Chapter 3
THREE
TASH
The second match went by in a blur. Gerald outplayed Lance from the very first serve. Lance, who stepped up to the table nervous, never managed to contain himself. His whole arm trembled every time he went to hit the ball, causing him to miss at least ninety percent of the time.
The match was barely done when Parker shot him in the back of the head.
"He didn't deserve to see it coming," he said, pushing his gun back into his pocket.
"That was short and sweet," Bruno said, still not looking rattled.
What would it take to get to him? I wish I had his stoicism.
"He didn't suffer long," I said absently as the twins dragged his body away.
Watching them gave me so many questions. Did they enjoy doing this? They certainly seemed to. Otherwise, why would they do it?
There was always something different about Dusk Bay, something darker, but I'd never seen anything like this. I hoped I never would again.
"What's in it for them?" I whispered, leaning over toward Logan.
"Shits and giggles," he replied simply. "They could kill us, or have us killed, but they throw us down here instead. Someone lives, they get to have a laugh."
"That's sadistic," I remarked.
"You seemed surprised." Bruno looked over at me.
"Not so much surprised," I said slowly. "Knowing this happens every year and seeing it are different." I shook my head. "I don't know, I guess I was naive."
Logan grunted a laugh. "You think? No offence, baby, but you have naive written all over you." He gestured toward me, his fingers spread.
"Except those boots," Bruno said. "Those boots don't say innocent. They say, 'I want to wrap my legs around your waist and let you fuck me.'"
I glanced down at my boots. That was the point of them. I put them on this morning to get attention. It worked, for all the good it would do in the long run.
"Natasha and Nolan," Hunter called. "You're up."
"Good luck, baby," Logan said. He seemed unconvinced I'd walk away from my first match alive.
Bruno, on the other hand, said, "You've got this. Do you want a kiss for luck?"
I almost declined, but then realised it might be the last kiss I ever got. I might as well enjoy it while I could, right? I leaned over and pressed my lips to his.
They tasted sweet and salty at the same time.
When I thought he was going to pull away, he deepened the kiss, his tongue tracing all the way around my lips before pushing inside my mouth. He placed his hand on my hip and pulled me closer until our chests bumped. On and on we went, devouring each other's mouths like there was no tomorrow.
Both of us aware that might be accurate.
"If you take any longer, you're going to forfeit your match," Hunter called out.
That made me pull away, face flushed. I believed it. He'd kill me for delaying.
I gave Bruno a small smile before pushing myself to my feet and hurrying over to take my place at the table. By hurrying, I meant walking as fast I could, while trying to look like I was born wearing heels. I probably moved like a chicken ready to lay an egg, mincing and uncomfortable.
I scooped up the paddle, feeling the weight of it in my hand. I half expected it to be slick with sweat, but somehow it wasn't. Not yet. When I was finished with it, it might be.
Hunter and Parker spoke to each other quickly before Parker nodded at me.
"Ladies first."
I swallowed hard and nodded back. Picked up the ball and got ready to serve. Stood with my feet too close together as if I had no idea what I was doing. Aimed the ball a little low.
I had to make Nolan feel comfortable. This was the only chance I got to pretend I was clueless before everyone else saw otherwise.
I hoped.
I also might be about to fall on my face. Possibly literally. That would suck.
If I fell to the left, I'd fall in a pool of other people's blood. Maybe a bit of brains mixed in. No thanks.
If I fell to the right, I'd look like an idiot in front of everyone. The twins were getting enough laughs out of this, without me adding to them.
Better footwear next time, I told myself. Not that I wanted there to be a next time.
"Oops," I said when the ball didn't make it over the net.
It rebounded and bounced back to me. I pretended to almost miss when I picked it up again and got ready to serve. The ball barely made it over the net this time, bouncing low.
Nolan hit it back easily.
Deliberately keeping my paddle too close to me, the ball sailed past me and onto the floor.
Nolan grinned. Already overconfident.
Yeah, you keep on smiling, I told him silently.
Parker scooped up the ball and tossed it to Nolan.
Grinning at me like I might as well give up right now, Nolan placed an easy serve over the net, which I returned.
He blinked, surprised I'd managed to do that much. I considered pretending to miss again, but I didn't want to get too many points behind.
I flicked the ball back over the net, right to the edge of the table. Too close for him to hit it back.
"Beginner's luck," I said. "I bet I could never do that again."
Of course I could. And I did, for the rest of the game and the game after that.
He managed to score a couple of points off me, but in the end I took the match in under thirty minutes.
In the corner of my eye, I caught Logan and Bruno both clapping. Sanun was sitting lower in his seat, watching me like I was now his mortal enemy, which I guessed was accurate.
"Nice fake-out," Hunter told me. He grinned at Nolan, who backed away a couple of steps, but couldn't avoid the bullet that went straight into his brain.
I closed my eyes and flinched, but forced myself to open them again and look.
If I hadn't won, that would be me on the floor. I had to remember that. I couldn't lose sight of it for a second during this entire Tournament. The minute I did, I'd be done for.
I placed the paddle back down on the table and returned to my seat between the two men.
"Good job, baby," Logan said. "I figured you might be a dark horse."
"It's those boots," Bruno said. "Anyone who wears boots like that has to be a badass."
My gaze went to Sanun. His despair was almost palpable. I had an idea, but I wasn't sure if he'd be down for it. If I could convince all three of them, we might just make it through.
"Next up is—" Hunter called out.
Another pair of opponents approached the table. Then another. And another.
The next couple of hours became a blur of ping pong and death. Death and ping pong. The room held the tangy smell of blood and sweat.
Logan, Bruno, and Sanun all won their matches, each playing in their own unique style.
Logan hit the ball aggressively, smashing it across the table.
Bruno was a bit more subtle, dancing back and forth as he put the ball exactly where he wanted it.
As for Sanun, he barely moved, somehow flicking the ball with the slightest movement of his wrist. Each time barely making it above the net, but somehow, always out of reach of his opponent.
All three of them were going to be very dangerous for the rest of The Tournament.
I was counting on it.