Page 39 of Queen Of Clubs

“Do you love us?” Zane asks.

“It’s not that easy.”

He lunges forward, wrapping his hand around my neck. I gasp, eyes widening, partly in fear and partly in anticipation. My blood pounds against his thumb as he presses it against the pulse point in my neck.

“It is that easy, Jade. Answer the fucking question,” he snarls.

My chest heaves as I look up at him. His eyes are wild. Something changed in him over the years, or maybe it was a part of him that was just hidden.

“Yes,” I rasp out, struggling to speak as he tightens his hold on my throat. He closes his eyes, letting out a low, hungry groan as he presses his forehead to mine.

“Say it, Jade. Say the words.” His voice is a husky command with a hint of a plea.

I don’t want to. They don’t deserve it. Not yet. Maybe not ever. They need to earn it, to show me this isn’t all just one big cosmic joke.

“No,” I rasp.

“Say. It!” he demands. He’s not using his alpha command, but he's close.

“Zane. That's enough!” Everett barks. “Let her fucking go, or you're the next person who's getting a fucking needle in their neck. Do not use your alpha bark on her. The words will mean nothing if they’re forced.”

“Fuck!” Zane curses, letting me go and dropping back in his seat. “I will get you to say those words, Trouble. Mark my fucking words.”

“Love to see you try,” I rasp, coughing a bit.

“I love a challenge, Jade. You know that.” He grins like the crazy fucker he is. But God, why does he have to be one of the sexy ones? And why am I fucking wet for it?

“We don’t want to force you to be with us or to love us. That's no life for anyone. But we do want you to be aware that we love you. We want a life with you. If you're not ready for that now or ever, we understand. But this time, I’m going to ask you something,” Everett says.

“Come with us on tour. It’s two months. You can travel the world. Leave Vegas for the first time and give us some of the time we lost with you. If by the end of the two months, you find this life isn’t for you, and you want to leave, we will let you go.”

I can tell Zane is about to protest, but Griffin holds up a needle, dangling it between his fingers. Zane glares at him, flips him off, and sighs, crossing his arms and looking out the window.

Everett and Griffin watch me, waiting for my answer. Do I say no? If I do, I could be missing out on something I’ve wanted for so long. Not just being back with the guys, but the dream of wanting to travel the world.

“I don’t have any money on me,” I whisper.

Zane snorts. “We’re literal millionaires, Trouble. You never have to worry about money.” He turns his face to look at me.

“You. Shut it. I’m still pissed at you. You crazy bastard,” I growl. His eyes light up at my reaction. “You kidnapped me.”

“They helped!” Zane growls.

“You stuck the needle in my neck.” I narrow my eyes. “Anyway. I don’t like the idea of using someone for money. I have my own. I just need my fucking bank card.”

“While we think it’s honorable of you that you're worried about taking advantage of someone, Zane is right. We have money, Tiny. And I think after everything we’ve done to you—intentional or not— it’s the least we can do. Let us treat you. At the very least, you get an all expense paid vacation out of it.”

Fuck, I do like the sound of that. I’ve never been on vacation before. “Two months?” I ask hesitantly.

“Two months.” Griffin’s face lights up, and damn it, my heart starts racing at his excitement.

I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this. “Fine. Two months. But if I’m miserable and I hate it, I want to have the right to leave anytime I want.”

“Deal,” Everett quickly agrees.

“What! No, that's not the deal,” Zane yells.

“And if you're going to be around me, no heavy drinking and no drugs. Weed is fine.” I give all of them a pointed look.

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