54 #2
“It’ll all be okay,” Scotty tells me, reading my mind like always, his hand that’s fallen on my shoulder giving a comforting squeeze.
“We’ll get through this. I know it’s fucking shitty.
Horrid. But we’re still here, and maybe .
. .” His voice lowers, and I snap to attention.
“Maybe if we win . . . first place, I mean . . . we could ask for a prize that changes things.”
My eyes widen in understanding, and a mixture of hope and doubt roll through me.
Winning first place means that Bonded group gets to ask for anything, any prize, while the other winners all walk away with a fat lump of cash to last them lifetimes if they’re a Bond.
I’d never considered if we survived that we’d be the ultimate winners, and neither had Scotty.
We’ve always been good, but not that good.
Not until Ezzy.
I hadn’t even thought about the fact we actually have a chance to win the entire thing now—my head’s been in the clouds.
Wifey-shaped clouds. But now I acknowledge the fact we could win.
No, fuck that—we will win. Deadly Nightshade wins every single year, even if not in name, and she’s a Bonded now, which will give her standing to solidify that win and get her the fuck out of this hellhole . . . along with five unexpected bonuses.
Holy shit.
We’re going to win The motherfucking Bonding Games.
I’d say something in response, give my opinion, if I weren’t so worried about the possibility of someone watching us right now.
We all know whatever is used to record us for live TV in the Games isn’t visible, so who’s to say The Council’s not watching at this very moment?
Who’s to say they’re not always watching?
The thought has a chill settling deep in my bones, and I hastily shove it off. That is really not a line of thought I can linger on if I want to get an ounce of sleep at night.
Once in the limo, a quiet settles over us, and I’m about to cut through that shit when Ezzy says in her usual unfeeling tone, “You all look very handsome.”
Everyone gawks at her.
“Was that not a satisfactory compliment?”
“What?!” I shriek, waving my hands around wildly. “No, no, Wifey! That’s not it at all! We know that means a lot coming from you! I am honoured! Wifey thinks I’m hot, everyone!”
“I did not say that.”
“You didn’t have to.” I wink . . . then try again with more emphasis in case she didn’t catch that because it’s hard to tell when she keeps staring at me without a twitch of her expression.
“Is there something in your eye?” No inflection in her voice again.
I push my lips out. “It was a wink, Ezzy. Are you not seduced?”
She stares.
“Thank you, Love,” Scotty says before I can think of more creative techniques to woo DN, Cooper, Tate, and Alby following with their own thanks, my bestie a deep shade of pink while he does so.
Cooper is attempting to play it cool, but he’s unable to hide that cheeky little smile peeking out, and Tate palming his dick and thrusting his hips forwards like he’s imagining his hand is Ez’s pussy tells me exactly how he feels on the matter.
And now I’m thinking about Nightshade’s pussy.
Bad boy, go down, I tell my cock that’s risen again in enthusiastic greeting to the world.
“Hm,” Wifey utters cutely.
Her glare of death slowly slides my way.
My eyes widen innocently.
Letting out a breath of relief when she speaks and it’s not to chew me out for my running thoughts, I listen with ears that immediately sharpen as she begins, “You must be careful when we arrive. Do not trust any rich person but me.” I notice Cooper’s lips twitch up at that, clearly fighting amusement from the way Ezzy talks about her excessive wealth the same way she’d talk about the weather.
“They are all snakes. And my father”—we all go ramrod straight—“is the worst snake of them all. Do not speak to him. Do you understand me? You will let me do all the talking.”
“Vengeance—”
“No,” she cuts Cooper off, holding up a hand. “No. You will obey me. You do not speak to him. You do not stand up to him. No matter what happens. And you do not, for any reason at all, leave my side.”
“Well the last one’s a fucking piece of cake, Havoc,” Tate scoffs. “Who do you take me for? Why the fuck would I willingly be anywhere other than right beside you?”
“If he talks badly to you, I’ll—”
“I said no,” Ezla seethes, mismatched eyes flashing in warning as they zoom in on Cooper.
One no one is shocked he doesn’t heed.
“I won’t let him say something disgusting, Vengeance,” he snaps.
“You do not let him do anything.”
He glowers.
Her eyes narrow to slits. Then she says, “You will make things worse for me.”
Cooper reels back as if she’d slapped him.
“This is not only for your protection. If you do not care about your own safety, what about mine?”
Silence wraps around the limo.
“That is what I thought.”
A beat. Then, “You have to tell us more, Love. We aren’t prepared enough. Tell us what else he’s done.” Scotty’s eyes plead with her.
Her jaw stiffens in response as she meets his gaze head-on. “There is nothing.”
“Don’t lie—”