Page 106 of Their Cruel Play
“Fuck.” That can’t be good. My head still throbs from hitting the door frame. I can almost feel his foot brutalizing my side.
“Need more pain meds?” Eli pauses the game and leans forward like he’s getting up.
“No, it’s not that bad. My father.” I set my phone on the coffee table and lift my gaze to meet Eli’s. “He has a plan.”
Eli’s lips tighten. “Fuck.”
Over the years, my father’s plans have always meant I get fucked over. The real concern this time is that his plan will fuck Harper over.
One more year and I’d be out from under his thumb.
“It makes sense. He wants to control me. Harper gives him that control.” I push my fingers through my hair and release my breath. “I could just tell him I already let her go.”
Eli sighs. “He’ll make youwinher back if that’s what he wants.”
Eli’s right. When my father latches onto something, it’s hard to get him to let go.
“Why Harper?” I close my eyes and rest my head on the couch. “Her mother is a nurse. Her father is out of the picture. She gets decent grades, but she’s not competition. Nothing about her is a threat or an advantage to him.”
“You.”
I roll my head and meet Eli’s eyes. He shakes his head.
“You must have shown too much interest in her. But if he allows you to have her, he can pull that thread anytime he wants something.” Eli rubs his hands together. His devious mind works a lot like my father’s. I can’t help but think Eli would bethe son my father wishes I was. “It’s brilliant and dangerous as fuck. He knows he can’t keep hurting you, but he can hurt her to get to you, just like the jackasses at school are trying to do.”
“She’s my weakness.” Last night, I pulled her into my arms on the couch. I could have let her return to the bed with the others, but I wanted her there with me. I can’t even sleep one night without her in my arms. My attachment is becoming dangerous for both of us.
“She’s also your strength.” Eli grabs my arm. “She gives all of us something to fight for. We’ll figure out the school situation, and we’ll handle your father. Together. Like we do everything else. You don’t have to protect her on your own.”
I can see it in his eyes. The truth of what he’s saying. We’re in this together. All of us. She’s ours, and we won’t let anyone hurt her to get to any of us.
Not even my father.
“He wants me at dinner tonight.” I glance at my phone, remembering his parting words to Harper about wearing a pretty dress. My heart feels like a fist wraps around it. “He’ll make me promises. He’ll try to sweeten the pot. But if he wants anything from Harper?—”
“What aren’t you telling me?” Eli’s eyes narrow.
My hands close into fists. “He told Harper to wear a pretty dress for our dinner.”
Eli’s eyes widen. “Do you know what he wants from her?”
“No, but hopefully tonight I’ll find out.”
Harper
I’m done playing. If Nico wants to use me, he can. I know I’ll get off. But fuck him for not listening. For not hearing what I’mtrying to tell him. That we can make this work. We just have to give up the past. Give up on the loyalty I thought I had with him.
We don’t have what we used to, but we can build something new. Like I’m doing with all of them.
Nico strokes his cock as he takes in every inch of me. I don’t mind because it gives me time to check him out. Every inch of him is hard muscle, honed to be quick and take a hit.
We’re not who we were to each other back then. What we have now is nothing like what we had.
He owns me with the others. Yes, we have a neat little girlfriend/boyfriends thing now, but the rules haven’t changed. Yet.
When Nico left me, he didn’t stay in touch. We didn’t grow together.
He said he came back for me. But when it came down to it, he chose them over me.
