Chapter 5

FIVE

SEVEN

Nothing about this plan is good.

I only have a hundred and fifty-two dollars to my name, I have to convince the guards at the top of the elevator to let me go downstairs alone and unsupervised, and worst of all, I have to leave Nacho behind.

I look at the sleeping kitten on the bed, my fingers itching to reach out and pet his soft fur. He must be dreaming about something because I can see him twitch, and the urge to soothe him back to a steady sleep is strong.

But I can’t.

I can’t linger for another minute, because the longer I’m here, the more likely it is that Caleb Spade himself will return and come for me—and then I really won’t be able to get out of here.

I pad quietly out of the bedroom, nudging Miss K aside with my foot when she tries to dart past me, and close the door behind me. My heart is already heavy, and it’s ridiculous. Nacho deserves a good, stable life, and that’s not something I can give him while I’m on the run.

Fuck.

We don’t use those words, baby.

I shudder, but I remind myself that I’m my own person now, and I can say or think whatever the fuck I want.

I find the pair of flip-flops in the bag Vortex had brought up for me and slide them on, running my hand through my hair and scowling at myself in the mirror near the foyer. I look like a joke, but at least I’ll be able to get through the casino without seeming out of place with this ridiculous get-up on.

Of course, that assumes I can get past Goon A and Goon B to get downstairs to begin with.

I nibble on my bottom lip, considering. Caleb had made it pretty clear to them that I was a guest who was meant to stay confined to this suite, but he’s nowhere around. It’s late, and they’re probably sleepy and bored. Maybe they’ll even welcome the thought of going downstairs, and once we’re in the crowd…

What are they going to do? Chase me through the casino?

Nodding to myself, I cast one last glance in the direction of the guestroom, then stride confidently out of the suite.

There’s only one guard out there, and I catch him yawning before he snaps to attention.

“You’re… Uh, you’re Mr. Spade’s guest.” He reaches down for his walkie talkie, but I put my hands on his.

“Yep, I’m his special guest,” I say, smiling. “He’s still down there, right? I’m a bit cold, so I thought I’d pop down to the shop for a sweater.”

The guard frowns at me. “Just let me contact Mr. Spade.”

Nope. I absolutely cannot have him reaching out to Caleb right now.

My fingers curl around the guard’s, and I wonder if I’m even barking up the right tree. It doesn’t really matter if I am or not. I don’t need him to fuck me. I just need him distracted, disoriented. Just something , so he doesn’t do what he normally would.

“He was pretty busy the last time I talked to him,” I tell him. “I think he’d be a little annoyed if you bothered him about something so small. I promise I’ll be fast. He’ll never even know we left.”

The guard is clearly weighing his options, then sighs. “We’ll go down to the gift shop and straight back.”

“Yeah, of course,” I say, staying in his personal space to make sure he’s not going to have a change of heart and go for the walkie-talkie.

He doesn’t, and I’m able to hit the button on the elevator that’s just beyond him as my chest brushes against his.

My heart is hammering in my chest, and I half expect to see Caleb himself standing in the elevator when it finally gets to the top of the building. In a change of luck, it’s empty, and I step inside, huddled up with a shiver like I really am cold.

The guard keeps his head straight up. As we go down, a few people join us on the elevator, dressed for a night out on the town.

One of the women who gets on looks at me and laughs. “They lost your luggage, too?”

The more people who get into the elevator, the better. I can get off with them and maybe lose the guard that much more quickly, especially if I build up a rapport with them.

At least, that’s what I tell myself. In reality, being around so many people has my skin crawling, and I itch to get away from them.

“Can you believe it?” I ask with a self-conscious laugh. “And they keep these rooms so cold, too!”

“It happened to me on my last trip out here,” she says with a smile. “I think I bought the same shirt. At least you’ll have a good souvenir of the trip.”

Right. A good souvenir.

These clothes are going right into the trash as soon as I find something to change into.

