Page 21 of Save Me

They keep talking but I barely hear what they’re saying, focused on trying to win a game I barely understand as the minutes tick by.

“Who do you hope wins, babe?” I flinch as Rhett’s lips brush against my ear.

“Me,” I whisper.

Rhett peers at my cards and a chuckle escapes his lips. “Wellthat’snot going to happen.”

I close my eyes for a second as another crack in my chest forms, adding to the broken pieces gathering within me.

“There’s some good options here if I do say so myself,” Rhett drawls lazily. “You’ve got me, of course, but I’m not going to win with this hand.” He throws his cards down onto the table before grabbing mine and doing the same.

He looks around the room, as if assessing his friends. “There’s Tanner, but you already know what he’s like. You’ve got Winston, who’s boring but hung.” A howl of laughter reaches my ears, and Rhett’s eyes move to the next guy in the circle. “Preston has fucked half the women in this state, so he’s got experience on his side.” More laughter. “Then we have Stirling, and based on what I’ve heard, he’s an animal in bed.” The black-haired guy laughs as he takes another sip of his drink. “You already know Bryce… his sister is the best lay I’ve had so I have high hopes for him.” Bryce glowers at Rhett, not needing to say a word to convey what he’s feeling. “And that leaves us with Archibald.” Rhett looks at the brunette. “But he might be a little sadistic for your liking, babe.”

Arch winks at me and I ignore him, my fingernail scratching into my thumb out of habit as I try to think of a way out of this mess. I look at the front door, wondering if I could make it off Rhett’s lap and past the other guys surrounding me—not that I think Bryce would put much effort into stopping me.

I look over my left shoulder, the bedroom door still ajar, and my thought goes straight to the window and the cold water below. Not exactly an ideal escape route, and not one that worked before.

Outside of those two options, I’m at the mercy of whoever wins the game.

I watch the others closely, the sound of chips clinking and cards moving barely audible over the sound of the guys talking. Slowly some of them fold, and I hope they will leave, but they all stay.

I jump at the sound of Rhett’s phone ringing loudly from beside us. He silences the others with a look before answering, hanging up the phone after only a few seconds of conversation, his one-word responses leaving me wondering what’s going on.

“Winston, Tanner, we’re out of here. Our client just got arrested. One of you drive while I sober up,” he says, shoving me off his lap as he stands up, Winston and Tanner following suit.

Guess they all work together, I think to myself as they stand to leave.

“Film it for me, would you boys?” Tanner winks as he walks towards the door, leaving with Winston and Rhett, the sound of laughter at his back.

Somehow their absence makes me feel even less comfortable, surrounded by people I don’t know, unsure of how they’ll behave without Rhett here as their ringmaster.

I shift nervously in my seat, trying to think of a way out of this mess, my finger digging into my thumb as I look around the room for any way out.

It takes a moment for the game to pick back up again, and as I look at Preston, Stirling, Bryce, and Arch, I wonder if I can make it to the door now, make it out of the apartment, and how far I could run before someone catches me.

“Okay, boys, let’s see who won,” Preston says a short time later with a twinkle in his eyes.

Bryce takes a breath before placing his cards on the table.

I hope—pray—it’s him that won.

“Fold,” he says quietly, and my heart sinks.

Stirling does the same.

Preston looks at Arch, laying his cards face up on the table. “Straight flush.” He smiles widely.

Arch lets out a low whistle.

“Damn, that’s good… really good,” he says, looking at his own cards. “But not quite good enough.”

He places his cards down and the smile is quickly wiped from Preston’s face.

“Royal flush,” he hoots.

“Fuck,” Preston snaps as Arch starts to pick up the poker chips.

Fuck.I echo silently, my heart beating loudly.

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