Page 2 of The Bonding Games: Part 2

“S-stop, E-Ezla . . . you—you don’t m-mean what y-you’re saying.” Alby’s rasp holds barely contained tears.

Her head lifts, and I grit my teeth as my palms press to the taalk to help me sit up. Fuck, I think Tate’s broken something.

“Actually, she does. I apologise for any confusion,” Joseph says with no apology in his tone whatsoever. “Ezla has a bit of a wild streak. It does not usually go this far. You see, she and I have a unique father-daughter relationship. She is perfectly happy with it, I assure you, despite what you may have been led to believe. However, she sometimes likes to explore. Of course, I am telling you this in confidentiality.”

Is he . . . ? I am in utter disbelief about how deranged this man is. How on earth do people believe the crap that comes out of his mouth?

“Perfectly fucking hap—”

When Cooper catches my eye, he pauses mid-hiss, brows twitching downwards. It’s hardly a blip in time, but thank fuck it’s enough for him to change his tune as he continues with a minor shift, “Of course she is. As long as you get some cock, right, Ezla? Doesn’t matter whose.”

Tate roars, leaping up to his feet and charging at him next. “I’LL KILL YOU!” he rages, and I don’t at all doubt his promise as I take in the look on his red-hot face. I myself feel like rushing Cooper, even if it was the right thing to say in this situation.

Tiger shoves Cooper, a mask of wrath and pain the likes of which I’ve never seen before contorting his usually smiley features. “How could you say that?” Another shove, and Cooper crashes into Tate, who doesn’t hesitate to wrap a tree-trunk arm around his neck. The former’s face purples as he lets out a choked sound and smacks at the limb restraining him.

No one helps him. Not even Alby moves, his tear-streaked face frozen, puffy eyes locked on Cooper as if he’s never seen him before.

Struggling to my feet, I painfully work to get oxygen into my pummelled lungs. “Tate, stop,” I force out with a wince, just the act of speaking shooting pain all throughout me. At the same time, Ezla walks over, and the large man does freeze then, relief blowing through me as his muscles relax and his attention lasers into our Bonded. Cooper sucks in multiple ragged handfuls of air, stabbing an elbow back into him, which Tate hardly seems to notice, only letting out a quiet puff of air as Cooper breaks out of his hold, that ever-present intensity in his gaze glued to Ezla.

“He is only telling the truth, Player 4.”

His expression falters. “Don’t call me that, Havoc,” he growls.

Ignoring him, she slowly steps closer, and his fingers twitch with the need to drag her into him. Fortunately, he somehow holds back. “But it is all you are,” Ezla replies unfeelingly.

I stamp down on the pain her words bring me.

“No, Havoc—”

“Did you truly believe anyone could love you?”

He stiffens, and I hide my grimace.

“That I could one day love you?” She throws her head back and laughs, the robotic notes spearing cruelly through the otherwise-silent room. “Someone who stalked me online for years, no less. Do you think someone like that deserves to be cared for?”

Tate’s jaw stiffens, fists clenching at his sides.

“Do not be so cruel, Daughter.” Joseph’s glinting eyes are in contrast with his admonishing words. “They are Evots; they do not know any better.” My teeth grind as he moves far too close to my woman once again, a hand coming to rest on her lower back. He directs his next words at me and my brothers. “You see, you could not handle someone like her. And that is completely fine.” Then he feigns sympathy. “I sincerely apologise for any distress this situation has caused you. Rest assured, no more pain shall come from this. I see a couple of you have already seen the truth”—his plain brown eyes move between me and Cooper—“and I hope, in time, that you will find the right person for you. Unfortunately, the world does consider you to be in a . . . romantic relationship”—he almost loses his composure there—“so you will have to put on a show for the public—look pretty in Games and continue your training together. But once this year’s Bonding Games is over, you may go your separate ways. Everyone knows Bonded groups are very private after the event; no one will find it strange to not see you out and about together.”

No matter how convincing he thinks he is, I’m sure none of my brothers actually believe this bullshit. This man wants us dead. Even if Cooper and I have managed to convince him of our pain and anger directed at Ezla, I know he won’t want to risk his hold on her. He’ll wipe us all out, no hesitation, just for reassurance. I’ve never seen the monster clearer than I’m seeing him right now, and I just know his mind is so warped, that he’s so possessive over a woman he has no right to be possessive over, he won’t be able to settle without the threat—us—completely abolished.

To bury the dagger even further into us, Ezla runs a hand over Joseph’s chest. Everything in me recoils, urging me to yank her away. Humming, that robotically modified voice purrs, “Let’s return home, Father. I grow impatient for some alone time.”

Teeth grinding, I wonder if the force of the action will make dust of them. Cooper isn’t far behind me on that, his chest rising and falling too rapidly, too heavily, and Tate is seconds away from attempting something that will have him killed faster than anyone can blink.

“No, Ez!” Tiger cries, rushing towards her suddenly, and I lunge, catching him around the waist. He’s too lost to his pain to care about my own as he thrashes against my beaten body, and I suck in sharp breaths every time he hits a particularly sore spot. “Let go! Scotty, let go! He’s going to hurt her, what are you doing?!”

Another faker-than-anything sympathetic look is given to my brother, another aimed at me. “I trust you will all be okay?”

Does this fucking look like we’ll be okay?

Keeping the whirlwind within me at bay, I nod stiffly. Then I look to my Bonded as her nauseating sperm donor begins to guide her to the door.

My brother becomes more desperate, provoking a dizziness in my head with each mad movement. “NO! SCOTTY, LET GO! LET GO! I’LL HATE YOU! STOP HIM! STOP HIM, SCOTTY!” My ears ring, muffling the cacophony of more shouts and hits connecting nearby as Cooper lunges on Tate to restrain him as well.

Grinding my throbbing jaw, I lock venomous eyes on my Bonded. “Look what you’ve done to us, Ezla. Are you finally happy? Is this all that was needed to bring you joy?”

I think I’m going to be sick as some of her agony slips through the bond.