Page 125 of Gambler's Conceit

I look at him, and Caleb gently wipes tears from my eyes. “Why? Why do you care? It would be… It would be so much better for you if you gave me back.”

Death would be better than going back, though, and I don’t want Caleb to hand me over to them.

“No one is giving you back,” Vortex says firmly. “Not now, not ever. Don’t you get it, Seven? We care about you. How could we ever let you go back to that hell?”

Havoc nods fervently. “I’m not going to let anyone bully you anymore. We’re going to make damn sure you’re safe with us.”

We love you, baby. This is for your own good.

I shudder, but I cling to Havoc. “Okay,” I whisper because I don’t know what else to say.

“All right. I apparently need to call the cleaners, again.” Caleb steps away and pulls out his phone. “Take Seven upstairs. I’ll follow once I’ve taken care of our uninvited guest here.”

I nod, and I let Havoc wrap an arm around my waist and lead me toward the door. Vortex follows on our heels as we leave the basement, and I know I should feel safe.

But I don’t.

I don’t know if I’ll ever feel safe again.

TWENTY-NINE

SEVEN

Nacho is right thereto greet me when the door to Caleb’s suite opens, and I nearly burst into tears all over again as I scoop him up into my arms. I can’t believe I almost had to leave him behind, the little ball of fur that’s made me smile so much—but I would never want to bring him with me.

I don’t want to think about what my family would do to him if I misbehaved.

I cling to him a little more tightly than he deems necessary, and he meows. I kiss the top of his head and set him down, where he rubs against my ankles. It’s a nice feeling.

Nothing else feels good, though.

“You okay?” Vortex asks me, pulling me against his strong chest and squeezing me tightly.

I nod even though it’s not the truth. I couldn’t be further from okay if I tried to be. But I don’t want him to know how damnscaredI am.

“Do you want a bath or a shower?” Havoc asks, hovering nearby. “Or to just curl up on the couch with a blanket and Nacho?”

I reach out to him, and he takes my hand.

“I can think of better things to do,” I say, and while my voice is shaky, my resolve isn’t.

I need to stop thinking, or I’m going to drive myself crazy.

“Uh, you had a rough day,” Havoc says carefully. “Are you sure?—”

I score my nails across his skin. “You can be rough withme.”

I’m going to scream if he turns me down now.

Havoc’s breath hitches and he swallows hard. “Y-yeah.”

“Yeah?” I encourage him, and Vortex releases me so I can press right up against Havoc. I kiss him hard, deep, trying to get him on board with fucking me into oblivion.

He grips my hips, and he puts so much pressure into it that pain blossoms under that touch.

I groan into it, encouraging him with soft sounds and hard kisses.

“How are you so strong?” Havoc asks against my lips, before he bites down on the juncture of my neck and shoulder.

---