Page 27 of Beg the Night

“Didn’t mean to scare you. I’m just making sure you’re all right. No matter how I look at it, I can’t decide whether you’re the luckiest person here, or the unluckiest.”

One of those was certainly true.“And what makes you say that?”

With a shrug, he stepped closer. I’d been watching him the last few days, just like I’d been watching the rest of the men locked up in here with me. Leon was quiet. Observant. He didn’t engage in the random fights with the other guys, but he could always be found nearby.

Never interfering.

I wasn’t sure whether I could trust him, but in this place it was safer to trust nobody at all than to take that risk.

Leon shrugged. He was good-looking in a reserved way. He kept his hair short, and though his shirt was baggy, it couldn’t hide the lean muscle he was packing. “You’re the newest person here, yet you’ll be the next one to leave.”

“Would it be better to stay down here with the rest of you?”Seriously, would it?

Leon’s soft green eyes met mine. “That depends on what you’re willing to do to survive.”

I rolled his words around in my mind for a few seconds before I responded. “I think we’d all be willing to do all sorts of things to survive. The question is—which fate is worse?”

Lips tugged down in a thoughtful frown, he studied me. “You’re smart. It’s no wonder Director likes you so much.”

“Gee, thanks.” With a roll of my eyes, I turned toward my cot.

Before I made it more than a foot or two, Leon stepped in front of me. “Be careful, okay? Sinner may seem like he’s on your side, but he’s dangerous. Like you said, we’re all willing to do all sorts of things for survival.”

I nodded and brushed past him, doing my best to ignore the growing rock in my stomach. And when I dared a glance at Sinner, his dark gaze was locked onLeon.

“It’s been days,”Margaret whined. “I promise I won’t let Sinner in. Just one shower, you’ll feel so much better!” She tugged on my arm, as if she could physically force me into the bathrooms. I may not have been all that tall or muscular, but she was tiny.

We’d successfully avoided everyone all day. Margaret had kept me entertained by making up stories or talking to herself until I fell asleep. I was really, really glad to have her down here, however cruel and messed up that made me.

She made it a little less miserable.

“I don’t really feel like being threatened while I’m naked again,” I groaned. “It would just ruin my mood.”

“That won’t happen,” she swore. “Sinner was just grumpy that day.”

I rolled my eyes. “Right. Because his mood today is so much better.” In unison, we turned and looked at her brother, who sat with his back to us. He and a few of the other guys were huddled together, talking about god knows what. The thought of him lounging around and talking about life or the weather made me cringe. It was so normal, and guys like Sinner were anything but normal.

“Look,” she started, “I don’t want to say that sleeping next to you is a form of torture… Someone else might say that. Not me, though.” She held her hands up, her eyes wide. “I’m your friend, so I wouldn’t say that.”

This girl.“Fine.” I bit back a grin and pointed at her. “But you’re waiting outside the door for real this time. And don’t let anyone inside.”

Face alight, she yanked on my arm.

This time, I let her drag me over to the empty bathroom. Most of the guys were busy talking or working out, paying us no mind.

That was a relief. If they didn’t know I was in here, they wouldn’t harass me. That was the hope, at least. One glance over my shoulder told me Sinner was still sitting with his back to us, completely oblivious.

Perfect.

Though I probably should be disgusted by the way I smelled after going several more days without showering, I didn’t mind it. The aroma made it easier to keep these men—Sinner included—far, far away from me.

“Go ahead.” Margaret stepped aside and waved toward the showers. “I’ll wait here.”

First things first, I peered behind every curtain, making sure the bathrooms were completely empty. Once I confirmed we were alone, I enclosed myself in one of the stalls and quickly stripped. The less time I spent in here, the better.

I set my clothes outside the curtain where they would stay dry and turned on the water. And god, it was incredible. I’d forgotten how amazing hot water could feel when I fully succumbed to it. My stiff, tired limbs finally relaxed as I let go of all the tension and stress. That seemed to be my permanent state now—stressed.

It was better than dead.

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