Page 28 of Play The Game

Just as my smug-bitch level hits an all-time high, I hear the door to our room open and close as someone else arrives and my bubble bursts. Fuck. I guess this is the first real test of our relationship, and even the shower can’t drown out the voice in the back of my mind that tells me there’s no way they’re actually happy with me, or that I’m worth the hassle of sharing.

When I can’t put it off any longer, I finally emerge from the bathroom—where I had thankfully some clothes stashed away—to find Blaise is still out cold and snoring in my bed, an arm thrown over his head. Avery is in the kitchen humming under her breath while she cooks a mountain of pancakes, and Ash is sitting at the breakfast bar on one of the stools with a cup of coffee that he’s gulping down like his life depends on it.

When he hears the door, he turns to offer me a cup, no hesitation or judgment. I let out a breath and nod, sliding into the stool next to his easily. He sets my cup in front of me, then glances at his sister to check her back is still turned before he kisses me. Even with the check, he uses a little too much tongue considering she’s three steps away, but I’m a lost cause and get swept up in him regardless.

He breaks away from my lips, smirking at the dazed look I give him, but his brain appears to be working just fine. “Enjoy this while it lasts, Mounty. Harley just finished up at the pool, he’s on his way here to eat and then we’re working on assignments until my track meet. Avery is getting twitchy about biology already so she’s cooking her frustrations out.”

I mean, pancakes aren’t my favorite, but I’ll never complain about a home-cooked breakfast, especially when Avery’s the one making it. Plus, I could eat fifty of them right now, I’m that hungry.

With a withering look over her shoulder, Avery snarks back at Ash, “Why do we always have to cut up dead things? It’s disgusting.”

He scoffs at her, shaking his head. “Too bad you’re not paired with the Mounty; Harley told me word on the street says her hand is the steadiest.”

I elbow him in the ribs while Avery laughs. We get set up on the table, pancakes and assignments spread out around us, and eat while we wait for Harley. I refuse to wake Blaise and I don’t mention that it’s because I know the real torture will start the moment he does. Ash and I dig into our meal with reckless abandon, but Avery is clearly distracted as she pokes and prods at hers, her mind on her phone more than her food. When she looks up, I quirk an eyebrow at her.

“Joey has moved to my father’s estate in Washington. He has a new dealer and he’s already causing problems there.”

I pull a face at her. “Problems like a trail of dead bodies?”

Ash huffs under his breath. “Senior is not enjoying being on Joey babysitting duty. It was easier for him to leave it to us. He’s already stabbed two of my father’s men when they tried to stop him from going out.”

I nod slowly. I have the opportunity to finally ask why the hell Ash’s life depends on Joey breathing, but I’m not sure now is the right time, not with Blaise snoring and Harley on his way back. Avery sees the indecision on my face and cuts a careful look at Ash.

“Senior has made his disappointment very clear that Joey is the only one of his progeny to have inherited his taste for violence.”

Right.

Gross.

Harley unlocks the door—for fuck’s sake they all must have keys—and wanders in. He scoffs at Blaise’s snoring form and throws a pillow at him, hitting him square in the head, but Blaise doesn’t so much as twitch. After pulling a chair up next to mine, Harley’s eyes are intense as he looks me over, but he kisses my cheek sweetly without comment, his wet hair tickling the side of my face. I try, and fail, to not start blushing, but I’m so fucking relieved.

I clear my throat. “Your dad’s pissed because the two of you are ruthless dictators, but also manage to have morals? Jesus fucking wept. I don’t want to meet the guy. Knowing and dealing with Liam O’Cronin is enough, thanks.”

Ash scoffs again and says, “Please tell me you’re going to record yourself slitting that cretin’s throat so we can all enjoy it.”

“It’s on my list.”

Harley’s hand squeezes my thigh, not missing a beat in the conversation he’s walked into. “Can we pretend for one second that you’re not the most secretive person on the fucking planet and can you tell us what’s on the list?”

Blowing out a breath, I share a look with Avery. “We should wait until Blaise is up, so I don’t have to repeat myself.”

I realize what I’ve done the moment the words leave my mouth.

Avery gives me a sly look, and I brace myself for the shit I know she’s about to grab a spoon and start stirring. “Ash, go shake the asshole awake. Ask him what he’d like for his last meal on Earth, because I’m going to gut him for kicking me out of my own room just so he could get his dick out. Mounty, I hope he was gentle with you.”

Kill me.

Just fucking kill me now.

I tip my head back and stare at the ceiling for a second, blushing furiously and avoiding any of the eyes that are now glued on me. Blaise decides that this is the moment he will return to the land of the living, sitting up sharply, and I’m sure the look he gives Avery will earn him a knife to the kidneys from Ash or Harley.

“Leave her the fuck alone.”

The look Avery gives him in return is so fucking cold the temperature in the room changes. “She’s my best friend. I can ask her if I need to kill you if I want to.”

Blaise heaves himself out of bed, looking rumpled and fucking delicious, before stalking over to us. He doesn’t bother grabbing a shirt, unrepentant in just his boxers with his brightly tattooed body on almost full display.

He kisses my head sweetly, cradling my cheek as he snaps back at her, “Don’t be a bitch about it. Ask her that when we’re not around, don’t make her feel like shit by putting her on blast. This isn’t a fucking game.”