I don’t need any memories of Caleb Spade, of the way he’d touched me and made me call him Master, of the way he’d touched my cock…

I shove those thoughts away. I make small conversation with her the rest of the way down, steadily edging away from the guard as the elevator continues to fill with people.

By the time we get to the lobby, there are at least four people between us, and I make my casual goodbyes as I head in the general direction of the gift shop.

The guard quickens his stride to catch up to me, and I curse that I haven’t already lost him.

The gift shop is bustling with people though. I start doing the usual browsing thing, rifling through goods. The guard meets my eyes and parks himself by the entrance.

Damn. If he’d come inside, I might have been able to slip out and into the crowds without him noticing.

I pick up a cigarette lighter and absently pocket it, touching more of the knicknacks to make it look like I’m just an undecided shopper.

A tall man with tan skin picks up a coaster from the same shelf I’m rifling through.

“If you’re going to shoplift, you probably shouldn’t do it right on camera,” he says in a low voice.

“Wanna show me how to do it then?” I ask him, bumping my side against his. “If you’re such an expert and all.”

“Nah. I don’t want to get kicked out of the casino entirely. Already pushed my luck today.” He turns to look at me, and I get a good look at his handsome face. Latino, black hair, with high cheekbones and intense eyes. The scar doesn’t do anything to detract from his hotness.

“Are you a gambling man?” I ask him, smirking. “Because I’d love to make a bet with you.”

He raises his eyebrows and smiles back. “Yeah? I don’t generally bet with somebody without knowing their name first.”

His eyes rake over my body, and I shift so he can get a better view. When his eyes land on my face again, I lick my lips. “Seven. And what should I call you?”

“Havoc.” He holds out his hand for a handshake.

I take his hand, squeezing it tightly, and press in closer to him. “There’s a man over by the door who can’t keep his eyes off of me. I bet…” I consider how best to put the words. “I bet you can’t keep his attention off me long enough for me to meet you at the bar down the strip.”

Havoc huffs a small laugh. “Nice try. Who is he really? A bodyguard your rich father set on you?”

I pout at him. “So what if he is?” I ask, leaning into the lie. “You get him out of my hair, and I’ll make it worth your while.”

Havoc rolls his eyes. “You got twenty grand on you? Should be nothing for a guy whose father can afford private bodyguards.” He glances over at the security guard. “I’m not getting into a fist fight for anything less.”

“A fist fight sounds a little dramatic,” I say, huffing out a laugh. I stretch, catching the way his eyes take in the sight of my body, and offer my sweetest smile. “C’mon. It’ll be easy. Just distract him, I’ll get out of here, then we can meet up for an intimate little chat.”

“Fine. Only because I want to see how you get past him.” Havoc walks over to another section of the store and fiddles with the products there. I frown, but move toward the clothing aisle so I can grab one of the sweaters.

Havoc then walks to the front of the store and brushes against a group that’s leaving the store. I’m not sure what he did until the group walks through the entrance.

The store’s alarms go off, and all attention turns to them. Even Caleb’s guard walks over to check out the commotion. While his gaze is on them, I slip just behind him, resisting the urge to bolt. I quickly pull on the sweater I’d picked out, tugging down the hem of it in a hurry as I lose myself in the late night crowd.

With all the people milling about the casino, it’s easy enough to stay away from the guards. I resist the urge to run for the entrance, and it pays off. Everyone is too busy to pay attention to me as I simply stroll out the front door.

The outside of the casino isn’t any quieter than inside, but at least the air is moderately fresher. I take a deep breath and make my way toward the closest cab.

“Where are you going?” a familiar voice asks.

I yelp, startled, and spin around to face the source of it. My heart drops into my stomach as I see Caleb’s man Vortex standing there, irritation in his otherwise handsome expression. “For some air,” I say, making a show of taking another deep breath. “It’s stifling in there, don’t you think?”

Vortex rolls his eyes then grabs my arm. “Well, hope you enjoyed your deep breaths. Let’s go, kid.”

This isn’t even fucking fair.

