Page 44 of Play The Game

The chump at the door stares at us.

I don’t know him, he’s obviously new, and I do not like the way he’s leering at Avery. It’s hard not to lose my shit because I knew this would happen! I fucking warned them all and I can already see the way our night is going to go. If he doesn’t stop looking at her, Ash is going to beat him, then Harley will seal the deal and slit the fucker’s throat, all while Blaise watches them with glee, and we haven’t even made it into the building yet.

The guy sneers at us, his lip curling like he’s some big show worth our attention. “If you’re trying to sneak into this party, you chose the wrong color. The Wolf doesn’t bring friends. Ever.”

Avery giggles mockingly, the sound like glass shards and open arteries. I smirk and take a step forward. “You should let us pass. You’re going to regret it if you don’t.”

He looks over my shoulder at the guys and snorts. “I’m with the fucking Jackal. You think three pretty boys are going to scare me? You all reek of money, but cash ain’t gonna get you in here.”

Blatant lie, cash is the fastest way in if you pick the right color and door, but there’s no good in pointing that out to him.

He pauses again and gives Avery a slow sweep over with his eyes. He’s so busy assessing her that he doesn’t notice the wall of muscle that appears behind him. Avery’s body goes rigid as she takes the newcomer in, her only sign of fear, and the chump probably mistakes the reaction as a response to his predatory gaze.

“Maybe I’ll let you lot in, gimme that little rich cunt to break for the night and the rest of you can go through.”

My eyes lock with Illi’s, my voice cold, as I make my opinion about this piece of shit crystal clear. “No one calls Avery a cunt, Illi. No one.”

The chump pisses himself when he turns to see the Butcher grinning at him, clad only in a pair of white boxer briefs and white combat boots. Well, he also has several knives, a gun, and his signature meat cleaver strapped to his body but personally, I know it’s the grin that means the most danger.

He leans forward and reaches into the chump’s pocket. Avery raises an eyebrow at me and my smile in return is smug as fuck.

“Y’know why your boss handed you this little torch?” Illi croons as he pulls said torch out and waves it in the guy’s face. I laugh quietly under my breath.

Avery is going to lose her mind.

“It-it’s to identify—” The guy fumbles his words so hard Illi pats him on the shoulder and interrupts him.

“Yeah. It’s to find marks that don’t show up otherwise. You used it tonight? You waved it at anyone or are you more of a big-man type? Ah, bingo, I called it! You gotta thing for raping little girls. You like using your cheap little Jackal tramp-stamp to get you some unwilling pussy. I know all about your type.”

Illi switches the torch on and aims it over his cheek.

The Wolf insignia glows.

I startle when I see it because I didn’t mention it to him when I took him on. I didn’t feel comfortable asking him to do it and now Harley’s going to pitch a fit at me. Fuck.

The chump fumbles over his words again, pathetically, “I know y-you belong to th-the Wolf. Everyone does. B-b-but⁠—”

Illi flicks the torch light over to me, and Avery gasps as my skin begins to glow.

“Fuck!” The guy screeches and as he tries to scramble away, Illi stabs him, right in the gut, and gives the knife a little turn for good measure. I didn’t even see his hand move toward the knife; he’s just that good.

I lift a brow at him as the guy squeals like the stuck pig he is.

He gives me an innocent look back, one that only he could have the balls to try right now. “What? He’ll live! You said no one insults your little bestie so I’m making sure it never happens again. You’re welcome! I’d hug you but, honestly, seeing you in that thing is like seeing my sister naked. It’s fucking disturbing so let’s never do this again.”

I laugh and grab Avery’s hand, tugging her forward and glancing over my shoulder at the guys. They’re all staring at Illi with a deep distrust, hatred, and just a little bit wary. I won’t fault them; he did just stab a guy.

“So, this is Illi. He’s a treasure.”

Illi cackles and wiggles his fingers at the guys like he’s an eighty-year-old woman trying to coax them into trying his cookies. Harley scowls, clearly not thrilled to see him, but he no longer looks nauseated around him so I’ll take it as a win. Blaise shrugs and smiles at me, trusting me implicitly. Oh, my sweet naive rock god.

Then there’s Ash.

He surveys Illi with a detached look and then looks at me. “This is the Butcher?”

I nod and wait him out.

“Anyone touches the Wolf or my sister while they’re under your protection, I don’t care what the fuck they call you, I’ll be the one doing the butchering.”