Page 42 of The Games We Play

“What are you talking about, Lima?”

“Scott said they hacked your system to gain information about me, my family, and where I’ve been. Everything is at risk.”

November must cover the receiver as her voice sounds far away.

I skip through Puppet’s video feed and note she’s sound asleep. Safe…for now.

“Lima?” November says loudly, gaining my attention back. “Print the files I sent. Destroy the phone and buy a new one. We’ll be in contact when it’s safe. As of now, we’re going dark. You’re on your own until we call. Be smart. Darius is a powerful man with lots of resources. We can’t be too careful.”

“Understood.” I hang up and screech to a halt on the bridge that leads out of the city. I quickly email the one person I can trust and step onto the pavement. Cars honk as they swerve, narrowly missing me. I chuck the phone over the bridge, hop back in my car and do a U-turn to go back to the city.

This just became the best hunt yet, but first I need a new phone, gain access back to Puppet’s cameras and find out where Scott went after our little chat.

Twenty-Three - Tess

I smooth my hairdown in my mirror and notice the fierceness my blue eyes carry now. My bed is made, bathroom spotless, and the rest of my house is for once…clean. I’ve found a peace within myself and I have the drive to do simple in-home tasks again.

Roxy has especially enjoyed the runs we’ve started taking in the mornings. My mind is clearer than it’s been in years, possibly ever, and I don’t hate the reflection staring back at me.

I glance at the note in my hand that tells X where I’ll be this weekend, then I crumple it and toss it into the trash.

Let this be another game.

When he shows up and can’t find me, it’ll make it all the better when he does.

Ryan honks from the street and I grab my bag and Roxy’s belongings before locking the door behind me. He’s thumping some upbeat music and I can’t fight the smile that spreads across my face.

“You’re very awake this morning,” I say and he opens his door to jog around the car and grab my bag, tossing it into the trunk, and I let Roxy get in the back seat.

“Get in. I want to show you something.”

I raise a brow, but slide into the passenger seat, clicking my seat belt into place.

“Have you seen this?” Ryan holds his phone up to my face.

Serial Killer in Whispering Pines?

“You can’t believe everything you read,” I wave him off.

“Don’t ignore this. You shouldn’t be staying by yourself. They found Tori and Jackson at a fucking party, Tess. What if we had been there?”

A slimy feeling coats my insides at keeping secrets from my best friend.

“But we weren’t. Can we please just enjoy a weekend on the lake?” I point out the windshield as if to say, let’s go.

“Something is different with you. I like it,” he says with skepticism, like if he stares at me long enough, he’ll unearth my secrets.

After the party, I cleaned my house out entirely of alcohol and flushed my weed down the toilet. Before smoking and drinking was a pastime, a habit that I had to do to sleep. But since X…I’ve stopped. I don’t need it—more like it stopped working. Because the only thing that I crave now is sinking my knife into flesh and taking someone’s life.

“Okay? You’re being weirder than normal,” I respond.

Ryan’s eyes widen slightly before his lips curl into a smile. “When was the last time you drank?”

I scoot closer to the passenger door, not liking how excited he is getting with his question.

“Couple weeks…maybe?” I shrug.

“That’s awesome, Tess!” He reaches across the center console and wraps his arms around me, and I stiffen at the touch. “I’m so proud of you!”

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