I struggle against him, but his grip is firm as he drags me back inside and toward the elevators.

I spot Havoc leaning against the wall next to the gift shop. He waves to me but doesn’t make any attempt to help me.

Thanks for nothing, asshole.

I glare at him, but I really do feel like an impotent little kid being dragged upstairs by Daddy, and there’s no sense in trying to ask for help from someone who wanted twenty grand for a goddamn fist fight.

“Mr. Spade isn’t too thrilled with you,” Vortex remarks as he strong-arms me into the elevator, glaring at the other two people who try to join us.

“Yeah, well, I’m not too thrilled with him, either,” I retort. “Something about being locked up just doesn’t sit too well with me.”

Vortex shrugs, pressing the button to close the doors of the elevator before anyone else can decide to step inside. “Too bad.”

“You’re hurting me,” I mutter, grabbing his hand and trying to peel his fingers back away from my arm.

“You think I’m hurting you? Just wait until the boss gets his hands on you,” Vortex says, his voice strangely flat.

Clearly I’m not going to escape Vortex, so I change my tactic. I press up against him, sliding my free hand along his chest. “Come on,” I whisper, batting my eyelashes at him. “It doesn’t have to be like this.”

He shifts uncomfortably, and my lips twitch as I try not to smile in triumph. I’m definitely getting to him, for all that he’s trying his best not to let me.

I wonder if all of Caleb’s men are gay, or at the very least, bi-curious.

“Yes, it does,” he says firmly, grabbing my wrist. His grasp isn’t as tight as it had been on my arm, but he shoves me back hard enough to where I stumble. “You’re cute, kid, but you’re just that: a kid.”

I gawk at him. “What does that say about you, then?” I retort angrily, unable to keep my mouth shut. “You keep ogling me. You want me. You don’t really think I’m some kid, unless you’re more fucked-up than you seem to be.”

It’s his turn to flush red—with anger or humiliation, I’m not sure. “Shut up, Seven.”

The elevator dings at the top floor, and he swipes a key card. The doors slide open, and he shoves me again.

The guard who’d nearly let me escape is nowhere to be seen.

As soon as Vortex opens the suite door, I see Caleb. He’s sitting on the living room armchair with Miss K in his lap. She’s butting her head against his chin, but Caleb’s eyes are on me.

“Got him, boss,” Vortex says unnecessarily. He hovers right by the door. “Should I stand outside?”

I don’t think I want to be left alone with Caleb, not when he’s looking at me like that. “You can stay,” I say.

Caleb smirks at me. “Sure, why not. You can stay, Vortex. I might need help putting Seven in his place, after all.”

Okay, now I think I’ve made a mistake.

Vortex shrugs and closes the door fully, stepping inside with steps that are surprisingly quiet for a man of his size. “Okay.”

Fuck.

“Okay, so it’s sort of illegal to keep someone against their will, first of all,” I begin.

“Is it? I had no idea,” Caleb answers sarcastically. “Next you’ll tell me sex work is frowned upon, and that gambling might be addictive.”

I scowl at him. “Has anyone told you you’re a total smartass?” I demand, crossing my arms against my chest.

“I believe my uncle did, just a few hours ago.” Caleb picks up Miss K and sets her on the floor before stalking over to me. I back up a few steps, only to bump against Vortex’s chest.

I’m trapped between a rock and a… well mostly between two hard places.

I can even feel Vortex’s cock stiffening against my ass.

“I was willing to be nice,” Caleb says, grabbing my chin. “But you wasted no time at all to push.”

I squirm, but he doesn’t let go and Vortex doesn’t back off. “Being nice would’ve been to let me go when I made it super fucking clear I didn’t want to be here,” I snap at him.

With my grand total of a hundred and fifty-two dollars, maybe, but I’d have been on my own.

I’d have been free , and money isn’t the only currency I have to offer.

