Page 40 of Fake Game

“Maybe.”

The corner of my mouth quirks up. “Suit yourself.”

I begin to stand up when her hand shoots out and wraps around my wrist. “Carry me?”

“Seriously?”

Her hand tightens. “Please,” she whines.

I let out a sigh, running my eyes over her body. “Fine.” I take a second before bracing my arms and reaching down to scoop her up. Deer snuggles closer to my chest as I carry her to my bedroom.

She is such a princess.

A princess who fits perfectly against me.

The door to Aleks’ streaming room cracks open as I pass it, and we both freeze. He blinks at me a few times before his gaze dips to Deer, back up to me, and then down to her again. I open my mouth to come up with something, but he just closes the door.

This will be a pain to explain later.

I pick up my pace, kneeing my door open and carefully laying her on my bed. I reach down and smooth her hair out of her face as she snuggles into the mattress. I hesitate for a second, contemplating tucking her under the duvet, before my brain catches up. Rationality crashes down on me like a piano falling from a building, and I take a step back.

Without another word, I spin around and stalk out of my room. It’s only when I’m behind Parker’s closed door that I give myself a moment to think.

What the fuck am I doing?

TEN

DEER

Guns point at me.

Empty faces surround me.

Closing in.

The room gets darker and darker.

My mouth opens to ask for help, to ask for mercy, but nothing comes out.

I clutch at my throat, scraping at it, begging it to work.

The guns cock, the clicks echoing like a death sentence.

My lips continue to move in silence.

Desperation clogs my lungs.

Their hands come around me, gripping me tight.

I thrash against their hold.

My limbs fight for release.

I try to scream and scream and—

My body crashes against the floorboards. Pain ricochets through my body. My eyes fly open.

The room spins as I adjust to the darkness, my senses slowly returning to me. I push off the floor, my elbow twinging slightly from the fall.

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