“We’re ying fucking tag now? This wasn’t part of the n,” Ss growls as we run through the house, getting away from Harlow. “Why can’t we just use the mojo and…”


    “In a minute,” Jack says, looking frustrated. “We’ll talk in the basement, all right? It’s thest ce she’ll go.”


    Ss doesn’t reply, and I wonder if he’s thinking the same thing as me. That Jack is no longer on board.


    Hell. If he tries to convince us to let her go, I swear I’ll fucking hit him. He can like her pussy all he wants and fuck her until morning for all I care, but she’s not leaving this ce. I refuse to be trapped even one day longer.


    All right, scratch that. He can fuck her until morning as long as I get a turn, too. She can blow me while he takes her from behind. Shouldn’t be a problem.


    I really fucking need the little bird before it’s over.


    Jack locks the basement door and we go down the narrow stairs until we reach our card corner. Ss lounges in the armchair and I grab a stool while Jack lights the candles. His hands shake.


    We take off our masks and throw them on a pile. Jack fidgets with his, reluctant to let it go, and Ss rolls his eyes.


    “I fucking knew you’d bail on us,” he says.


    Then he stands up and stomps on his and my mask, breaking the cheap stic into pieces<span id="page_88">.


    “You can keep yours, but I’ll show her my face,” he sneers at Jack. “As we all agreed. It’s time.”


    “We agreed we’d wait until morning,” Jack answers, clutching his mask. “And I can wear it if I want. It’s not like it will change much.”


    Ss’sugh is sharp as he sits down again, long legs sprawled before him.


    “You’re right. It won’t change anything, because she will see me and Caden. But even if she didn’t… Do you think she’s stupid? I saw her checking you out with that cute little frown on her face. She’ll figure it out. Hmm, I wonder how she’ll take it. You don’t suppose she’ll spread her legs again when she knows who you are?”


    There’s a mean smirk on his face, and for a moment, I feel sorry for Jack. She’s his first and only love, and while he’s never told us that, we know. Jack’s in love.


    But once she realizes who he is, she’ll hate him. Now that he’s had her, he must be terrified of her reaction. I know I’d be.


    Not to mention all that other baggage. How conflicted he must be, knowing she was the one who got us into this mess. I even struggle with it now, and Harlow was never important to me. Not like she’s to him.


    “Fine!”


    Jack throws his mask on top of ours and paces the room, his fists clenched. Ss rolls his eyes and waits, but I’m not so patient. Jack’s unstable right now. I know the power pussy has over men, because I’ve been there, and I fucking know. He’s too far gone.


    She will hate him, and he will still choose her over us.


    We can’t let it happen.


    “You might want to sacrifice yourself and let her go despite what she did,” I tell him quietly. “But this affects all of us. It’s not just you on the line, Jack. So fucking get over it, whatever this is. And I get it, I really do. You pined <span id="page_89">after the girl for years. Hell, I see the appeal myself. She even got through to Ss, for fuck’s sake.”


    Ss clenches his jaw, his eyes shing, but he doesn’t contradict me.


    “But you have to see the big picture, man,” I tell Jack when he stops in front of me, braced for a fight. “What happens a year from now? Five years? Twenty? This has been going on for just two, and I don’t know about you, but I’m going crazy here.”


    Jack’s shoulders slump, and he looks defeated before his eyes fire up again, this time not with anger. He’s determined.


    “What if there’s another way?” he asks, chin raised in defiance. “What if I figure out how to solve this so everyone is happy?”


    Ss sighs, and for the first time tonight, his armor falls away and I see how tired he is. I want to hold him, but I know better. No touching when he’s vulnerable.


    “Be my guest,” he says, voice deep and weary. “If you figure something out before morning, I’ll be happy to do it… If only to have more time to make her pay. But if you don’t, I’m going through with the original n. I’m not staying here, that’s for sure. And Jack? She’s not worth it. Nobody is.”


    I wince, because I don’t feel the same way. Seeing my reaction, Ss gives me an apologetic look but doesn’t amend his words. I don’t expect him to. I know him too well.


    It still hurts like hell. But it also means he’ll stay the course.


    Jack already fell off the wagon, and I might hesitate, but Ss will get us through this. He’s ruthless and effective.


    Harlow doesn’t stand a chance.


    Jack’s eyes reflect the candle’s me when he nods, and I sigh, looking at the ceiling when I hear a thud above. She’s probably trying to ram the front door open.


    “But until you figure it out,” Ss says, a sick smile twisting his mouth, “we’re going through with the n. And I want to see you give it your all, <span id="page_90">Jack. I will consider other options, but only if you do as we agreed. I need this. I may feel sorry for her, but that doesn’t wipe out what she did.”


    I expect Jack to fight him on this, but instead, his mouth twists in an answering grin.


    “You don’t have to tell me twice,” he says, looking up when another desperate thud filters in from above. “She likes being scared. And since she’ll know who I am… Yeah, it’s better this way. I’ll be happy to spice things up as long as I have your word.”


    He looks at Ss, who gives him a nod, and then at me.


    And fuck, if he can really do this? Figure out a way for all four of us to get out of this? I’m game.


    Before, we were so consumed by our rage and hate for Harlow, we didn’t really consider other ways. Messing with her, designing this game, was all we could think about. Our rage fueled it.


    But now that she’s here in the flesh, I don’t really hate her. She’s a victim, just like us. And yet, if it’s either her or me, I will pick myself.


    Unless Jack finds another way. He’s so motivated, he just might.


    I give him a sharp nod, and Jack turns back to the stairs. He releases a long breath, running his hand over his buzz cut, and I look over at Ss. He’s watching me, eyes glittering, face guarded, and I have no idea what he’s thinking.


    Until Jack goes up the stairs and Sses over, cupping my cheek.


    “I lied. You’d be worth it for me,” he says and looks away, brows pinching in anger as his hand falls away.


    He hates being emotional. Which makes moments like this one so precious.


    I grip his hair and make him look back at me.


    “And you, for me,” I say before I kiss him.


    He kisses me back, hungry and demanding, until we break apart, panting, his hooded eyes on me, his lips swollen<span id="page_91">.


    And at that moment, right there, I know I’ll help Jack find another solution. I’m motivated, too.


    There is a high-pitched scream from above, and Ss grins, turning toward the stairs. Blood pumps faster in my ears, arousal stirring at the base of my spine.


    Whatever happens, we’ll always have this. This night is ours. And I intend to milk it for what it’s worth.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    “Let’s scare our girl to death,” Ss says with a grin and goes up the stairs.


    I follow him with augh. Oh, yeah. Let’s.