Page 15 of Tarnished Hands (Chained Hearts Duet #7)

Chapter Fifteen

PIPER

“Y ou can’t ignore me,” Sailor says as we sit at the nail salon while her nails are being polished.

“I can, and I will.”

“I bet he stayed the night. Tell me, did he?”

I turn and eye her. “He did.”

She smiles. “See, I did it for the greater good.”

“I don’t want more from him.”

“But why?” Sailor asks, confused.

The nail technician pulls Sailor’s hand, and Sailor apologizes. Keir has the kids, and I agreed to this days ago, but now I regret it. The lady rubs something on my feet, and I squirm from the action.

“Why is it hard to believe that I don’t?”

She shrugs. “It’s not. You’ve never really wanted more from people anyway. And you sleep with men maybe twice, but never take it too far.”

“I’ve had a few relationships. I just tend not to share them.” She raises a brow at me. I tell Sailor almost everything. I can’t help it. I trust her—a lot. If I needed someone in a dire situation, I know I could call her. She would put everything down and come. She has loyalty like no other.

“All I’m saying is, he knows the world. He may not be a stone-cold killer, but he sure as hell has eyes for you.”

“He’s a little rough in bed,” I tell her, and her eyes widen.

“Rough?” She leans in. “Tell me more.”

“He likes to talk dirty. I don’t think any man has done that to me before. He likes to grab my throat. He bites hard enough that he leaves marks.”

The nail lady looks up at me and smiles. “Kinky men are fun,” she says, and Sailor laughs, covering her mouth.

“Amen to that,” Sailor agrees. “The things Keir does with his mouth…”

“I do not want to hear that! At all,” I tell her, shaking my head.

“Just saying. When did he leave then?” Sailor asks.

“After he made me breakfast.”

“Did you eat it? We know how particular you are with food.” Only Sailor gets my food thing. She automatically tells whoever is cooking at her house how to plate mine if she doesn’t do it herself, and is discreet about it. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

“I did, but after I told him I couldn’t eat it and why. He didn’t ask a single question. Just got up and made another plate for me. It was good.” I squirm again when the nail lady starts to massage my leg. “He’s a good guy.

“All the more for you to see him again. Tell me you are seeing him again.”

“I am.” I pick up my phone and check the time. “Now.” I smile and wonder if he’s knocking at my door right now.

“What do you mean by now ?” she asks.

“He gave me a time when he’d come back to pick me up. I told him no, but he didn’t listen.” I shrug.

“Piper,” she scolds.

“What?” I smile as my phone starts buzzing.

“Who is it?” Sailor asks.

“It’s Lucas. I swear to God, I need to get a new number and not tell Chanel.”

“You love Chanel.”

“I do, but she told Lucas my number, and now he spams me. He just sent me a GIF of a goat making some stupid noise. He’s a dickhead.” Sailor laughs as I turn my phone off and set it back down. If Keir needs me, he’ll call his wife.

“Lucas is…” Sailor pauses. “Lucas.” She shrugs.

“Yeah, you like him. I, on the other hand, could kill him.”

“Well, considering how many times you have shot at him and tried to stab him, we get that.” She laughs. “Also…” She looks away. “I’m pregnant.”

“Again?” I whisper.

“Yep. And I haven’t told Keir yet.”

Oh. “Do you plan to?”

“Yes, tonight.” She bites the inside of her lip. “He wants more kids, and I wasn’t sure I did. But…” She shrugs, then smiles. “I think I’m excited.”

“You should be. It’s a blessing. You have the best kids. And you and Keir are the best parents.”

* * *

Ezra is at my door when I get home. It’s late. Way past the time he told me to meet him.

When his gaze lands on me, I feel guilty.

For just a second.

But then I brush it away.

It was his idea, and I told him no, so he can deal with the consequences.

“I called,” he says.

“I didn’t answer, obviously.”

“Why?”

“I turned my phone off.”

Ezra runs a hand through his hair, pushing it back, and it causes his biceps to flex.

His phone starts ringing, and when he pulls it from his pocket, he stares at it momentarily before putting it to his ear.

His expression drops as he listens to whoever is on the other end of the line, and then his gaze fixes on me.

I don’t know how to read him well enough to understand why he’s looking at me like that, but it makes me want to reach out to him.

“I’ll be there.” He hangs up. Then his eyes trace me up and down before he shakes his head. “I don’t have time for your games,” is all he says before he turns and heads down the hall.

Okay, that was confusing as hell.

“Ezra,” I call out. He stops and turns back to me.

“Are you…” I can’t even say it. So the words die on my lips.

“Fuck off, Piper.” He storms off.

Holy shit. A part of me wants to chase Ezra, while the other part wants to shoot him for talking to me like that. Stepping up to my door, I find a single rose lying on the floor where he was sitting. I pick it up and take it inside with me. And then I throw it in the trash.