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“You’re coddling her,” he says, putting his arms through the sleeves of the latest shirt I also found for him. It looks snug around his arms but is a general good fit. “Just like everyone in her life does. You can either earn her respect or be another servant who services her. You decide.”
“And why the fuck should anyone take any kind of advice from some fuck ass like yourself,” Zane responds.
“Because I’m the only one not even remotely interested in fucking her.”
I cast him a skeptical eye.
“Sure,” he says, putting on the shorts. “She’s a pretty bird, and maybe at one point, I would have fucked her when she was literally begging me for it. But all I see is a spoilt brat with a rich daddy who will disappear so far off your radars once we’re rescued, leaving you all in the dust.” He looks at each one of us. “Nah, I’m not into being her sex slave.”
“You’re wrong,” Zane insists. “You know nothing about Eve.”
“You’re also wrong,” Jack interjects, “I’m not fucking the wildcat. Yet. But I also think there’s more to Eve that none of you have unlocked about her.”
I’d love to believe what my heart tells me, but my brain has doubts. How much is Eve’s emotional status based on survival mode with five men on the island, and how much is real? She sought me out, the obvious leader of the pack, and convinced me to sleep with her, securing my place within the group and fortifying her protection under my authority.
“Cleopatra,” I blurt out.
“What?” Astro looks at me as if I’mbarking mad.
“She’s Cleopatra,” I say, and all three look at me with a puzzled look.
“He’s lost the plot,” chimes Jack, and I huff a laugh at his suggestion.
“Cleopatra recognized the political power of sexual alliances she created with both Marc Antony and Julius Caesar,” I explain. “She wielded the political influence with both men, securing crucial military support and diplomatic protection for Egypt. Manipulating their affections, she safeguarded her kingdom, leveraging relationships to bolster defenses and maintain sovereignty. Cleopatra's unconventional methods cemented her legacy as a cunning leader in history.”
“I don’t see the connection between Cleopatra of Egypt and Eve Winters of New York,” Zanes says.
But I do.
And somehow, I’m not upset because, like Cleopatra, Eve’s moves involved a combination of genuine affection, political calculation, and the pursuit of mutual interests. She’s the perfect partner for me, and I believe her feelings for me are sincere, as they are for Zane and probably Byron. But she’s not a pushover and will walk away if one of us loses their usefulness.
Eve is astute, strategic, and discerning. She plays her game well, and while I don’t know if the other two realize similar about her, I know they recognize her for who she truly is. There is no lie when she shows her affection. She’s pragmatic about who she chooses to show her true nature to.
“Are those my fucking shorts?”
I turn to find Zane staring at Astro, and I cock my head to see how the two men will deal with this; if they will kill each other or find some mutual neutral zone.
“You want it back?” Astro says. “Because, unlike you, I’m happy in my own skin.”
“You’re a fucking freak,” Zane sneers. “Keep the damn shorts. No one wants to see that ugly prick of yours.”
“I’ll keep the clothes, but after my near death experience, I’ve changed. I see how confined we’ve all been living. I’ve been set free from the restrictions of life.”
Zane shakes his head, “You’re full of shit.”
“Come on,” I jump in, “carry only what you can. We should come back to pick up some of these metal parts. If they can float in water, they might be useful.”
“Are we sailing out of here?”
I don’t answer Zane, but I have the feeling that at some point, we may out-welcome our stay on this island and will need some form of a fast escape.
“It’s better to be prepared for anything,” I reply without delving into what I fear most.
Chapter 27
I wipe the sweatfrom my brow, glancing at Foster, leading the way through the dense jungle foliage back to camp. The air is thick and humid, each breath heavy with the scent of damp earth and vegetation. My muscles ache from carrying all this shit back, but if there’s a chance to build something to get us off this damn island, then I’ll keep moving and hauling it all in silence.
Astro and Jack follow closely behind, and for once, Astro isn’t mouthing off about some nonsense bullshit. Thankfully the asshole decided to cover himself up instead of treating the island like a locker room fantasy. He has a complete disrespect for Eve on every level.
