Page 91 of Play With Me
“Yeah, I guess.”
He doesn’t sound sure, and part of me wants to reassure him, but I’m pretty sure at this point, nothing I say can help talk him down.
I think he’s sure this is going to go badly. But I think there’s a possibility this will go differently. I think we may get justice. Or at least proof that Colton has been telling the truth. That this isn’t him imagining things, or making things up. That it’s truly happening.
My hand reaches out and touches his leg. He shifts closer, seeking comfort, and I give it to him. I hold on to him until we arrive at the sprawling mansion.
I’ve never seen anything like this in real life. It’s enormous. There’s an extensive yard and columns on the front porch. Marble staircases and gaudy golden statues sit on the front drive. There’s even a fountain that looks like it was hand-carved.
“Wow,” I murmur as I pull the car to a stop.
“Notwow. This place is a hellhole. I can’t believe you’re here. We should go.”
“Nope,” I say, turning the car off and facing him. “We do this together.”
He turns toward me, and his lips tremble. “This is gonna be so bad, Myles. So fucking bad.” I can almost taste the desperation in his words. He is dreading this. A part of me wants to listen to him, to turn around so he can relax, but if we don’t do this now, we may never get a chance.
I want him free of this. Of this family.
“No, I can’t believe that. Think of what the ending could be. You could end up finally rid of them.”
“I’ll never be free. This is my family. They’ll always be there. In my life. Lurking in the corners, waiting, watching…”
“But now you have me and my family. And we may be poor, but we’re strong. Resilient. And loyal.”
His eyelashes flutter, and I reach out and gently touch his face.
“I’ve got you. We’re in this together.”
“They can’t know about you. About what we are. They will only use it as ammunition.”
“We won’t let them know.”
My hand falls from his face, but he grabs it and presses my palm to his lips.
“Promise me, Myles. Promise me it will all be okay.”
“I promise.”
We step out of the car, and I see him breathe deeply before squaring his shoulders and stepping forward. By the time we reach the front door, he’s a different person. Cold, smug, egotistical.
He’s more like the man I first met than the one I’ve come to know.
I now realize it’s a shield, a mask. He wears it to keep himself safe. The door opens, and two men appear.
“Hello, Dex. Myles has the keys.”
I realize this is the valet who will be parking the car. He has a live-in valet. What the fuck?
When I was told he was rich, I didn’t realize he wasthisrich.
I hand the keys over, and the man walks past, not even looking my way. Not that I expect it. But I watch him, wondering what he does all day. Does he sit around waiting for people to arrive, or does he have a secondary job here?
My head shakes those thoughts away, and I turn my gaze back to Colton, who is stepping through the front door. He looks at me over his shoulder and arches an eyebrow.
“You coming, or are you gonna stare at Dex’s ass?”
I bristle at his cold, unamused tone. “Fuck off. I wasn’t looking at his ass.”