“You want to be out there?” Caleb repeats. “Are you sure? Because right now you are Caleb Spade’s esteemed guest. Nobody in Calamity City will bother you. If you leave… word might get out. I don’t just mean to the Diamantes or the Harts. I mean to everybody who likes pretty boys with lips made just for blowjobs. I mean the people who trade well-trained individuals?—”

My heart drops into my stomach, nausea threatening to make what I’d eaten earlier come back up. “Shut up,” I rasp. “Just shut up.”

Caleb smirks at me. “Oh? When you go missing, you don’t want me to ask the local police to help me find my new… boyfriend?”

Tears burn at the corners of my eyes, and my hands ball up into fists at my sides. “I told you to shut up!” I yell at him, trying to jerk back.

Vortex is still a fucking wall behind me, and he doesn’t budge. He stays silent, and I hate him for it. I hate both of them for this, and I realize I’m shaking with unbridled rage.

Not that it matters.

Neither of them care.

The thought is like a physical blow… or worse, because it’s so familiar, and it brings up so many thoughts, and?—

“Are you going to behave?” Caleb asks coldly.

I swallow hard against the tears. “Yes,” I croak out.

What other choice do I have?

What other choice do I ever have?

Caleb finally releases me, then nods at Vortex. “Carry him into the bedroom. Then strip him down.” He stops and looks at me. “Although maybe we should strip him first before you sling him over your shoulder.”

“Done,” Vortex says, his voice as ragged as mine is—though I don’t think it’s for the same reasons at all.

His hands go to the hem of my sweater, and he yanks it over my head. He tosses it to the side, then does the same to my shirt. I just stand there, letting him strip me completely naked as the stunned shock of what’s happening reverberates through me.

For a minute, I’d maybe thought that Caleb Spade wasn’t that bad.

I’d been fooling myself.

Vortex grabs me and tosses me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing as he hauls me off to Caleb’s bedroom. “Where do you want him, boss?”

Caleb strokes my ass before he answers, “Bad little pets need to be spanked, don’t they?”

I’m trembling, and I struggle to hold in my rising panic. I don’t want to get beaten, even though old habits, old thoughts, tell me that I deserve it for trying to run. They tell me, too, that if I was caught by… anyone else, the consequences would be far worse.

The people who trade well-trained individuals…

“Yeah,” Vortex says, his voice still rough. “I…” He keeps me hefted on his shoulder. “Do you want me to stay?”

No. No no no .

A wretched, pathetic sob rips itself out of my throat.

Caleb moves so he can pet my hair. “If you’d like. Seven severely inconvenienced you with his antics, after all.” He forces my head up, his smile cruel. “You want to make it up to Vortex, don’t you?”

I swallow hard around the lump in my throat, whimpering. I know the expected answer. I know what I should say, what might make this easier on myself. “Y-yes,” I whisper through another sob. “P-please, Master,” I try. “Let me make… make it up to both of you.”

Vortex lets out a curse, shifting from side to side.

Caleb goes to sit at the edge of the bed and pats his lap. “Set him down here. I’ll spank him first. If he squirms too much, you’ll need to help me keep him in place.”

Vortex is surprisingly gentle as he lays me over Caleb’s lap, then takes a step back. I can feel his eyes on me, drinking in the sight of me, and I squeeze my eyes tightly closed. I don’t want to see either of them.

I don’t want to know just how much they’re enjoying it, but it’s so difficult when I can feel how hard Caleb is in his slacks, when I know just how hard Vortex had been when I’d been caged against him.

“Fifteen,” Caleb says. “I’m going to spank you fifteen times. When it’s over, we can kiss and everything is forgiven… provided I don’t have to take another call from security that you’re attempting to slip out, with some shoplifted goods at that.”

I think I want to kiss him even less than I want him to spank me, but I don’t say that aloud.

I don’t know if I can do any of this. The soft sobs spilling from me are ragged, and the more he touches me, the more I want to bolt.

But there’s nowhere to go.

“Vortex will keep count for you,” Caleb says as he strokes my bare ass. His hand is warm and gentle, which makes my stomach lurch more than a violent touch would have.

