Page 137 of The Bonding Games: Part 2

She’s shaken, for once more unsteady than any of us, and yet she still stands in front of us, ready to fight for us and take on everything alone. Like fuck am I letting her, but Christ, my heart squeezes like a bitch.

“Daughter . . .” Joseph breathes, and I’m immediately more unsettled than before as I slowly inch towards Ezla and Scotty, because that . . . that did not sound fucking stable. “How I have missed you.”

She stays silent, calculating, I know.

Not appearing to care, he continues, “I knew you would come. I admittedly did not know when, but I had a feeling today might be the day. I have recruited more Exots, you see.” He sweeps a hand out to highlight the straight-backed red-embellished figures standing behind him in perfect formation. “Just today, actually. These ones are still attending Exot third schools, but they will do.” A pause, and his gaze hasn’t strayed from Vengeance for a heartbeat until now. I still halfway up the shallow steps leading up to the door as those dull brown eyes come to rest on me. “They are on the perfect level to keep your men occupied while I simply . . . keep you.”

“You’ll never fucking have her, you sick fuck!” Tate abruptly storms past me, and I curse under my breath.

So much for a slow and cautious approach.

I rush after him, hurried footsteps behind me telling me Alby and Tiger are both hot on my heels.

Calm, my beast. You cannot lose your temper here. Be careful. Wait for my instructions.

The velvet-sin words echo through the bond, and Tate comes to a sharp stop just behind Scotty. I slow my own pace but continue to advance with my other two brothers until we all stand together, a united force at our Bonded’s back.

Joseph’s collected mask twitches as he absorbs the sight of us. But instead of exploding, he only asks too calmly, “Did you like the video?” Before any of us can respond, he tells us, “I did. Very much, in fact. I have many more if you would like to see them, Ezla. They have kept me company since you have been gone—”

“Speak another word, and I’ll slice your head clean off.” Scotty steps forwards, and Ezla’s hands tighten on her batons as he reaches for his own. “Take your eyes . . . off my Bonded.”

My fingers twitch for a weapon of my own, and a tense beat of silence passes.

Before Joseph tips his head back and laughs.

I see Tate’s nose wrinkle in disgust, and he’s visibly fighting with himself to stay put as Ezla ordered.

When Joseph’s chin drops back down, his focus lands entirely on Scotty, eyes studying him leisurely. “You were my favourite, you know? If you were not an Evot, I might have—”

“I don’t give a damn what you might’ve done,” Scotty cuts him off, eyeing him like he’s worth no more than a pile of dog shit. “I don’t care about your worthless approval. All I care about is removing your stain from this world and living a happy life with my woman and my brothers.”

The Game Master’s face turns purple concerningly fast. “She is not your woman.”

“Yes she fucking is,” Tate rumbles, coming to stand directly behind Vengeance like a personal bodyguard. “Our. Fucking. Woman.”

Rather than increasing the colour in his face, Tate’s words seem to bring a calculating glint to Joseph’s eyes. “Ah, but are you not the one who wanted her all to himself? How can you live the rest of your life knowing you do not have her truly—”

Tate barks out a laugh in time with my own scoff, and his mouth snaps shut. “You’re really fucking pathetic, you know that?” I tell him as I come to stand beside Tate and behind Ezla’s outstretched left arm.

Now that colour in his face deepens. “Watch how you speak to me, Evot. I am the Game Ma—”

“Blah, blah, blah.” Tiger waves a hand breezily, and I can tell he’s not lacking in fear, but he doesn’t hesitate to come and join our line in the wide space before the doorway. “No one actually cares, you know? It’s only the Champion who anyone’s really interested in. Also, in case you didn’t get the memo, Tate’s one of us, and he’s completely accepting of all of us, because he wants what’s best for Ezla, what makes her happiest—unlike you.”

Tate lets out a gruff sound of agreement.

Ezla’s head tilts a fraction in warning to us as Joseph digs a malicious glare into us, but I’m thinking she’s secretly enjoying us taking him down a couple pegs, and I’m pretty sure that’s why we’re all so tempted to do it. He’s been placing himself on a throne he doesn’t deserve for far too long.

“It’s true.” Alby’s soft voice from Scotty’s right has my brows jumping up a millimetre. It’s shockingly steady, too, despite the anxiety I can feel radiating from him. “At school, it was only Ezla anyone talked about. I don’t think you really mean anything to anyone.”

Spittle flies from Joseph’s mouth as he grits out, “I mean something to everyone. I am Ezla’s everything. I made her. I love her. I am the only one who understands her—”

“Actually, Joseph.”

I tense up at Ezla’s voice, her use of address. She doesn’t continue, as if the simple words were all she was planning to say. And I know they are then, because that’s all she needed to say to bring about the desired effect.

Joseph has turned to stone. “What did you just call me?”

“Joseph,” Ezla replies without inflection.