Page 12 of Playing With Fire
Chapter 7
(Ritchie)
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There are so many emotions running inside me. I’m nervous, furious, excited and terrified all at once. I’m nervous about the exchange that’s about to happen. I have a lot of trust in myself and the team, but what if something goes wrong? I’m going to escort Alex into the room, the rest of the team will be waiting outside for us in case there’s any trouble. I hope to God there’s none.
I’m furious at both the person blackmailing her and the asshole downstairs that had the guts to harass her in front of me. She claims he’s only acting that way because he’s drunk but something about him isn’t sitting right with me. I’ll be sure to do a background check on him once I can, despite Alex’s protests. There’s just something about Wesley Keaton that irks me and it’s not the jealousy talking.
All in all, I just want tonight to go well so Alex and I can head back home and have a conversation that’s long overdue. Hopefully, it ends with us finishing what we started in the bathroom. Even the thought of her soft breathy moans threatens to harden my cock but I force myself to remain alert. I’m working right now and Xandra’s safety is in my hands.
I squeeze her hand once when we reach the door that’s been ironically marked X. Who exactly are we dealing with? A child?
Thomas gives the both of us one nod and then I open the door. I’m on alert and ready for anything that meets us on the other side but when I move in, there’s no one there.
The hell?
Alex comes in behind me and the shock is evident on her face as well.
“Are you sure they asked you to come here?” I ask her and she nods.
“I don’t understand,” she says.
“Thomas,” I call and my teammate walks into the room.
“There’s no one in here,” I inform him.
“That’s odd,” Thomas says.
Alex tries the number that called her but it’s unavailable. We wait for a little while longer but in the end, we realize that the person just isn’t coming.
We have no choice but to leave and head back to our headquarters. Alex is completely quiet throughout our long journey home. I try to get her to talk to me but she doesn’t. We’re all worried about the blackmailer now. Why ask her to go to the premiere if he wasn’t going to show up? Does he think it’s some kind of a joke? She was really worried and scared and now her fears have increased. I want so badly to help her but I just don’t know how.
Surprisingly when we get back, the first thing Alex wants to do is drink. She grabs a bottle of tequila and two wine glasses and then she gestures at me to follow her. I do so and we find ourselves on the floor of her room, downing booze.
“Alex,” I start because I really do want to talk and I can’t do that if we’re drunk.
“Let’s play a game,” she says and I raise an eyebrow.
“What game?” I ask. I’m worried about her. She seems really sad right now.
“The other person asks a question and if you don’t want to answer you drink.”
I raise an eyebrow.
“So a truth game,” I say.
“Yeah. I’ll go first. Why did you leave me alone when those girls were bullying me back then?” she asks.
Ah, we’re going straight to the deep shit I suppose.
“I know nothing I say will excuse my behavior but I actually went to get help. I didn’t want to get directly involved but I went to get a teacher I knew was cool. By the time he got there, you were gone. I’m sorry but I didn’t believe they would have stopped if I had interfered. If I did, I would have, I swear,” I tell her.
I know that’s one of the worst things I ever did to her and I really regret it.
She nods like she finds my answer acceptable.
“Your turn,” she says gesturing at me.
