Page 51 of Power Term

“If we last that long, you arrogant fuck. She won’t last another hour or two unless she gets some water. Or did you miss class that day where they taught us humans need water and food to survive?” A devious smile spreads across Trey’s face. “Let me guess, your boyfriend had you bent over the bleachers that day they covered survival in science.”

“Oh snap.” The giggle dies on my lips at the look of fury on Shawn’s flushed face, his narrowed eyes fixed on me. Terrible idea. Really the worst decision I’ve made in a really long time. “What? It was funny.”

“You two don’t get it, do you? You two won’t just die down here. You will suffer—”

“Trembling in my boots,” Trey says on a yawn. “About that water. Do you put an order in with room service? I’d like sparkling, flavored if you have it. Randi?”

“Plain is fine for me.”

Brows raised, we turn our expectant faces to Shawn, who looks like he’s about to blow a damn gasket.

“Now if you don’t mind, we were having a private conversation.” In dismissal, Trey turns, putting his full focus back on me. A slight twinkle in his gaze tells me he’s having way too much fun pushing Shawn’s buttons. We’re idiots, of course, taunting a lunatic, but this is us, and I wouldn’t want my last few hours of life to be without a few smiles and giggles. Trey’s wink tells me he feels the same. “So back to that text I sent. What do you say? Yes or no?”

Ah, wondered when he’d bring that up. Thought maybe he’d let it slide considering our circumstances but apparently not. Such a guy, not letting the hope of anal fade just because we might die a horrible death.

“Think that’s allowed in heaven?”

“Probably not. In hell, no doubt.”

“Then why does anyone want to go up when down seems to be where the eternal party is held?”

“Fake news fed to us by the churches to keep us from having fun.”

“Figured. Plus I’m always cold, so hell might be pleasant for someone like me.”

“You mean cold-blooded.”

I roll my eyes. “You’ve always thought that joke was funny.”

“It is.”

“Enough,” Shawn shouts. I swear he almost stomps his foot like a petulant toddler. Someone needs to spank him, teach him not to pout and get all murder-y because he didn’t get his way.

“Or what?” Trey’s snort sounds as forced as the supposed calm his body radiates. “We both know you won’t get your hands dirty now that you’ve changed. Wouldn’t want to ruin that Kmart clearance rack dress shirt. Lord knows it’ll disintegrate after one wash.”

“It’s Armani,” Shawn barks.

“Darmani maybe,” I quip, earning me a smirk from Trey.

“Now about that water—”

Shawn’s roar drowns out whatever Trey was going to say next as he lunges, fist swinging through the air. Flesh smacks flesh, and Trey’s head snaps to the right with the force of the hit. For a moment, my own heavy wheezing breaths—note to self: that doesn't sound or feel good; Shawn could’ve been right about the punctured lung assessment earlier—are all I can hear.

The spite-filled glare Trey shoots Shawn as he spits a mouthful of crimson liquid to the floor causes a blast of heat to burn in my lower belly. That promise of death in Trey’s bright honey brown eyes should not turn me on, but it does. I’ve always said there was something terribly wrong with me.

Eh, I’m hours from an excruciating death. Not going to change anything now. Might as well revel in my messed-up fetishes.

“And look, I’m already tied up,” I mutter.

“I like where your head’s at, Mess.” Peeking through my lashes, I find Trey’s bloody lips stretched in a full smile. “Later.”

“You two think this is funny?” Shawn cradles his hand against his chest, massaging the knuckles he smashed across Trey’s face.

“You know what I don’t get,” Trey says after spitting another mouthful of blood to the floor. “The tunnel. Fuck knows you didn’t dig it.”

“Ah.” Shawn drops his hand and sits in a chair I failed to see earlier. “You are correct there. I did not build it. I’ve had a very long time to plan out every detail. From hiring the best mercenary to abduct Trailer, to securing a private location with an escape route, to here. Where you’ll never be seen again after I’m through with you.”

“How did you get the asshole we know as Ponder on the beta team?” Trey asks.

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