Page 153 of Lucky 14

“Are you okay?” Cali leans down to pet him, and the cat sweetly nudges her. “Did you see a Mukade?”

It takes me a hot second to recognize what’s happening. I’m standing here in stupid fucking PJs, scared of a fucking cat. I feel so dumb, and yet my body still feels like I’m being chased by a bear.

Cali peeks around the corner. “Centipedes are everywhere in this fucking house.”

The adrenaline peaks in my system, and I’m reminded I am being chased by a bear, in a way. I’m stuck in the house with the person who’s responsible for kidnapping me.

The emotions overwhelm me, and I can’t breathe. I try to slow my breathing for the four, seven, eight, and I can’t. Instead, I look around the room wildly to try to ground myself. There’s a candle burning on the counter, and I suck in a breath. I smell apples and something tart.

Cali is on the other side of the counter, leaning in and grabbing the ICEE from my hand. “Do I need to beat his ass?”

The flame licks around in a lazy dance. Like it has no worries in the world, and that makes me unreasonably angry. I should be worried. The world is not simple and pretty like stupid fucking candles and sweets. Things can look good, but they never turn out to be. Like fucking Peeps.

Oakley is my fucking Peep.

The rage in my system burns hot, followed quickly by betrayal and a steep drop of sadness. I wanted him to be good, just like I wanted to like Peeps. I wanted Oakley with his sweet attentiveness and loyal stubbornness. Tears start burning in my eyes.

“Damn girl, more than an ass beating?” Then Cali is there, sitting in the chair next to me, and it just makes me want to cry more. Because why is she showing any sort of compassion? She doesn’t know me. I can’t even get friends who know me to show up for casual dates.

“I’m fine,” I grit out, but I’m not. Cali might not be someone I can trust either. Is there anyone I can trust? My brain immediately goes to Wyatt. Wyatt has never pretended to be anything other than who he is to me. A dangerous man who deep down just wants to submit.

Dangerous man. Oh good. I’m thinking of the murder-island game master when I think about someone I can trust.

That’s when the tears break loose. I put my hands on the counter, and a deep choking sob escapes me. I try to cover it up. I don’t want to show weakness, but where else am I going to go? I’m trapped.

My chest aches for the betrayal. Tears slip out from the stress. I can’t breathe due to the fact that I’m trapped now, and I’m not safe. How can I be safe with someone who ruined my life? I’m safer with Wyatt, who tied me up and left me for days, than with Oakley. Wyatt didn’t lie to me. He doesn’t lie to me. He’s up front about who he is. Kyan wouldn’t hurt me; he’s the one who wanted to get us off the island in the first place.

Cali just sits there, petting the fucking cat who wraps around our legs like it wasn’t just biting my ankles. She doesn’t ask, she just sits there. Sitting with me. And slowly, I find myself coming back to a more regulated state where I’m not shaking with adrenaline, the smell of apples floating around.

I glance at Cali. I don’t apologize for feeling feelings, and she doesn’t seem put out by them, but I’m not sure what she wants.

“Which one was it, girl? I’ll cut his nuts off while he’s sleeping.”

I don’t want to talk about me, so I try to deflect. “You cut off balls often?”

Cali shrugs. “I’ve seen it done, I think I could do it right.”

Are all the women here dangerous as hell? I snort. But slowly, I realize they are. You don’t survive a place like this without being a bit dangerous. I didn’t.

For a second, the power of knowing I’m dangerous flows through me, making the tears feel odd. I won the fucking game, and now I’m crying over a man who kidnapped me. Where’s the self-respect?

“This is so fucked up,” I grumble into my arm.

Cali snorts. “I can imagine. Miles nearly shit his pants when he heard there was a woman on the island. And Miles isn’t scared of shit.”

I look at her again. Cali gives me a look that she tries to hide, but I see the hopeful energy. Like she wants something from me. I remember the way she greeted Rachel. Almost like they hadn’t seen each other in forever. Is it possible Cali is lonely?

I glance around the place a bit more. It’s not huge, like it was built for a single family. I don’t remember seeing any other houses here either. Or any boats.

“What happens next?” I ask. She might be lonely, but I’m not under the impression that Cali and her men are some sort of saviors. If anything, I’ve jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

“I assume you’re not talking about what we’re having for dinner?” Cali picks at her nails.

I shake my head.

Cali looks slightly uncomfortable. “I’m not sure if anything is set in stone.”

I turn my full focus on her. What is she hiding?