Page 1 of Deadly Little Games

Prologue

Freya

There’s one rule in Daring: don’t cross over the train tracks unless you’re looking for trouble. I’ve never been one to play by the rules, and that’s probably why my best friend lives on the other side of the tracks, in Daringville, and why I’m sneaking into one of their parties yet again. I love gate-crashing them and the thrill that comes from the possibility of getting caught at any moment.

When you live on my side of the tracks—Daringhood—you are just a peasant. You do all the dirty work that those elite from Daringville don’t want to do. It fucking sucks. I once vowed never to come here again after what they did to my mother, but now, twelve years on, the pain doesn’t sting as much as it once did. I’ve grown to accept it—because we finally have an escape plan. I may as well have some fun before we leave.

My brother, Alec, eases his car out of the trailer park, hitting the gas. The farther away we get from the place I call home, the more I can breathe. If I had to spend another second inside that shit hole, I would have gone crazyor had to deal with my high mother, and I have better shit to do with my time. I spend enough of it looking after her ass.

I just want a night out. To be somebody else for a little while.

I pick up my blonde wig from the passenger-side floor and place it over my brown hair. Pulling down the shade visor, I use the mirror on it to pin my fake locks in place. It’s like putting on a mask, a new identity, and I fucking love it.

“I’m still not happy about you going to this party in Daringville. Why can’t you just go to one of the joint parties?” Alec sighs, shifting gears.

I hold back the urge to roll my eyes. We’ve already had this conversation tonight and I’m over it. “I’ll be fine. How many times have I been to them? And I always come back. Why are you so worried all of a sudden?”

He lets out a heavy breath. “I’m always fucking worried about you, Frey—you know this. I’d lock you up in your room if I knew you’d actually stay there and not pick the locks in twenty seconds.”

I laugh. “I’ll be fine. I’ll be with Amirah, and I can take care of myself.” Lifting my phone out of my pocket, I find a text from her telling me to hurry my ass up.

“Just promise me you’ll be careful?” Alec asks, and I nod.

“You know I will,” I say.

“I’ve got something to tell you, and don’t freak out, but?—”

“What?!” I cut him off. “You got in, didn’t you?!” I scream, and Alec laughs.

“You know me too well, Frey. Yes, the scholarship for Bexley College got accepted.”

I squeal, leaning over the console and wrapping myarms around Alec. The car swerves before he rights it again and pushes me away, laughing.

“Oh my God, this is so exciting. You have to come with me to celebrate tonight. Please,” I beg, settling back into my seat. I can’t believe it—this is our ticket out of here. We can start fresh and get Mom on the straight and narrow.

“I can’t, I’m meeting someone,” he says, and I frown, turning to face him again.

“Who?”

“Someone from Daringville,” he admits.

I take in a sharp breath. “What the fuck?”

“Don’t fuck this up for me. She’s cool, and you’ll approve once you meet her, but not tonight,” he says, and I scoff.

“We’ll see.”

Every girl my brother has ever dated I’ve had a problem with. They are either too bitchy, rude, or just don’t even acknowledge me. They are never good enough for my brother; he deserves the world.

“What’s her name?” I ask, hoping he’ll tell me so I can find out everything about her from Amirah.

“Uh, Mia,” he says, and I nod.

“So when can we leave?” I ask, staring out the window, watching the dark streets zoom past.

“We’ve gotta save up a fair bit of money. It’s not a full scholarship, and I got early acceptance so I can choose when to start. It might take a bit, but we’ve got a one-way ticket out of here and a chance to give Mom a fresh start.”

I can’t wipe the smile off my face. This is something worth celebrating.

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