Page 50 of Reckless Roulette

My brother knew how to control me and keep me by his side. He twisted me in a way that made me both hate and fear him and caused me to give him whatever he asked for.

It made me weirdly dependent on him, giving in to whatever he asked for because whenever I was free of him, I never really felt free. I was afraid he’d use anyone I cared about as fodder in this war between us. So I just never got close to anyone. But I guess I don’t have to worry about that with Kade… Norn already won’t look away from him.

“Thank you,” I say as I glance away from the Switch to look at him.

“For driving my stupid little go-kart right off this gaudy track?” he asks.

“For helping me keep from falling back into that darkness.”

“You don’t have to thank me for that.”

Kade gives me a squeeze and kisses my forehead before turning back to the Switch. “Look! I’m catching up to you.”

“I’ve… I’ve already been around the track once, I’m just… passing you a second time,” I say.

“I hope you feel good about yourself.”

I grin. “I do. Thank you.”

* * *

When I wake up, I find myself pressed tight against Kade. I’d had trouble falling asleep and had lain for hours twisting and turning until he grabbed onto me and pulled me into him. When he’d seen I was awake, he’d held me close and tucked his head against my neck, allowing me to feel at ease.

It’s strange how another person can help so much… can make mefeelso much. And can help chase away those nightmares. I was able to slowly sink into his touch and finally found sleep.

It seems that even in sleep, I didn’t venture far from him as I found myself tucked against him when I woke up.

“Morning,” Kade mumbles.

I catch his eyes. “Morning.”

His hands slide over my waist and draw me in close, wrapping me tight. It’s such a secure hold that I find it hard to pull away from it. But if everything goes right today, I can allow myself to be drawn into those arms every day.

“You’re not running off just yet,” he says.

“Yeah… but I have to,” I say as I grudgingly slide out of bed. The room is cold outside of his arms and I immediately regret it. “I just… I need to finish this.” Because the longer it remains unfinished, the longer Kade’s in danger, and I can’t just sit by and let that happen. I can’t let this taste of happiness be gone before I truly get to enjoy it.

“Please just wait,” Kade says as he follows me into the bathroom that I’m less than eager to go into, but at least I’m feeling better today. And I have to admit that having him in here with me makes it tolerable.

I grab one of the toothbrushes he’d gotten down at the desk when we’d arrived here. He watches me as I start brushing my teeth, and when it’s clear I’m not answering—or waiting—he sighs and brushes his teeth while staring me right in the eyes. It’s some weird kind of standoff, but he’s sexy and only wearing his briefs so he gets away with it. When I finish in the bathroom, he follows me back into the bedroom and gives me a push, so I sit down on the bed.

“Just stay here,” he decides as he hooks me with an arm and drags me back down with his weight. This time, I give in because I really do want to feel him.

“What if I stay for half an hour?” I ask, since he’s shockingly good at tempting me.

His eyes narrow. “Hmm…”

“We’re not going to rest easy until this is done,” I say. “You don’t understand that he won’t stop coming for us now that we’ve done this to him. He won’t give up until he ruins one or both of us.”

“Hmm…”

“Stop ‘hmming’; it’s getting us nowhere,” I mumble.

“We could run away.”

I look at him in surprise. “What?”

“Leave this city and just run.”

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