Chapter 7 Kings Cup

• Evelyn's POV
• I lean back in horror at his words. “You’re pathetic. You just see me as a reward, don’t you? Something you won all because I slept with you?”
• Sebastian doesn’t speak, only lowering his brows as he stares at me.
• “We’re siblings now, in case you need a reminder. Your insults are pathetic, and all it shows me is that you’re a fucking jerk!” I snap at him as he starts the car.
• He refuses to look at me as he pulls out of the driveway and back towards the villa we’re staying in.
• “Do you genuinely consider yourself as my sibling? Really? I mean, do we have any blood relation, or did we grow up together?”
• His questions throw me off guard, but anger continues to boil inside me. Who says that’s all that makes you siblings?
• “What makes you think I’ll ever look at you like my little sister, as opposed to what you really, truly are?”
• “Ha!” I let out. “You really are that shallow.”
• “Truth hurts,” he murmurs.
• The anger boils over, and I finally lash out. “Fine! I’m not qualified to be your sister. Are you happy now? Pull the car over and let me the fuck out!” I demand of him.
• He just shakes his head at me, and I wonder if he thinks I’m absolutely pathetic.
• “Evelyn, don’t forget about the game. Unless you want to stop that in its tracks and fuck in the backseat of this car.”
• I scoff, shaking my head as I stare out the passenger’s window. He’s not worth all the insults in the goddamn world.
• After all, I’ll only ever be a conquest to him.
• We arrive back at the villa with Mom greeting us. “Well, that was quick,” she comments, looking between the two of us for hints as to what’s going on.
• Sebastian shrugs. “Dead party, no one interesting around for miles.”
• I don’t even bother to speak. I climb the stairs to my room, refusing to look back as I slam the door shut behind me. Out of sight, out of mind.
• I spend most of the next day to myself, not bothering to deal with anyone in this place. Why can’t I just return to Hawaii and be around those I know and care about?
• I roll over in bed, grab my phone from the nightstand, and check my social media to see what everyone is up to back home.
• I don’t get very far before the phone starts ringing, a number I don’t recognize coming up. Who could possibly be calling this late in the day?
• “Hello?” I ask tentatively.
• “Evelyn?” I hear from the other end.
• “Yes?”
• “Oh, thank God! It’s Ava!”
• From Daniel’s party the night before. That’s right, I forgot I’d given her my number. I’m shocked she’s using it already, especially since I’d never gotten her’s in return.
• “Hey, Ava, what’s up?”
• “I heard about this themed event going on at a bar in town. I liked hanging out last night and hoped to persuade you to join me?”
• I want to sigh loudly and hang up on the call. But after the way Ava immediately took kindly to me, defending me from Daniel and being a boatload of fun in our short time together.
• “Is Sebastian going to be there? I’m avoiding him right now,” I ask half whisperingly. I haven’t seen him all day, but the last thing I want right now is to be stuck in the same room as him.
• “No! I swear to you, he shouldn’t even know about the event. All our friends are busy tonight, and I wanted to hit up the bar with you.”
• No Sebastian, and a new friend who wants to spend time with me after a short time together? It all sounds too good to be true, but I can’t help but want this alone time with Ava.
• “Okay. Fine. Send me the bar address; I’ll meet you there?”
• Ava squeals on her end of the phone, and I get out of bed to find an outfit.
• Once we’ve said our hello’s and waited in line to get into the bar, Stacey’s Jam, we head inside and look for an empty table or even barstools.
• “Shit, Jacob Cowley on your right,” Ava frantically whispers to me.
• I follow her instructions, and sure enough, there he is. Unlike last night, Jacob gives off a more menacing vibe, and his red face gives away that he’s not letting us just walk off tonight.
• “What’s his deal?” I quickly question. “He’s just an ass, right?”
• “More than that, sadly,” Ava responds. She starts pushing me. “Keep going before he notices us.”
• “And if he does?” I shoot back.
• “Everyone knows Jacob is a jackass, and most do their best to avoid him at any cost. After you pushed him in the pool yesterday, I can’t imagine he’s any friendlier tonight.”
• I try to keep moving, but that’s when Jacob steps in our path. “Ladies, how are we this evening?”
• I turn back to Ava, wondering if she has any ideas. Sadly, like me, she’s got nothing. Jacob’s breathing is heavy, probably due to the fact he’s probably six foot tall but a bit heavier than average.
