Page 81 of Wanna Play A Game?

“It’s my game,” Sawyer grits.

Ryder clocks me downstairs. He moves his hand, and time slows. Ryder raises his hand so that it’s pointing at me. He’s holding a gun.

In slow motion, Sawyer moves to get between us, and Miles yanks me behind him.

“Jesus!” There’s the sound of heavy blows, and something metal hits the ground.

I jump, trying to yank away from Miles. A full fight or flight hits me, and all I can see is the back of Miles’ shirt.

He pointed a gun at me. I need to get away. I need to.

I scramble and kick and claw, my world growing fuzzy. There’s shouting, but I can’t make it out. I’m fighting for my life. I feel more and more trapped.

“Cali!”

I blink.

My name is shouted again. I focus on Miles’ face right in front of me.

“Cali, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I blink again. I feel trapped. My chest hurts. Ryder just tried to shoot me!

I glance around. Miles has me pinned against the wall. My breathing is so heavy I feel like I can’t get in a full breath. I look around again.

“Cali.” Miles catches my gaze again with his green eyes. “He won’t hurt you. I won’t let him.”

I hear the other two men still fighting. I try to jerk away, but Miles doesn’t let me. “We’ll go outside in a minute, Cali. I just need you to take a few breaths for me.”

I don’t feel like I can. He’s pressed too close to me.

“Get off me,” I gasp.

Ryder’s deep voice growls. “You’ve taken the game too far. I’m stepping in.”

Miles looks back over his shoulder. “Would you fucking stop? You can’t kill her.”

Miles shifts just enough that I can see the other two men. Sawyer yells, “So she won’t get all the points, and we’ll handle it then! Nothing has gone too far.”

They’re both panting, hair and clothes disheveled. They look like they’ve rolled around with each other, and the taste of dust and mothballs fills the air.

“Cali is my mark,” Sawyer is heaving for breath. “You don’t get to change my rules just like I don’t get to change yours when it’s your turn. Just because you decide not to fuck your marks doesn’t mean I can’t do what I want with mine.”

My gut twists. Fuck.

I try to move, but Miles leans into me again and whispers low, “Easy, Cali. He’s trying to help.”

“Sawyer,” Ryder growls. “I have a murder case pending in court. What the hell happens if the cops find her or her DNA at our house, hmm? Did you think about that?”

Sawyer says nothing.

“Yeah, I didn’t think so. You guys will go away, too. I’ll go away for life, if not death, Sawyer. Is that something you want?”

“No! So we’ll move.”

“With a captive?” Ryder looks over Sawyer and right into my eyes. “Doesn’t look like she’ll go anywhere without causing a scene, Sawyer.”

I stiffen.