“Outside. Now.” Sawyer gets up and yanks his pants up. He doesn’t throw on a shirt, and I stare again at the angry, raised scars all over his back. He and Ryder are covered in them.
The other two stay locked in a stare-off for a second.
“Let’s go,” Sawyer demands.
“Wait,” my voice comes out gravely. I clear my throat. “I’ll do it! I’ll earn the points.”
Miles shoots me a shut-the-fuck-up look. They leave the room and shut the door.
My heart races. Fuck. Sawyer always said he’d kill me, but he hadn’t seemed done fucking with me. Ryder? I think he’d haveno problem putting a bullet in my brain. The hierarchy has been overthrown, and I feel frantic.
I try to get out of the chains, but I can’t. For the first time since I’ve been here, I have a full-blown panic attack. I feel death knocking on my skull.
This is it. This is the end.
I try to draw a breath in, but I can’t. Fuck. I need a drink. I really need a drink.
I spiral, sitting almost naked on the floor of the men who kidnapped me.
What would I have done differently with my life if I knew it was going to be this short? Fuck, I wish I found love.
I picture my grandma at my funeral, looking down her nose and judging. Saying I turned out just like she expected.
No. My chest heaves. They don’t get to see me like this. They don’t deserve to. They don’t get to see me weak. I draw in my first full breath.
I’ve been here for myself for my whole life, and I’ll continue to do it until I go. They can take my life and my peace, but they can’t take my fucking dignity.
I square my shoulders.
Footsteps come down the hall, and then the door opens. Sawyer stands there, looking completely put together again.
“Hello, bunny. Wanna play a game?”
Chapter 30
Cali
Sawyer approaches me, stopping just short of reaching my allotted distance. “I’ll unlock you, but if you try to stab me, I’ll only get turned on.”
I glare at him. His blue eyes look less manic. Icy and calm. He’s fully clothed and put together again. It’s like what I just saw didn’t happen, except for the red mark on his neck.
“You deserve to get stabbed,” I growl. “Let me go.”
“I’m trying.” Sawyer reaches under my chin, his hot fingers grazing my neck softly. It makes me shiver.
“Maybe one day I’ll let you stab me. Sounds kinky. Now, you’re going to get dressed, and I’ll explain the game.” Sawyer grabs my hand and starts walking.
“Wait,” I pull against his strong grip. For all I know, he’s walking me outside to get shot.
He just tightens his grip. “Don’t fight me right now, bunny.” His voice lowers, “I’m doing my best to keep you alive.”
I stop pulling. Sawyer yanks me down the hall and into a room that’s across the way from Miles’. Once we’re in, he shuts the door and lets go of me.
I rub my neck. It feels so much lighter without the chain. I glance around.
“Clean up in the bathroom.” Sawyer barely looks at me as he shuffles through his drawers. This room is a mirrored version of Miles’ room, but it’s cluttered and covered in posters of half-naked men and women. This must be Sawyer’s room.
I move to the bathroom. It’s fully outfitted with everything a bathroom should be. Suddenly, I want to brush my teeth so fucking bad.