Page 11 of House Rules

“And the others?”

“You let me worry about that. I can promise that playing with Phoenix Jones will be far more entertaining than getting into any more international incidents.”

“Fine.”

My father disconnects the line, and I sit there staring at my phone for a minute, trying to figure out if what I just got us into will be a good thing or a disaster.

Con:Anyway, things just got more interesting. My father called.

Atticus:Did he sense a disturbance in the Force?

Con:After that “Florida situation,” he wants to assign us a babysitter for the summer.

Storm:Fuck. No.

Maverick:I swear to God, if it’s some retired nun in a pantsuit...

Con:Relax. I made him a counteroffer.

Con:We behave—Titan-level behave—if we choose who watches us.

Atticus:You’re negotiating with terrorists now?

I pause for a moment, letting the tension and anticipation build. They’re wondering why the fuck I would agree to something so stupid, so inherently opposite of everything we stand for.

Con:I told him the only person who can handle us is Phoenix Jones.

Storm:Now this I like.

Maverick:I already called dibs on her years ago.

Atticus:What’s the angle?

God, I hate how he can always see three steps ahead of everyone else.

Con:Simple. We move her into our suite. She gets her own room—but she’s under our thumb, 24/7.

Storm:You want her boxed in. Watched. Controlled.

...You sure this is about revenge, Con? Or are you looking to cage something that got away?

That one hits too close to the bone. I stare at the screen, jaw tight.

Con:First one to make her beg for their cock—on her knees, soaking, saying the words—wins.

Maverick:I’m in.

Atticus:Rules?

Con:No dick in pussy until she begs, but we can make her do whatever else we want. I’ll write the NDA she has to signmyself. Also, it only counts if she begs sober. No cheating by slipping her X or molly or some shit. A few drinks are fine, but she has to know what she is begging for.

Storm:If she never begs?

Atticus:Then maybe she wins.

Con:That won’t happen. She’s still mine. She just doesn’t know it yet.

Maverick:I’m in