Page 42 of Ensnared

Thefive thin cards are heavy in my hand when he passes them over.Ishuffle them uncomfortably;I’venever been one to play card games.Orgames at all.

Ionly hesitate a moment before dealing them out, face down.Myheart pounds, and my nerves roar back to life. “I—Okay.Youcan, um, turn them over.”

Theylook at their cards, but not one of them has the grace to flip it whereIcan see it.

“Five,”Domsays carelessly.

“Two,” saysLucky, andJaspergives him a lookIcan’t decipher.

Beaugives me a rueful look and says, “Four.”

Mystomach clenches.Thesmirk onJaykob’sface tells me allIneed to know.Heflicks the card on the table, and the ace of spades winks at me.

“Lookslike we’ve got a date, sugar.Timeto strip down.”

Mybreath hitches.Iremember the wayJaykobgrabbed me as he kissed me.Hypocriticalbitch, he called me.

Ofall of them, why does it have to be him?

Asthough he can read my thoughts, his mouth twists. “Orleave.Don’tbother me either way.”

“Perhapsyou could give her a moment,Jaykob, rather than behaving like a beast.Youmight do well to recall some of our discussions about the benefits of civility.”Jasper’stone is chilly.

Undermy lashes,Ican’t stop staring atJaykob.He’stoo big, far too big.Huge.AndIhoped for gentleLucky?Jaykobwill snap me like a twig.

“Maybethis wasn’t a good idea.Can’twe let her choose?Justfor the first night?Easeher in, you know?”LuckyasksDom, frowning atJaykob, whose face darkens with every word.

“Ohsure, all’s fair till it’s not you.Carniecheat.”

Luckystands up quickly, knocking his chair back.

“Nofavoritism.That’sthe rule,”Domsays sharply, but he’s watching me.

It’shard to breathe.

“Whatchathinking, darlin’?”Beauasks me gently, ignoring the others.

Myeyes latch on his, then dart back toJaykob, who’s still glaring atLucky.Jaykobflips his knife again, deliberately, all tattoos and scars and sneering anger.

“I—”

Tearinghis eyes away fromLucky,Jaykoblooks to me, taking in the white press of my fingertips on the table.Thenhe scowls and turns, stalking toward the door.

“Wait!”Icall, my voice strangled, but he doesn’t stop.

Trembling,Ipush out of my seat and stumble after him.

“Eden, it’s okay—”Beaustarts.

“No, it’s not,”Isnap, thenIfollowJaykobout, catching his arm just outside the kitchen.

Itisn’t okay.Iagreed to this.Ispent the last week thinking over whatLuckysaid.Ipromised equality;Ican’t just play it safe withLuckyandBeau.Itwon’t work for the others, and thenI’llbe out.

Andalso, itreallyisn’t okay.Becausejust before he turned to leave,Icould swearIsaw a hint of self-conscious bitterness shadowingJaykob’seyes—andthatis a feelingIknow well.AndmaybeI’mprojecting, butIcan’t let him walk away from me like that, even if he has been a complete jerk to me.

AsIcatch his arm, he whirls around so fastIflinch back.Helooms over me, pushing me into the wall.IfIdid see any vulnerability in his eyes, it’s gone now.

“Wait,”Irepeat at barely a whisper.

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