Page 140 of Wanna Play A Game?

“Tsk, tsk, another lie you’re feeding me,” Sawyer says against my skin. “Want to explain to me why you were drinking?”

Anger runs through me. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business.”

Miles walks back into the room, holding a glass of water.

Sawyer tightens his grip. “Everything about you is my business.” He lowers his voice, “Everything. I thought you had learned you can’t keep things from me. But apparently not. You’ll tell me what you’re running from when you run to alcohol.”

I clench my jaw. His voice makes goosebumps skitter up my neck. “Why, so you can manipulate me even more?”

“So I can protect you,” Sawyer growls.

I laugh bitterly. “So you’re going to protect me from my past? I think you just want to know so I can’t surprise you anymore. Ithink you’re scared of me. And I think you’re scared I’ll win your stupid little game.”

The room falls eerily silent. I look at Miles, and he glances between Sawyer and me, an unknown emotion flickering behind his stony expression. I wait for Sawyer to reply. It weirds me out that I can’t see his face. What is he thinking? Is he mocking me? Angry at me?

Finally, Sawyer’s voice comes out low and dangerous, “You are far more than a game to me, Cali. You stopped being a game a long time ago.”

I suck in a breath, stupid goosebumps prickling on my arms.

“And I’m going to protect you from yourself, stupid girl. You want to be out of your mind? You want to drink?” Sawyer motions at the drink in Miles’ hand. “Give me that.”

I stiffen. “What is it?”

Sawyer reaches out and grabs it. “It’s a roofie.”

“What?” I try to jerk away.

“If you make me spill it, I’ll give it to you with a needle,” Sawyer growls. “I was trying to be nice.”

I watch the glass closely, still struggling to get away. Every time I move, the liquid sloshes. “This isn’t nice! You’re a psychopath!”

“So you keep saying,” Sawyer says blandly. “You want to escape so badly, I’m giving it to you. Take it, or I’ll force you to. And I don’t think you want that.”

My muscles shiver. “What are you going to do to me?”

“You have till the count of three.”

“No, wait!”

“One.”

Panic runs through me. I try to escape, but his huge arm pins me on his lap.

“Two.”

I know he isn’t bluffing. I know he’ll gladly do what he threatened.

“Th–”

“Wait!” I reach toward the glass. “I’ll fucking take it.”

Sawyer lets me take it from him. I glance at Miles, who stares back at me with dead eyes. He clearly isn’t going to help. I don’t know why I looked to the man who killed Ben to help me.

Sawyer barks, “Stop stalling.”

My hand shakes, and I bring the glass to my mouth. Fuck, I don’t want to be at their mercy. I don’t think they’ll kill me, but I’m sure they’ll do anything just shy of it.

Fuck it. I’m not going down without a fight. I throw the glass back into Sawyer’s face and scramble up. There’s sputtering as I twist to hurl myself over the back of the couch to get away from Miles, too.