Page 98 of Make Her Bleed
“Noted." I pull out a bottle of rum but then I second guess it. "Can you actually do shots that aren't tequila?" I ask.
"Please. You can do shots of any kind of alcohol, babe," Knox answers.
I pull out five shot glasses and fill each one before handing them out. I hold up my shot with a big smile on my face, feeling like the luckiest girl in the world.
"No matter what happens tonight, you guys are awesome. I wouldn't have made it through all this crap without you."
Nico and Knox blush at my words, but Dax and Rowe just stare at me, their expressions unreadable.
We down our shots and I make quick work of pouring another round.
"So … what happened this morning?" Rowe asks.
My hand freezes on the bottle of rum as I sit it on the counter, my mind stuck in The Maze for a moment.
"This morning?" Dax asks, worry on his face.
"Kai made a bet with me I thought I could win. If I won, all the rules would go away. No more consequences, torture, or any of the other hell Kai has put me through. He wouldn't have a say in what I did, what I wore, what I ate. If I lost, the rules change, get more intense. Everything I do would be under his complete control. I couldn't speak or even look at any of you and I wouldn't be the one punished if I disobeyed the rules. It would be you guys and every other person I care about." My words catch in my throat, but I force them out. They deserve to know and the rules have been lifted for now.
"Wait, so he will come after us if you screw up?" Knox gapes in surprise.
"In a certain order. My guess is so it will pack the most punch. After all, I've only confessed to loving one of you."
That answered all questions they have about who is the first on Kai's hit list if I step out of line. All eyes fall on Rowe and he's visibly shaken by the words.
"Plus, punish isn't the right word. Murder would be more fitting. He's not scared to kill. He's made that clear."
Understanding swims in Rowe's eyes as he looks at me. He gets that my behavior this morning wasn't to protect myself. I was protecting him, keeping him safe the best way I can.
"I almost won, but at the last second, I lost. After tonight, Kai is going to completely isolate me in this house with no one but him. He says I'll have visitors, but it won't be any of you. This will be the last time he lets any of you see me…unless he suddenly grows some humanity, which I doubt will ever happen. I have no choice but to obey his rules. I couldn't stand it if he hurt any of you … again."
Everyone knows about Kai attacking Rowe. Rowe's face hasn't recovered. The bruises along his jaw are enough to know he's hurting.
"Well, it's your last night of freedom. Let's make it count, Aria," Dax says with a mischievous look on his face.
"That's the spirit!" I cheer and down my next shot.
* * *
Most would thinkwe'd be doing something completely insane like streaking in the woods or getting drunk off our asses. Okay. Maybe we're a little drunk, but is it a crime to play Twister while inebriated?
"I can't reach the spinner," I complain while I try to look around Knox's butt. I'm not the only one with an ass in my face, but at least we're putting on a good show for Rowe who can't play with his injuries.
"Do you yield?" Nico calls before laughing and falling on his face. "Ow! My nose!"
"I'm loving this view," Rowe jokes and I realize that my dress is riding up my ass, revealing the top of my thighs.
Hormonal teenagers.
"This is a dangerous game!" Nico whines again.
Dax and Knox are still going strong, but I think it's time I got out of this pretzel.
"I forfeit. You two need to keep going. One of you is a real contortionist."
I slip off the mat and make my way over to Rowe, stretching my arms.
"Be glad you didn't participate. My shoulder hurts," I whine as I plop down on the couch next to him.
