“Who’s the other chair for?” I ask to fill the awkward silence. Perelli nods to a guard who has taken position by a door through the living area, who promptly enters the room and returns a moment later with a slumped figure held up in his meaty hands. Holy shit.
Wyatt is barely recognisable except for his hair flicking forward into his swollen eyes. Blood coats his cheeks, a bend to his mid-section and limp in his left leg speaking of further hidden injuries. And fuck I know I should want to laugh and cheer, but my heart squeezes at the sight. Meg’s gasp grabs my attention, her hand clamping over her mouth and tears rising in her pale blues. I watch curiously, figuring she’d be rooting for his suffering more than any of us. Wyatt is led to Meg’s side and willingly slumps in the seat, groaning from the movement. She reaches over to grasp his hand, rubbing her thumb over his split knuckles where he clearly tried to fight back.
“You two-faced motherf-“ Garrett’s words are cut short and his attempt to dive from the sofa is thwarted by a direct punch to the jaw, courtesy of the guard watching the two of them like a hawk. There is way too much testosterone in this room for my liking and my foot taps impatiently.
“Come on then, let’s get this over with.” I urge. Perelli chuckles, still absentmindedly shuffling the deck in his bony fingers.
“You amuse me little Avery. It’s been a long time since a female has shown more balls than one pledged as my own. But I prefer my chances three to one. All three of you can play for the chance to relieve your father of his crime against me. One game. If you beat me as the house, you will walk out that door and never see me again. But if you lose, you are to come willingly.” I nod in agreement, holding his eye as he begins to deal out the cards and a silence falls over the room.
An ace is placed in front of Wyatt, who can barely open his eyes to see, a nine for Meg and ten of spades for me. Perelli places another ace in front of himself with a smirk. Shit. Everyone holds their breath as the jack of diamonds is placed before Wyatt and releases him from our father’s debt. He instantly leans into Meg, uttering apologies, and reassuring words I force myself to block out. Eavesdropping has never been my style, but his words sound too private for even the nosiest of people to pry on.
The four of hearts is dealt for Meg next, and a seven to me. I keep my poker face solid, not betraying the rising panic for Meg’s hand. I know she isn’t a fan of blackjack, but we’ve practiced enough during our time at the safe house for her to make a rational decision. Perelli finally lays a face-down card next to his ace and links his fingers together beneath his chin.
“I’ll stick,” I say first, looking over to Meg with raised eyebrows. Come on, you’ve got this. There’s still hope.
“Hit me,” she breathes, a quiver in her small voice that has Wyatt pulling her into his lap. I’ve definitely missed something here but she’s not resisting so I leave it for now. Picking the top card from the deck, the shining silver bridge logo stamped across that too, Perelli slowly leans forward and turns it at the last moment to reveal the ten of spades. Bust.
A sob bubbles from Meg’s lips, Wyatt crushing her into his body and cradling her gently. Perelli’s wicked smile has my teeth grinding together, the urge to leap across the table and strangle the bastard overwhelming. But men as powerful as him always have a second in command, briefed and ready to step into his vacant spot and continue his work. Flipping his last card over, the three of clubs’ glares at me as all the breath leaves my body. I’m safe. I open my mouth to protest, or even beg and grovel for another round if that’s what it takes for only me to be on the chopping block, when Wyatt beats me to it.
“I’ll take Meg’s place.” I stare at him, stunned, and confused by his words. A cut on his lip has reopened, blood streaming down his chin and onto Meg’s chestnut hair and she cries into his shoulder. Surely, she should be seeking comfort from me? The one who’s fought tooth and nail to find her, the one who came to be with her and half her suffering. Not Wyatt, who kidnapped her in the first place and doesn’t have a thoughtful bone in his body - right? Perelli starts to shake his head but Wyatt gently eases Meg back into her seat and rises with a grunt.
“You know ending my life would prove more satisfying to you. A traitor you can torture and make suffer for as long as it takes before my heart gives out. Why would you take a helpless gazelle when you could mount a lion’s head above your mantle place?” A tense moment passes, the cogs turning in Perelli’s mind visible through his cold eyes.
“So be it.” Using the table to push himself upright, two guards rush to Perelli’s sides while one unnecessarily grasps Wyatt’s arm, despite the fact he’s not resisting. Meg lurches upright, clinging onto his body tight enough to make him wince. Kissing the top of her head, he bends to whisper in her ear as Perelli rounds the table and this time I can’t help but listen to what he has to say.
“Live life for the both of us, Sweetness.”
I hurry to hold her back as Wyatt twists free of her grip and leaves with Perelli. The second the guard watching
