Page 136 of Wanna Play A Game?

I glance over my shoulder. Ryder is leaning back against the truck door, one foot propped up. His voice is low and unbothered, “Right. You know I shoot better than either of you.”

“Right.” This time, the whack was meatier, and I slap a hand over my face.

“So Cali,” Sawyer sounds cheerful, “Raised in the countryside. By mom? No dad, I’m guessing.”

I snap my gaze to him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He chuckles and looks at me. “Well, look who you fell for. Older men whose red flags are so bright they’re damn near on fire. That’s fatherless behavior.”

A snarl of defensiveness rolls through me. “First of all, I haven’t fallen for you. Kidnapped, remember?”

“Mmm.” Sawyer leans on the handle, his glare mean. “So, no dad then?”

I clench my jaw. “I have a dad.” He didn’t raise me. I barely know him.

Sawyer goes back to his work. “So, did you like growing up here?”

I keep my eyes off the mess he’s making and watch his muscles as they move. “I guess. I didn’t get to go out much. I was a bad kid.”

“I thought you said they beat that out of you.” He pauses long enough to catch my gaze. “You were reformed.”

“Well, yeah. Beat and prayed it out of me,” I scoff. Why are we talking about this? I thought he was mad at me.

“Prayer, huh? Hear that, boys? She’s good at begging.” Sawyer wipes his forehead, leaving a dark streak. “Think you can beg for this cock when we’re done? Maybe throw some worship in, too? I can be your god for the night.”

I sputter. The warmth from the alcohol slows my response. Because damn, if that didn’t make me horny.

Sawyer sees me struggling and smirks.

I shoot back, “Sorry, I don’t believe in God anymore.”

“What about Satan?” He leans on the ax. “I can be your devil if that’s what you prefer.”

My cheeks flame. Sawyer does look like a demon, his huge body splattered in blood.

“All done.” He chucks the ax down. “Let’s get him scooped up.” He starts dragging the tarp toward the oil tanks.

Chapter 68

Miles

Ryder tried to hide it, but I saw how his gaze snapped to Cali when she talked about her childhood. He stared at her like he was soaking up every word, his body frozen.

Sawyer kept throwing glances Ryder’s way, too. He knew exactly what he was doing.

I had no idea Cali experienced anything like that. It makes me sick. What little I know of what Ryder went through makes me murderous.

You're not any better than them, murderer.

I watch my boyfriend chop up Ben’s body. And for the first time, I don’t fight that voice.

If being the villain in Cali’s life makes it a safer place for her to live, maybe I’m okay with it.

Maybe I am like my dad.

And maybe, in this case, that’s the kind of man that Cali needs.

Chapter 69