against his body, groaning into his T-shirt. “I’m fine.”
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