Page 133 of The Bonding Games: Part 2

“I do not like it either. I would rather you all stay with me. But this is how it has to be. You will all tell me if you sense anything off. Anything at all,” DN instructs firmly, her full attention cutting into us one by one.

Scotty’s brow furrows. “But how can we split up if we need your fingerprint to get into every room?”

Ezla waves a lazy hand. “There is a main control point I will be able to use to unlock all the doors for you that is used to keep certain rooms open for guests without needing to alter each door panel separately.”

“You’re telling me we could’ve used that when we came to look for you?”

She looks Cooper’s way as a deep frown mars his face. “No. This biometric scanner is not built like the others; breaking it would have simply locked you all in. Besides, it is built deeply into the wall and hardly visible to the eye—you would not have found it so easily.”

It’s silent for a beat after that.

Upon a single glance when we first entered the penthouse, it was clear that the inside had been fixed up just like the hatch on the roof, as expected—the scanners Tate bashed in the last time we were here are now in perfect condition. And it’s unsettling in here, but I feel a lot calmer despite the situation with Ezzy right here. But separating . . .

Panic begins to rise within me, focus narrowing back down to the fact that we’ll be apart. “But what if he’s left something in here? Like—like . . . I don’t know—”

Reaching up, Ezla grabs my hair harshly. “I will be alright, my wild one, and so will you.” She tells me this in a way that says “believe me, or else”, and every cell inside me sparks to life.

I nod quickly, uncaring about the way it has my hair tugging painfully against her grip. “Yes, Ezzy.”

But my nervousness hasn’t died down enough for me to settle completely, and I shift anxiously on my feet. Knees bobbing, I keep my mouth firmly shut, not wanting to annoy her—

DN’s mouth is on mine.

Oh.

Ohhhh.

Neck dipping to immediately deepen it, I make an eager sound in the back of my throat. Also, I’m such a pro now as I lick up her delicious taste, my tongue—

Wifey is now pulling me away.

“Wait, Ezzy!” I cry in anguish. “I wasn’t done—”

Her simple raised brow has my mouth snapping shut.

“I would not send you off if I truly thought that it is unsafe. But Joseph does not let others in here, and I am fully confident in the fact that he is not here,” Ez tells me.

Pouting, my brain lags for a moment as I struggle to remember where we are and what we’re doing.

“Hey! You seduced my memory away!” I accuse a moment later. Or cheer, I can’t tell. It’s exciting times.

Her eyes roll, but her lips twitch, and I know she’s hiding one of her gorgeous smiles. “We are looking for your citizen tablet as well as your brothers’.”

“Oh, right. Uh-huh.” My eyes narrow on those lips as I internally will them to curl further upwards.

“Tiger,” Ez says more firmly, and I snap to attention, spine straightening. “We must move now. We must be fast.” A seriousness takes over me in a flash as I remember how pressing this situation is. Looking over her shoulder at my brothers, she orders, “Go in different directions. Any will do—there are rooms all over the place. Send updates along the way, and I will do the same. Leave no space untouched.” She doesn’t give anyone time for more hesitation as she pulls away from me, spins on her heel, and marches off down the hall.

Heart jumping, I share an anxious glance with Alby beside me.

“Right,” Scotty starts, infusing confidence into his tone, but he can’t hide the pinch of his own cautiousness in there. He turns his attention to me. “Do you remember the cinema room?” After I nod, he says, “You head in that direction and check all the surrounding rooms.” To Alby, “The pool.” And finally, to Tate and Cooper, “The training rooms and the library.”

“And you?” Cooper asks with a nudge of his chin, arms crossing over his chest.

“The spa room,” he replies. “We’ll make our way around all the ones left over afterwards.” Then he looks around at all of us. “Okay, as Ezla said, we need to get moving. Everyone ready?”

A chorus of low yeses ring out.

“Alright. Then let’s split up.”