I hate when they pretend like this.

I know I need to stay put, that I’ve already promised I’d behave, but I can’t stop myself from trying to lift my hips just a little. I have to see if there’s any room for…

For what?

I sag back down across his lap with another broken sound, feeling for all the world like I’m shattering into a million pieces all over again.

Caleb lifts his hand, and I brace myself for the impact.

It lands with a loud smack, and pain blossoms—but I’ve had worse. I don’t let that fool me, though. It’s only the first hit, and he could just be testing me to see how much I can take. “Please,” I whimper. “Please, I… I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry, Master. I’ll never—” I hiccup. “I’ll never do it again.”

“One,” Vortex says, his voice low.

Caleb ignores my blathering and spanks me again. It’s a little harder than before, but not by much.

“Two,” Vortex counts aloud, and I hate him for it. I hate him for the calm, for the desire in his voice, for the way he’d treated me at Caleb’s behest.

The only saving grace is that this isn’t too bad.

Yet.

Three and four are similar to the first two. Five is a bit harder, but it lands on the fleshiest part of my ass. Caleb stops to stroke my inflamed skin, pressing down with his fingers to make more pain flare up.

Maybe if the circumstances were different, it wouldn’t be so bad. It doesn’t even hurt that much! I’ve had so much worse.

But I’m sobbing so hard I can’t even hear Vortex counting anymore, and I’m so lost to the fear and the panic that it’s impossible to feel anything but pain.

Caleb keeps spanking me, though, and the pain evens out. The smacks stay on my ass and upper thighs, the impact drumming in my ears.

I bury my face in the mattress to drown out my sobbing.

I barely register it when the spanking is over, but I feel Vortex’s hands on me. He rearranges me so I’m straddling Caleb’s lap and forced to look at him.

He isn’t smiling. I expected him to be wearing a cruel smirk. Instead, he looks oddly concerned.

Not that that matters, because his cock is obviously hard against his pants.

I sob again, and Caleb gives a small nod. “We’re done. Kiss me, Seven, and give me a hug.”

I stare at him, reaching up to wipe my tears away. The order is so strange, so unfamiliar—so fucking humiliating—but I don’t think I could handle another swat. So through another bout of tears, I lean in and brush my lips against his, clumsily hugging him before pulling back. I try to get off of his lap, but again, Vortex is behind me to hold me in place.

I can still feel his erection against my ass.

“Shh,” Caleb says gently. He wipes the tears from the corners of my eyes. “Good job. You took that well.”

I laugh brokenly, shaking my head. I didn’t take that well. I took that like a little bitch.

His eyes meet mine. “This next part isn’t punishment. But we should reward Vortex for keeping you safe. Do you want to do that?”

Do I want to?

“Does it matter?” I ask bitterly.

“Hey, I’m not going to make you do anything you don’t want to do,” Vortex says, but his hands ghost down my arms. He wants it. He wants it badly.

“We could go to bed instead. You can take the guest room with Nacho and Vortex, or you stay here with me,” Caleb says. He inclines his head. “One of us will be in the room with you, but you can choose which one.”

“I hate both of you,” I mumble, closing my eyes.

This is wrong. This is all wrong. I’m not handling this well.

I shouldn’t be crying like a baby. I should be gathering myself, working toward manipulating them so that the next time I run, I can get out.

Flipping the switch like that should be second nature, but… It’s different now. It’s different here.

Caleb strokes my back soothingly. “You don’t have to like me. But you do need to give me an answer if you want any choice at all.”

“Yeah,” I say, my voice weary, and I brush away at tears that seem like they’re never going to stop falling. “Yeah, I’ll do it. I’ll blow him, or whatever he wants.”

Vortex tenses behind me. “Hey, I don’t?—”

“Shut up if you want a blowjob,” I say, hiccuping despite the heat I try to put into my words.

Caleb sighs, but he directs me to kneel between his legs on the floor, facing out toward Vortex. “All right, pet. Suck him off in thanks for looking out for you.”

