Fuck. I’ve lost my control over her. Fear makes me angrier than ever. If I can’t control her, then I can’t protect her.
“Sit,” orders Vale, nodding at her.
I’m too busy clenching my fists at him to budge, so, after a pause, she kneels on the floor.
He snorts.
“I know you like the submissive chicks, Wells, but couldn’t you have found one that was a little less of a doormat?”
“Alright, Vale,” spits out Logan. “How about playing? What are we bidding?”
Vale’s mouth twists into an ugly grin.
“Her.”
As I feel her tense beside me, I lean forward, blood crashing in my ears. He’s got to be joking.
But by the way he’s looking at me, I can tell he’s not. The test wasn’t allowing Everest to bring her down here.Thisis the real test.How much do you care about her, Damien? Ready to lose it all over her? Or can you be a good sport and bet her in a game of poker?
After all, we’ve done it before. No girl has ever been off-limits. Party with them, fuck them, pass them around.
Why should this one be any different? That’s what I need to prove to him if I want to protect her. She’snotdifferent. She’s just a hot girl that I like to fuck. I don’t give a shit what happens, so there’s no point in killing her to get at me.You’ll have to find something else.
I’m well aware by now that he doesn’t believe she’s guilty anymore. Maybe he never did. Maybe this has all been a ploy, from the very beginning, to get me to crack. He wants Devil and he’ll stop at nothing.
I find myself wishing I could just give it to him. I’d lose a lot more than Devil for her. But the one thing that stops me is the knowledge that losers don’t get to keep their spoils.
Also, I do have some pride left. Just enough to want to destroy him before I go.
I clench my jaw, feeling a vein pulse hard in my neck.
Biting down on my first instinct to put a bullet in his brain, I consider my options.
Restraining myself, calculating the odds, and bluffing are my strong points. The reasons I’ve made it to the top. Lately, though, I’ve clearly been off my game. It’s because of her, but now that I understand Vale’s game, my focus is razor-sharp again. I will do whatever is necessary to protect her. The question that remains is: what the hell is necessary?
I could beat him up right now, but I’m not sure I could control myself. And if I kill him, I’ll have to answer for it. That’s as good a way as any to lose Devil, and lose my girl, too. I’m not sure even Logan would stand by me in that case.
Bluffing. Crazy as it might seem, that seems to be my best shot. The best way to prove, once and for all, that she’s nothing to me.Find some other crack in my armor. You won’t get at me through her, so don’t even try.
The odds are in my favor. Everest would clearly never avail himself of any permission to touch her. Logan wouldn’t either, he’s far too loyal. I have no doubt Igor would welcome the opportunity to hurt her, the fucking sadist, and then there’s Vale.
It goes without saying that if things really came down to it, I’d have to reveal my bluff. This whole thing could backfire, because it would then become glaringly obvious just how much she means to me.
But the odds are three to two. Those are the best odds I’ll ever get.
“Sure,” I say cooly, and hear a sharp intake of breath from Everest.
Meanwhile, in my peripheral vision, I notice my pet swaying. She’s been quietly defiant since she got here, but this has gotten to her. Damn it. I wish there was some way to tell her. To make her understand.
You’re mine, pet. Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten it. I never will.
I’ll find a way to get the message through to her. She’s suffering right now, but she won’t suffer for long.
And as soon as the heat is off me, I’ll get her away. I’ll lock my pet up in another tower, a tower to which only I have the key. And I’ll keep her there forever.
“Go on,” I grunt, nodding at the pile of cards.
“What the fuck?” lashes out Everest.
