Page 130 of Gambler's Fallacy

“You might’ve tried to kill each other first,” I point out.

“Not a chance.” Havoc returns the embrace. “I know how important teamwork is in a rescue op.”

I look between them, still feeling skeptical but needing to feel comforted more than I need to push the issue. I slide into Havoc’s lap, holding my hand out to Vortex.

Vortex sits up, then leans forward and takes it. “You okay?” he asks, eyes searching mine.

I nod even though I’m suddenly not so sure I am.

“We were scared we’d lost you,” Havoc says quietly, squeezing my waist. “I don’t even know what I would have done if we hadn’t found you.” He lets out a laugh. “Earl wouldn’t have survived, that’s for sure.”

I blink, my eyes suddenly wet. “Caleb was so sure you’d come for us.” I sniffle, trying not to cry. It’s stupid. I’m not in danger anymore. “I was more worried about him,” I admit. “They’d have taken me to New Bristol.” I choke on a laugh. “He was trying to play mind games instead of telling them who he was.”

Vortex snorts. “Yeah. Doesn’t surprise me.”

A knock sounds on the door, and all three of us tense.

Vortex gets up, and he opens the door with care — only a crack at first, then more to reveal a woman carrying three boxes of pizza. He takes them from her with a murmured thanks, then closes and locks the door as soon as he has the boxes in hand.

He catches my worried look and shakes his head. “It’s fine. No one’s going to look for us here, of all places.”

Havoc reaches out for one of the pizzas. He sets it next to himself on the bed and opens the lid, the smell of sauce and cheese wafting up. This one has every type of meat on it.

“Oh, good. I was afraid I got Caleb’s veggie pizza,” Havoc says as he takes a slice. He holds it out to me, and I take it.

It’s greasy in the best way, and I eat it fast enough for Vortex to clear his throat. “It’s not going anywhere,” he says, deadpan. “The cow’s already dead.”

I make a face at him. “That makes it sound so appetizing.”

He takes a piece of his supreme pizza. “I didn’t say it was a bad thing.”

The sound of running water stops, and Caleb steps out of the bathroom soon after. He’s already wearing sweats, but he hasn’t bothered with a shirt.

Caleb notices the pizza and walks over to the remaining one. “Oh, good. I can’t believe how hungry I am.”

“You were out in the desert, did way more exercise than your puny body normally does, and the only food you got between lunch and now was a few protein bars. I think that might explain it,” Havoc points out.

“Maybe he should start working out with me,” Vortex suggests with a smirk.

“I go to the gym three times a week,” Caleb protests. “And I got Seven out of there, didn’t I?”

“You didn’t get Seven out of there,” Vortex says, rolling his eyes. “I think you just stood there and played target dummy while I got us all out of there.”

The idea of Caleb playingtarget dummymakes me lose my appetite, and I set my half-eaten second slice of pizza down in the box.

“I’m the one who rescued him,” Havoc says mulishly. “Vortex would have gotten lost in the desert if not for me.”

“I wouldn’t have gotten lost,” Vortex replies. “It might’ve taken me a little longer, but I’d have found—” He’s the first one to notice my expression, and he reaches out to rest a hand on my knee. “Seven?” he asks.

I shake my head, wishing he hadn’t noticed that I’m fighting back tears. God, it always feels like I’m trying not to cry, or that I’m crying, or that I’m miserable. I want to be happy that we escaped, but all of this feels like too much.

Caleb gets up from the desk chair and comes over to grip my hair. He forces my head back. “What’s wrong, pet? Tell me now.”

The commanding tone of voice does more than any request would, and I look at him as I say quietly, “I’m scared that one of you is eventually going to get hurt because my… becauseshewon’t let go of me.”

Because I know it’sher.

My father would write me off, but my mother?

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