Shackled Hearts (Chained Hearts Duet 4)

“You used to be a hooker. Do you remember that?” Piper asks.

“Piper,” Lucas warns.

“I do, kind of. It’s all a bit fuzzy if I am being honest. I remember Brody and my parents. Not how my parents died, just that they did. I remember having to find work to pay for things for Brody, but again that’s all fuzzy. The doctor said my memories should come back, but it will be a slow process.” I turn to look at Lucas. “Did you ever pay me? I can’t believe I haven’t asked you that.”

“No, and I never would,” he says, throwing back the last of his drink.

Chapter Nineteen

Lucas

I’m contemplating throwing this glass at Piper’s face.

Do you think she needs her whole face? I think not.

Maybe then it will shut her the fuck up. Yeah, probably not.

“You’re hiding a lot from her. I wonder if she would choose to stay with you if she knew,” Piper says.

Sailor has taken Chanel upstairs to see the sleeping kids.

“She knows enough,” I finally answer back.

Piper’s been sitting there going on and on and on since the minute Chanel walked away.

“What do you think she will do once she remembers? You can’t hide who you are from her forever.”

“I’ll tell her.”

“So you plan to tell her you’re in the mafia and like to kill people the same as normal people like chocolate?”

“You what?”

Fucking hell! We both turn at Chanel’s outburst. She’s standing at the doorway with Sailor next to her. Her chocolate eyes stare at me, and confusion reigns on her beautiful face.

“Are you in the… mafia?” she says the last word in almost a whisper. “And did I know this before?”

“You knew. It wasn’t an issue.”

Piper laughs.

Chanel looks at her. “Was it an issue?”

“Only when you shot his dad,” Piper replies, and that’s it. I pull my gun. I have to. She’s a fucking shit-stirring bitch. The gun points at her face, and she does nothing, says nothing. It’s Chanel who’s screaming for me to put it down.

“You will learn one day to shut up, or you will end up like your brother. Six feet in the fucking ground.”

Her lips fight a smile, and she leans in close, so her forehead is touching the barrel. “You could try to kill me, but I will find a way to end you, regardless.”

“Not if your body is cold and filled with maggots, you bitch.”

“Enough!” Keir bellows as he storms in, and I pull my gun back. “Stop your fucking bullshit, Piper, and leave.” Keir looks at me and shakes his head. “Take Chanel home.” Then he strides out—the man gives me fucking whiplash.

I move away from Piper and to Chanel. I go to reach for her, but she pulls away at my touch.

“It’s time I go home.” Her arms cross over her chest in defiance before she spins and walks out.

“Lucas…” Sailor’s hand lands on my arm. “I’m sorry.”