Page 68 of The Pawn

“I’m fine here.”

“Suit yourself,” he says, shrugging a shoulder and walking toward the closet. Just before he disappears into it, he drops the towel and gives me a view of his ass.

I gasp.

“Told you to leave,” he says.

A few minutes later, he reappears having pulled on a pair of jeans, a white T-shirt in his hands, but his chest still bare.

“That’s not appropriate for a funeral.”

He checks his watch for effect. “It’s early yet.” He tosses the T-shirt on the bed and looks at me. “You might want toget changed though. Considering your dress is inside out,” he says casually.

“What?” I look down, and he’s right. I was so upset last night I’d put my dress on wrong side out and I didn’t even notice. I shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not wearing this.” I stand, walk toward him with the book. “What are you doing with this?”

He looks at it, then at me, and when he turns to walk into the bathroom. I follow him.

“Enjoying your artwork. I told you I liked it. But that’s not why you’re here.”

He combs his hair and sprays deodorant under his arms then turns to me.

I drag my gaze from a mark along his torso to his face. “The brother who did that to you, was he the one from the other night?”

“Alternative would be Cassian, wouldn’t it?”

“Cassian wouldn’t do this.”

“Then why are you asking?”

“I don’t know. I mean, he did that.” I gesture to his temple.

“Cassian fights fair.”

“What are they?”

“Knife, mostly.” I draw in a sharp breath. “It’s years ago. Doesn’t matter anymore, Allegra.”

“Do they still hurt?”

“No.”

He goes to walk past me, but I block him. “He told me.” Jet raises his eyebrows waiting for clarification. “About Seth.”

A beat passes and Jet seems surprised, but then not. “Ah. Well, good for you. Do you mind? If he comes homeand finds you in here and me like this, well, I don’t need to tell you he’s going to lose his shit.”

“That’s too bad for him.”

“Yeah, but I’m not going to be your pawn.”

“No, I’m pretty sure I’m the only pawn around here.”

At that he stops, studies me. “What are you doing in here, really?”

“I don’t know.” I walk back into the bedroom. Jet follows me. “Just when I start to trust him, he does something stupid, and it just sends me right back.” I turn to face him.

“And you want to get back at him? With me?”

We study each other. I consider his question. Is it what I want? Cassian is furious when Jet looks at me. Touches me. But he’s also right that I liked Jet watching the other night. But it’s not that I’m attracted to Jet. I’m drawn to him because of Cassian. There’s something between them that I am not a part of and hell, maybe I’m jealous. I don’t know.