All right. I can do this. I can get in their good graces. I can…

Fuck, I don’t know if I can . I sniffle again, feeling pathetic, but I’ll be even more pathetic if I can’t even give a blowjob.

It doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t take much out of me, not anymore.

I squeeze my eyes tightly closed, even as I blindly reach out to unfasten Vortex’s belt.

“Hey—” he starts to say again, but before he can get the rest of his words out, my hand is on his cock, and he shuts up with a hissed-in breath.

“Wow,” Caleb says. “I knew you were packing, Vortex, but that will definitely be a mouthful for Seven.” He pets the back of my head gently, without forcing me down.

Vortex doesn’t force me either, but he doesn’t have to. Even as tears continue to slide down my cheeks, I lean forward so I can nuzzle against his crotch. He is above average in length and girth, but he’s not the biggest I’ve taken, either.

And if I’m going to impress them—if I’m going to have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting through this in one piece—I have to do this properly.

I lean forward, trying to stop sniffling, and take the tip of his cock past my lips.

Vortex groans, thrusting slightly forward, and the head of his cock slides into my mouth, over my tongue and threatening to breach my throat in that single motion.

He could choke me, just like that, but he’s surprisingly gentle. He rubs my shoulders, groaning in appreciation as I suck him. For all that I pride myself on not gagging, I have a feeling I won’t be able to help it when it comes to Vortex’s monster.

“Good boy,” Caleb murmurs, carding his fingers through my hair. “You’re making us both very happy, Seven.”

I’m not even doing anything for Caleb, but I’m not going to point that out. If he wants to be happy because I’m sucking someone else off, then so be it. At least he’s not fucking me like an animal while I blow Vortex.

I hum around Vortex’s cock instead of protesting, and Vortex grips my shoulders more firmly as he quivers.

“So happy,” Vortex agrees. “Did… Did you try his mouth, boss?” His voice is halting, like he’s scared to ask the question, but at the same time, he doesn’t seem to know how to keep his mouth closed. I’d noticed that before, but it’s especially evident now.

“I did.” Caleb moves his hand down to my mouth and runs a finger along my lips. “He’s good. Well-practiced. And being such a good boy right now.”

“Yeah,” Vortex says. “Can… Can you take more?”

I hesitate. I’d been so proud of my prowess with Caleb, but I’m just not sure if I can handle Vortex without embarrassing myself. The fact that he’s asking is so surreal, though, and he’s being impossibly kind about the whole thing.

Finally, I nod, then I start to try to swallow him down. It’s too much, though, too fast, and I gag. I have to pull back, sputtering.

“Shh. It’s all right.” Caleb gently massages my jaw. “Open your mouth wide and stick your tongue out. Vortex will come on your tongue.”

But my pride doesn’t let me give up, and I push harder again—to the same result, and frustration overwhelms some of the sorrow, some of the pain, that I’d felt only moments before. I come back off coughing, thinking I’m going to vomit, and Vortex’s touch is soft on my shoulders.

“Take it easy, Seven,” he says gruffly.

Because I can’t stand the thought of embarrassing myself more, I do. I suck and lick what I can, lifting my hand to stroke what can’t fit into my mouth. He doesn’t seem to mind, shuddering and cursing as he gets closer and closer to the edge.

His cock starts to swell as he teeters there, then with a groan, he spills onto my tongue. I close my mouth around him, sucking down his cum, and he lets out a strangled sound. His fingers flex around my shoulders, becoming bruisingly hard, but I don’t mind it.

He relaxes his grasp when the last of his seed explodes across my tongue, letting go of me when I finally start to pull away. “Fuck,” he pants, but instead of sounding pleased, he sounds a little… panicked, I think.

“Well done,” Caleb murmurs against my ear. I shudder at the words, hating how glad I am that he isn’t still pissed off at me. I don’t fight him when he gets me to lean back and rest my head against his thigh.

