Page 15 of Pretty Threats

Jamie walks to the kitchen, and I’m right behind him. What if she’s got a presentation or workshop where she’ll be missed immediately? I need to be ready.

The block of knives is only a few feet away. I could grab the butcher knife and cut Jamie’s throat before he or War would have a chance to stop me. I’d have to move really fast to have a chance against War after that, knife or not.

Once again, there’s something at the edge of my consciousness that I don’t recognize. Can’t be regret. I haven’t even done anything yet. It must be guilt. My brows wrinkle in surprise. My connection to these guys is nothing like the one I feel to her, but I guess I have formed one to a degree.

“All right, baby girl,” Jamie says with a smile that could charm a snake out of its venom. “You didn’t see anything because there was nothing to see. But we’re tired and our minds aren’t right. We could all use some rest, I think, before decisions are made.” His tone is like he’s talking to a toddler, all sweet and cajoling. “Now, if you skip class, will your little mates start blowing up your phone and raising the alarm?”

Her eyes move slowly to my face, but my expression doesn’t change because he’s watching us.

Raine chews on her lip, her gaze rising to the ceiling. She’s weighing her responses, trying to decide whether it’s safer to lie or tell the truth.

“Don’t think. Answer me now,” Jamie says with a rougher tone.

My fingers curl into fists, but I keep my arms by my sides.

Raine relents. “People will text to see if I want to meet for lunch, but if I text ahead to say I didn’t sleep much and I’m going to crash until dinner, no one will think anything of it.”

“Or we can tell them you’re busy until tomorrow.”

Her jaw clenches. “I guess.” Her gaze flicks to me and back to him. “My film seminar class is tomorrow morning. I never miss it. If I’m not there, people will know somethings’s wrong.”

“Tomorrow. That’s grand,” Jamie says. “We’ll have everything sorted long before then. Now, I’ve got to ask you to do us a favor.”

She stares at him, her brows drawn together in a serious expression. “What?” The word falls slowly from her mouth.

“We’ll all want to talk to you when we wake up. Just to set the record straight on some things, you understand. And we can’t have you slipping out on us. So, let’s go upstairs. I’ll show you what we have in mind.”

Upstairs? No. My room’s on the ground floor, next to the media room, so I’ve got no interest in having Raine on the second floor. My hand snakes out to catch her arm.

“Go get them,” I say to Jamie. “She stays with me.”

Jamie quirks a brow. “Get what? It’s not?—”

“Enough fucking around,” War growls as he walks over. “What’s the word?”

“Yes, she can stay with no trouble,” Jamie says. “She’ll give me the code to her phone, so I can send texts for her, and then it’s to bed for the lot of us.”

War stares down at Raine. “Tell him.”

I move a shoulder between War and Raine and then turn slightly so I’m pushing him back. “Go ahead, Raine. Give Jamie the code.”

After a beat, she tells him her six-digit pin. “Need me to enter it?”

“No, he’s got it,” War says. “Let’s go, little girl.”

My eyes narrow, one hand still firmly holding her slim arm. “Why upstairs?”

“Because the bolt for the restraints is on my wall.”

I’m tired, so it takes a couple of clicks for me to get it. He has dungeon restraints to chain a woman to the bed when he wants to really play. My reaction to that is neutral. The only person I’d play with in my own bed is Raine, and I’d never need to restrain her with cuffs when I could just use my hands.

“You and I need to swap beds, War.”

“No. Too risky,” he says.

He means he thinks I’ll let her go while they’re asleep. Or even take off with her. I wasn’t planning to, but I might change my intentions after some rest.

My eyes narrow. “Too bad. The only way she’s sleeping in your bed is if you’re not there.”

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