Page 60 of Their Cruel Play
“You have the best, kitten.” Eli winks, and I can’t help but smile.
“We’re equals.” This part is important. I look each of them in the eyes, and they all nod. “Good.”
“We need to discuss what’s happening with Zach and Tanner.” Eli leans his elbows on his knees. “Zach is a problem and won’t be easy to put in his place.”
“He didn’t act alone.” I lean back against Luke’s chest, drawing from his warmth. “I was trapped in that laundry room for a while before he showed up.”
“Okay, give us a rundown of what happened at the game from the start.” Caden nods toward me. “Try not to leave anything out, little nympho.”
“Kenz and I met Sidney and Emma. Emma took Jack’s jersey and Sidney gave me Luke’s, which smelled like she’d dumped a whole bottle of perfume on it and had lipstick on the number.” My brow furrows as I remember. “It was crowded, but when we were walking up, Sidney and Emma were talking to a couple guys from the basketball team.”
I recognized them.
“Who, kitten?”
“I don’t know them, but I recognized them as basketball players. Sorry.” I shake my head.
Jack has his laptop out, and the keys click in the background as I tell them about the incident.
I explain about the bathroom and the cheerleader. When I got into the locker room and the girls who were there. I tried my best to recall the exact conversation I had with Zach while in that closet, but part of me was focused on escaping the situation.
I blow out a breath as I finish answering their questions as best as I can, but there’s not really any more I can give them.
“What are you going to do?” I ask looking at each of them.
“Did you find out anything, Jack?” Luke’s chest rumbles against my back when he speaks. I’m relaxed against him as his hand strokes up and down my arm. It’s comfortable and nice.
“If Tanner and Zach are in communication, it’s not online. If you want me to search video, it will take longer.” Jack squints at his screen as he continues to type.
“Zach won’t be easy to take down.” Luke blows out a breath. “Did you get a chance to find someone to talk to Ashley?”
Eli shakes his head. “I need to coach someone through it. Ashley won’t give up information to just anyone.”
“Why don’t you talk to her?” It seems like the easiest way.
Eli focuses on me. “Because to do that, she’ll want me to touch her. She’ll want what only I can give her.”
“What’s that?” I’m confused, but I don’t want him touching her.
“Ashley and I used each other to get what we needed.” Eli rubs the back of his neck. “She enjoys pain, and I enjoy inflicting it.”
I’ve only brushed the surface of what Eli needs. “Is that something you want to do with me?”
“When we have time to discuss it more. It’s not something I would do to you without your awareness and consent.” Eli’s eyesare heated as he watches me, trying to read what I’m thinking, checking to see if I’m strong enough to handle him. “But Ashley wouldn’t like being toyed with. She would come after you if I betrayed her that way.”
I swallow. “Aren’t they already coming after me?”
“Yes and no, kitten.” Eli gives me an uneasy smile. “Not the way Ashley can.”
A shiver works through me.
“We don’t know everyone’s involvement yet.” Caden rubs his hands together. “We need more time to untangle who all is involved and figure out who is still on our side.”
Harper’s phone
Me:
Last night was almost as insane as the night before
