Page 34 of The Players

The glasses clunked on the card table. I gripped the top as I waited for her to think of her next slice of torture. My stomach roiled. This was going too far.

“Truth… or dare,” she said, sniffing a little. The alcohol was affecting her too.

“I think it’s your turn,” I said, leaning forward, not caring if my breasts were spilling over the top of my bra. I was feeling bold and frankly sick of playing her little game. “Easton said the game should be fair, and I agree.”

My eyes drifted up to him—the devil in Hermes and Gucci. His handsome face looked gaunt in this light. Normally, when there was a game, there was a devious glint in his eye, but not tonight. He wasn’t in control, and it was pissing him off. What did Savannah have over him that would keep his worst tendencies in check? Family ties couldn’t be that strong, could they?

No, I suspected not. It was something else.

“I’m not playing,” Savannah said, starting to stand up.

Easton moved whip fast. He was behind Savannah with his hands on her shoulders before she could push up from her chair. Just as she had done to me, he forced her back in the chair.

“I agree with Vivian. It’s your turn, Savannah.” His blue eyes blazed this time, and I knew that look. He was enjoying making someone squirm. Only, this time, that someone wasn’t me.

Interesting turn of events. If only I wasn’t too drunk to understand what they meant.

“This is stupid,” Savannah said, leaning around to give Easton a look, but nothing seemed to persuade him. And Spencer and Mills were here as spectators. So she gave up and decided to act like it was her idea. “Fine, I’ll play if everyone is so obsessed with me. Truth.” She waited for my response.

Truth. I could ask her anything. That didn’t mean she’d answer, but at least I had the opportunity. The problem was my head was growing fuzzier and fuzzier. The alcohol was zipping through my bloodstream, and my thoughts were harder to pin down than cracked-out butterflies.

“Well?” she said, getting impatient.

I just said the first thing that came into my head. “Did you just sleep with Mills to hurt me?”

His eyes darted to me and then to her, and I realized now that it didn’t matter what she said next. If she said no, he’d think she was lying. If she said yes, he’d know the truth.

“Because if you did, it worked,” I added. “I’m hurt.” I turned from Savannah to Mills. “And I never wanted to hurt you.”

We locked eyes. A flash of emotions washed over his face. For a moment, I thought he’d start towards me, but instead, he turned on his heel and stalked off toward the exit.

“Rude,” Savannah said, watching him go. “But we’re not finished with you yet. Spencer, get her arms.”

“Savannah,” he said, but she snapped back at him. “Spencer!”

I was so busy watching Mills I was slow to respond. When I glanced up, I spotted Spencer one second before his strong hands were gripping my biceps and pinning me to the chair. As I struggled, he held me harder.

“I told you not to come,” he whispered in my ear.

“Let me go,” I said, panic building. “Please!”

But he seemed impervious to my cries.

Savannah’s face loomed over mine, the vodka bottle in her hand. Her mouth cracked into a giant smile. “You were trying to fuck with me tonight. I don’t like getting fucked.Ido the fucking.”

Her hand moved. I thought she’d dump the vodka bottle down my throat, but instead, I felt it bash into my skull.

Then I felt nothing else.

Chapter fifteen

Lightagainstmyeyelidsslowly woke up my groggy brain.

Scratch that.

My brain was angry, pounding as if it were a second heart. I reached up, touching it to make sure it was still attached. Once I found my skull intact, I opened my eyes.

And nearly jumped out of my skin.

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