Page 113 of Vicious Little Games

Crap. He’s probably right. I’ve been trying to avoid Cole since the other night in the pool. Our last night together. Maybe I could steal Cole’s toothbrush or find a strand of his light blond hair…

“I know what you’re thinking,” Eli says. “If you fuck up the sample, then this really is all for nothing. You have to tell him and swab his damn mouth.”

“Why should I tell him and get his hopes up?” I ask him quietly, not mentioning that we’re not exactly speaking to each other at the moment. I’ve been avoiding Cole, and he hasn’t sought me out. Not that I want him to.

“Cole should know that you went to all this trouble for him.”

“It wasn't that much trouble. I only made a few phone calls. You did most of the hard work scheduling all the reservations and arranging the food and servers for the ballroom, then the strippers.”

“Cass, you know what I meant. Cole should know that he's more than just a fuck buddy for you.”

“That's all we are, asshole. He's my stepbrother and I think he deserves to know who fathered him. Don't make it more than it is. Besides, we’re no longer fuck buddies.”

“Why not? You think you love him more than he loves you? If you can’t see that the boy feels the exact same way about you, then you're a fucking idiot.”

I squash down the hope trying to spring up in my chest like an elephant stomping on a ripe tomato. “It doesn't matter. It’s over. He's leaving soon.”

“Only for a year.”

Biting my lip I admit, “He mentioned trying to convince Daddy to let me go with him to New York.”

“I knew it!” Eli exclaims triumphantly, both of his arms raised in the air like he just scored a touchdown. “And you shot him down, didn’t you?”

“Of course, I did. I told you; we’re done.”

“Why, Cass?”

“Because he can't stay or...”

“Or what?”

“Or he may not survive the fallout. You know that as well as I do, Eli.”

“Bullshit. I think you're just scared to tell him the truth, about everything. You’re afraid he'll bail like a pussy, like those two guards you were fucking.”

I gasp indignantly. “How did you know about them?”

“Two young, hot as fuck men on the night shift quitting around the same time, fleeing this place like their dicks were on fire? Oh, and recently reported as ‘missing.’ Yeah, I figured you and Cole had something to do with it. I also heard from security that Cole confronted one of your dates in the parking lot…at gunpoint. And despite all of that evidence, you still doubt how he feels about you?”

Shaking my head, I tell him the truth. “It doesn’t matter how he feels. I'm not worth it—my father’s wrath or ruining everything between Daddy and Vanessa.”

“You don't know for certain that it would ruin anything.” I raise my brows at him, and he rolls his eyes. “Your father can sometimes be reasoned with, especially if Vanessa is on your side.”

“Those are long shots, and you know it.” Sighing, I mutter, “Besides, there's still time for me to fix this...quietly without anyone else knowing.”

“If that's how you wanted this to go, you would've ended it already, as soon as Dante and Vanessa left town at the very least. So, stop lying to yourself.”

Swallowing around the lump in my throat, I tell him, “I know I should but...”

“You may as well come clean before your father is the one demanding DNA tests.”

Shaking my head adamantly, I tell him, “No. He can't make me give him a name. I won't. No matter what.”

“Dante may not force you to talk, but he could have me string up every man who has ever stepped foot in this casino until he finds a match, your stepbrother included.”

“There’s no reason for him to question anything if I get engaged or married soon.”

“You would tie yourself to a stranger just to keep Cole out of the crossfire? He wouldn't want you to do that, Cass, to take on that burden alone, and you fucking know it.”

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