Page 80 of The Bonding Games: Part 2

In my mind, I hear that velvet sin again: What can you do? You did not find the tablets when you stormed the penthouse.

Neither did you, I fire back. Besides, that wasn’t exactly on our bloody minds, Vengeance. All we could think about was you. All we were looking for was you.

She falters, eyes boring into me as I find a space to begin my first set of deadlifts.

Scotty’s voice comes next as he finds his place at the far left side of the room and jumps up, hands latching onto one of the pull-up bars over there. We’ll look together, Love. I’m putting my foot down this time. You’re not doing this alone anymore. Not after what happened last time.

She internally scoffs. As if you could tell me what to do—

Please, Ezzy, Tiger begs, his voice sounding unstable even in her mind.

When it’s silent for too long, Tate adds helpfully, I’ll chain you to our Bonded bed if you try to say no.

Very, very slowly, Ezla’s head turns his way. I do hope you are prepared to face the consequences of that threat later on, my beast.

Pupils blowing out, he almost drops the barbell he’s lifting on his face before stiffening the muscles in his arms again. Fuck yeah, I’m ready for punishment, baby.

Huffing, she’s about to snap back when Alby gets us back on track with a timid and shaky, Please let us help you, Ezla . . . I—I can’t go through that again . . .

Her growl vibrates the walls of my mind. Why must you all insist on putting yourselves in danger? I now do not want you harmed these days, and yet you seem extremely determined to put yourself in its way.

We’re determined to keep you safe, Scotty corrects calmly.

I can protect myself.

Don’t. The word is harsh, but my temper can only be kept on a leash for so long. You might not like it, and fuck, I can feel how much, HC . . . but you need us. She seems to recoil inwardly, but I determinedly push on, You even admitted that part of the reason you trained us was for this, so we could be your soldiers, your guards, to work against your father.

But you are not that any longer. You are . . . you are my . . . You are just mine, she no better than snaps, as if furious that she can’t find a better explanation.

Warmth floods the bond from all angles.

We are. Scotty’s tone gentles. But you feel that? That protectiveness you’re feeling for us now?

Her jaw grinds, but she doesn’t deny it. It would be impossible to when we’ve both seen those feelings in her actions and heard them in her words.

Scotty continues, We feel that too. Fuck do we feel that—we always have. The need to keep you safe and with us is always there, Love, and it’s so strong it’s fucking agony sometimes. It is agony when you refuse to let us be there for you.

Ezla’s side of the bond falls dead silent.

And so I’m taking this decision out of your hands. I’d like your approval, as I don’t like being at odds with you in any way, but we’re not sitting out. We face everything together from now on.

Vengeance’s teeth grind so hard, I can almost hear it from here, and she says, I hate you all, before heading off to warm up and carry out her own set of exercises.

***

“Release me.”

“But, Havoc,” Tate groans as he attempts to pull her into his lap on our lunch break as my brothers and I sit around the dining table with our meals.

“We do not have time for this. I will bind your wrists behind your back and have Cooper feed you if you do not obey me in the next five se—”

He releases her with the most horrified expression on his face. “Fuck no!” He shoots me a disgusted look like I have the lurgy. “Only you can feed me, Havoc.”

“It’s not like I’d want to do that either,” I huff, scowling right back. Then I look up at Ezla. “Also, why the fuck would it have to be me?”

“Because you piss me off the most, and you are also right there.”

I scoff.