For a few moments, the only sound is Vortex’s loud breaths. Caleb keeps gently stroking my hair.

“I should… I should go clean up,” Vortex says, and now he just sounds downright spooked.

I glance up at him, frowning. “This was my choice,” I say, realizing my tears have long since dried on my face. Maybe there’s something to be said for distracting myself in such a familiar way. Or maybe it’s just because he was almost kind .

Vortex’s gaze flicks past me to Caleb. “Yeah,” he says roughly. “I’ll be right back, boss.”

I sit back on my heels, wincing as my sore ass touches the backs of my legs.

Caleb huffs softly, but he keeps stroking my head gently.

I stay quiet, letting Caleb soothe me in a way that should feel wrong, considering the fact that he’s the reason I need to be soothed in the first place. But after a few minutes, I finally say, “I… I want something. For doing this. For playing along, for being a whore for you and your men.”

Caleb keeps petting me. “You aren’t in much of a position to make demands, Seven. But all right. What do you want?”

I bristle even though he’s not wrong. “I don’t want to be trapped in here. I won’t try to run again. I’ll do what you want. I’ll be a good pet for you. But I’m asking you to pretty please ,” I emphasize the words, “not keep me locked up.”

Caleb sighs. “I can give you the hotel and the casino grounds,” he says softly. “But the moment you step outside? I can’t guarantee what might happen—or who might find out that you’re here. And some of that truly is outside of my control.”

I want to tell him that he could control running his mouth. He’d made it clear that it just might slip . But I’m not going to poke the hornet’s nest, so instead I say, “I’ll play boyfriend or whatever it is you want from me. I won’t go telling anyone that I don’t want to be here. I’ll stay on the premises. But I can’t stay locked away. I can’t. You don’t…” Tears well up in my eyes again, pissing me off, but there’s nothing I can do about them but let them fall. “You don’t understand.”

He meets my eyes, and I don’t know what he sees, but he nods. “The casino grounds and the hotel. I’ll let the staff know you have free rein—within reason.” After a few moments, he adds, “Please don’t attempt to seduce the guards again. Poor Richie was very disconcerted and worried about the boss finding out.”

“Richie?” I echo.

Caleb gives me a small smile. “The guard you ‘slipped away’ from? He alerted me once you were in the gift shop.”

Of course he had. No wonder Vortex had been there, just waiting to intercept me on my way out.

“All right,” I say, adding a little cheekily as I wipe my tears, “I won’t seduce your guards unless you tell me to.” A thought crosses my mind. “What about Vortex?”

Caleb shrugs. “You won’t need to do much seducing to get him in bed again, I suspect.”

“And that doesn’t bother you?” I ask him.

“It’s… Hmm.” Caleb’s hand on my head stills. “I enjoyed seeing you with him, more than I thought I would. But I’ve never been the jealous type, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise.” He tugs lightly on my hair. “I would only be upset if you attempted to run again.”

I start to reply, but Vortex comes back. He’s in disarray, his hair tousled and his face glistening with water, but he’s holding himself together well enough—all things considered. “Sorry, boss. I didn’t mean to take so long.”

Caleb nods. “No problem at all. Now, it’s late and at least two of us have work in the morning. Which bed would you like to sleep in, Seven?”

I almost make a snarky remark about them sleeping together instead, but I don’t want to piss Caleb off so soon after I got back into his favor. “I’ll stay in here,” I say. “As long as Vortex promises to cuddle with Nacho.”

Vortex scowls at me, but he says, “Fine. I’ll cuddle with the damn cat.”

“Wonderful.” Caleb looks past Vortex at the open doorway. Miss K is sitting there, staring at us. “I think she’s wondering why we aren’t in bed yet, too.”

I nod, realizing I’m exhausted. It’s been a long, long day, and I think I could collapse without much effort at all.

I get up on the bed, curling onto my side near the edge, and yawn widely while Caleb and Vortex confer.

Before Caleb can even get into the bed with me, I’m fast asleep.