Page 59 of Tangled in His Game

As I take a peek around the tree, I spot Victor and raise my phone toward him. The guy gives him something and Victor quickly stuffs it into his bag. What the hell? I snap some photos of the exchange, but even as I zoom in on the image, I can’t tell what the guy gave Victor.

Is it drugs? Maybe, but Victor doesn’t give the guy anything in return. It looks like they’re talking about something, and then Victor and the guy start walking. I press myself closer to the tree. Where are they going? I wait until I’m sure it’s safe to take a look. They’re going in the direction of the parking lot, so I follow them, careful not to be seen.

I crouch between the cars and slowly inch forward. Another car arrives, and I stay hidden while I wait for the noise of the engine to die down. Then I hear voices, so I move because I’m too far away to understand what they’re saying.

“Lose?” Victor’s voice is louder than anyone else’s.

Someone else says something, but they’re much quieter. Is it Jake? It kind of sounds like him, but I can’t catch any of the words he’s saying. Maybe they’re talking about the upcoming game because I think I hear the wordsscoreandpuck.

I push myself a little up so I can take a peek at them, but I quickly duck down because the guy is looking in my direction. He’s right there with Victor and Jake, and they’re all talking about something in hushed voices. Ugh! It looks like I won’t be able to hear much.

I risk taking another peek. Victor is leaving, but the guy and Jake get in the car. Huh. Does that mean the guy is actually working for Jake? Like his bodyguard or an assistant? But why would he be meeting with Victor and giving him things then? Why didn’t Jake do it if it was something from him?

I’m more confused than ever. Or maybe the guy works for both Victor and Jake, so he just goes wherever he’s needed, and Victor doesn’t need him right now.

I bite down on my lip. Jake never liked me. What if he’s the one who told the guy to start the fire and try to kill me? But why would he do that? And how would he even know that I was locked in the library?

If he doesn’t want Victor anywhere near me, all he has to do is tell him that. I’m not some huge threat to him. A rich and influential businessman wouldn’t risk killing a random college girl. Too much work for nothing.

But then again, the cops haven’t figured out yet who set the fire. They just know someone did it on purpose. And maybe they’ll never find the culprit.

Jake’s car is gone. Victor too. I get to my feet and sigh. Maybe I’ve been watching too many crime movies because I see everyone as a potential suspect. It could’ve been a random pyro and I just happened to be in there. Wrong place, wrong time. But then why do I have such a hard time believing that?

I scroll through the photos on my phone and zoom in on the image where the guy is giving something to Victor. What could it be? Maybe it’s something hockey-related. Something completely innocent.

But why give it to him earlier and not in the parking lot? Was it because no one was supposed to see it? Just like they did it in that alley? Maybe it’s something Jake doesn’t know about. And what was Victor talking about when he saidlose? Maybe he lost something, or Jake did.

I rake my hand through my hair. My curiosity won’t be easily satisfied, but it’s not like there’s much I can do. I can’t just go up to Victor and ask him about it. He already stole my phone and my laptop because I made him believe I had videos of him.

Should I try to anonymously post the pics of the guy and Victor online with a catchy title?

Big college hockey star buying drugs?

Who cares if it’s not true? No one gives a damn about the truth or facts anymore, as long as they get clicks. Maybe someone would tell me something, or they’d look into Victor and his suspicious deals.

But if the guy works for Jake, then they can easily explain it away as something innocent. And I suspect Victor would blame me anyway, because who else would dare to post something like that? Everyone loves him or they’re afraid of him because they know what he’s capable of.

If I was smart, I’d leave him and all this behind. I should be grateful that I’m alive and pick another college, even if it makes things complicated for me. I doubt I’ll run into another Victor somewhere else.

He and everyone else at Emberwell will win if I leave, but so what? Being stubborn and trying to stay strong hasn’t really brought me anything good so far. I need to put some distance between Victor and me. Whoever almost killed me is still out there, and I don’t think the cops will catch them. I should put myself and my safety first.

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