• I can’t find a way around the man, so I put my hands on my hips. “Move.”
• Jacob laughs, and a few people in the bar quiet down and turn to look at us. “What, I can’t invite you to play a game with me tonight, Evelyn?” The way he says my name is like acid in my throat.
• “No, thank you.”
• “Oh, come on now. Why not? We can play for prizes or for keeps!”
• “I’d like to enjoy the night with my friend, thanks.”
• Jacob’s large hand shoots out before him like a traffic stop. “Tell you what, little girl. If you win the game, I’m interested in playing, then you can leave.”
• Ava got in front of me. “I’m warning you, Jacob. Sebastian Cain isn’t going to allow you to hurt his little sister. Are you sure you want to do this?”
• He lets out a loud guffaw. “Sister? Really? Well then, why isn’t he with sister dearest?”
• Hearing Sebastian's name makes my stomach flip, and a pang of sadness, unlike others, creeps into my mind. God, this is ridiculous. Men really are the worst.
• I step forward, glaring at the stupid buffoon. “Fine. You wanna play a game? Let’s play a game. But you must let Ava go, and that’s my only condition.”
• Jacob looks around me at my new friend, gesturing for her to leave.
• Ava grabs my arm and whispers into my ear quickly, “Are you sure?”
• I nod. “I’ll be fine. No need to tell my idiot brother or keep you dragged into this. Just go.”
• Jacob produces a deck of cards from his back pocket. “Simplified version of Kinds Cup. Just leaves the drinking part.”
• He waves at the bartender, who quickly throws together a large glass of mixed alcohol. God, that’s disgusting.
• “Only rule? If you draw the final King in the pile, you’ll have to drink the whole damn glass.”
• I nod, though the idea of that glass of alcohol makes me feel disgusting.
• I pray for good luck, but I can tell Jacob is oozing with confidence. How many women has he pulled this with? How many had ended up sleeping with him because of this game?
• We go back and forth, each card discarded to the side, no words passing between us. Jacob’s smile never falters, but my stomach clenches as we get closer to the end.
• With two cards remaining, I slowly grab and pull a card up, revealing the King.
• My heart sinks, realizing it’s over. I’ve lost, and Jacob wins.
• He saunters up to me, placing her hand on my waist, which makes me feel ill.
• “Tell you what, beautiful. I’ll let you skip the drink.”
• I stare hard at him. What’s the catch? There’s always one.
• “You just have to sleep with me.”
• Oh God. I wish I could vomit all over this bastard, but instead of kicking him in the balls or running for the hills, I stand in shock and terror. I’m completely frozen in place with nowhere to turn.
• That’s when I notice another person walking towards us with purpose and speed. It’s someone I know very well, but I don’t understand where he came from.
• Sebastian punches Jacob in the face, the force so great the other man falls to the ground, a string of curse words coming from his deflated body.
• “Next time, it’s your ballsack, fuck face.”
• Sebastian’s gaze turns to me, and his expression is mixed with hurt, anger, and confusion. I open my mouth to say something, anything at all. But nothing happens, and no words exist.
• Groaning, Sebastian grabs my arm and pulls me out of the bar and away from the spectacle.
• I don’t talk at first, embarrassed that Sebastian had to come to my rescue tonight. But something comes to mind as I look back on the card game.
• “Was that last card going to be a King, too?”
• Sebastian doesn’t look at me. “Yes. Not everyone follows the rules that others respect. Some use the universe to their advantage.”
• I fall silent, my mind swimming with a collection of thoughts that I can’t control.
• “God, is it that hard to say thank you? Would it fucking kill you to say those words?”
• I whip my head over. “I didn’t ask you to come tonight.”
• “Then why didn’t you tell me where you were going?”
• I laugh, turning my attention back to the road as I say, “You were probably too busy finding some new prey. I didn’t want to interrupt your newest conquest.”
• Instead of answering or screaming at me, Sebastian slams his foot on the brakes so hard that my seatbelt locks as I lunge forward. I grip the door handle from pure fear, unsure what just happened.
• My attention whips back to Sebastian, who is staring into my eyes. It’s startling to have so much of his attention in a way that has nothing to do with sex, but I can see something behind those blue eyes.
• “There is no prey that is more interesting than you, Princess.”