Page 58 of Gambler's Fallacy

He’s reluctant not to touch me, I can tell that much, but when I make it clear that it’s not what I want, he stops.

He’s too much of a gentleman for me, too much of adaddy, and guilt gnaws at me for taking advantage of him like this.

I rest my head against his shoulder, letting him caress my back again, and I could fall asleep like this — at least, I feel like I could, right up until the moment he speaks.

“Can we talk?” he asks gently.

I tense.

“Not about today,” he murmurs, tucking a few strands of hair behind my ear. “We’ll talk about that later. I… Caleb and I were talking, and I was thinking it might be a good idea to make sure we know where you are at all times.”

“You already do,” I say, puzzled. “My phone?”

Vortex hesitates, then says, “Someone could easily take that from you. We were thinking something more permanent.”

It takes a minute for that to sink in, and even then, I’m not sure if I’m understanding him right. “What do you mean, more permanent?” I ask slowly.

He sighs. “I suggested that we put some kind of tracker inside of you, where we can make sure no one can take you out of the casino.”

My blood freezes in my veins. “You want to make sure I can’t go anywhere,” I accuse him, pulling away.

He lets me put only a little distance between us before his arms tighten around me again. “That’s not it, Seven.” He meets my eyes, intent and pleading. “The Lockwoods desperately want you back. They’re…” He trails off, licking his lips. “They’re willing to fight dirty. With them coming into the casino, we can’t be sure they won’t try anything. And Seven, my beautiful boy, we don’t want to let anyone hurt you ever again.”

I swallow around the lump in my throat. “Do I have a choice?” I ask, my voice sharp even to my own ears.

Hesitating, Vortex shakes his head before saying quietly, “I think this is best.”

“You,” I say. “Not Caleb, not Havoc? Just you?” I laugh bitterly. “Yeah, I don’t buy that for a second.”

“It was my idea,” he insists. “You can blame me for it all you want, but I’d rather you hate me than get taken again.”

The worst part of it is that I don’t even hate the idea of them being able to find me no matter what. But the part of me that hates being held captive also hates the thought of being trapped in the hotel and casino even more indelibly. “You really think they’ll try to take me?” I ask, hating how small I sound.

He nods. “I don’t want to worry you, but it’s bad, Seven.”

Of course it’s bad, even though I don’t completely understand why. I think they want me back so desperately because they’re afraid of what I’ve seen, of what I know. They don’t want anyone else to get that information out of me, and they’re probably terrified that I’m going to say something.

It doesn’t matter that I have no intention of doing that.

All that matters is that they think I will.

They don’t know me at all.

No one does.

“Okay,” I say, my voice wobbly.

Vortex looks surprised, but I don’t miss the relief in his expression, either.

How badisit?

“Okay,” he echoes. “I don’t have it with me.”

Unwelcome bitterness floods me, albeit briefly, at the thought that he already had this ready. But I’d agreed to it, and I’m so scared of what my family would do to me if they got their hands on me.

What they will dowhenthey get their hands on you, an unwelcome voice whispers in the back of my mind.

I nod, then rest my head against his shoulder again. I’m drained, utterly exhausted, and all I want is to sleep. “Will you stay with me?” I ask. “Until Caleb gets back…”

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