Chapter 8
eight
Grayson Mercer
Games
Tonight was supposed to be fun. I won my first game and was supposed to be celebrating.
Maybe everyone else is but I’m not. I’m internally seething.
The image of Rowyn’s smirk refuses to disappear.
I keep seeing it replaying on a loop in my mind and it’s making me angrier and angrier by the second.
Does she think she won this round? Having my mother embarrass me the way she did.
My fists tighten at my sides, still haunted by the crowd laughing at my mother scolding me rings loudly in my ears.
I don’t know why she even came. Our relationship is non-existent.
She’s an opportunist, and I have nothing to offer her so why she attended my game is beyond me.
Unless she wasn’t truly here for me. Wouldn’t surprise me though.
She’s a viper, always has been and always will be.
Just thinking about her makes me sick. I lied to Elliot when I stated I spoke to her weekly.
I haven’t seen nor spoken to her since that night years ago.
The night she fucked my best friend and left without even a goodbye.
She doesn’t know that I saw them. She just thinks I resent her, which is true, but ever since then there’s been a strain on my friendship with Kade.
I hate it because he was the only person I had to lean on, especially after everything else Cynthia has done, but that’s a story for another night.
My eyes roam through the partygoers milling around the clearing.
It’s a pretty decent turnout considering how much the temperature has dropped since the sun set.
I walk closer to the fire, warming my hands when I spot my target talking to some guy with broad shoulders and a simple smile—a predator.
He stands there nonchalantly with his hands in his pockets, listening to every word she spews like he’s really paying attention.
Giving her the attention she yearns for, but I know better.
I see his game and that alone has me smiling wickedly, but something pings in my chest. Ignoring it, I go in search of Kade because it’s almost time for us to start our little game with Chunkers.
Hearing his awful laugh, I slide up next to him and he hands me a prerolled Velm. I inhale and let the drug do its thing. I pass it back to him, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Rowyn walking away with Mr. Simple towards the woods. I nudge Kade, and his eyes snap to mine.
“Go find Elliot. It’s almost time,” I order, and he nods, walking away.
Minutes later, I become impatient and decide to go find the guys. Why does it always take forever for them to get their shit together. Walking up the trail, I spot Kade but no Elliot. He slides his hands into his pockets as he approaches me.
“Elliot is out. He’s got a girl to shut up.
” I roll my eyes but nod, understanding what he has to do.
“Did you see her? With that guy?” he asks, and I nod again, my jaw tight as his eyes look to the right, and a glimmer of light shines just a few feet off the treeline.
He looks at me and I look at him and grin.
She laughs, and our feet move before my brain can compute anything.
We don’t rush though. We step into the treeline.
Twigs snap under our shoes, but we don’t speak.
We listen, we watch, we wait for the perfect moment.
Her laugh gets louder as we get closer, her head tilting back like the guy said the funniest thing she’s ever heard.
At this moment, she looks so carefree, unknowing of what’s stalking her in the woods.
Naive of her to think she’s safe out here alone with a predator disguised as a simple guy.
He cups her face, and she leans into his warmth.
My head snaps to Kade, and he licks his lips then exhales slowly, looking at me.
“You ready to play?” I nod. We split up without another word. I almost chuckle because she truly has no idea what is to come.
Branches snap behind the guy, and the leaves crunch under my shoes as I take a step. They freeze and look around.
“Maybe we should go back?” the guy says, but I can’t hear her reply or see her face. His eyes widening tells me he sees fear on her face as Kade’s shadow moves between the trees and steps out into the moonlight.
“What the–” But she’s cut off midsentence.
“Oh, I see you found something that isn’t yours,” Kade says in a pleasant but condescending tone.
The guy whips around, keeping Rowyn behind him in a protective stance.
So, I step out of the trees and silently walk up behind her.
I lift my finger and run it along the side of her neck.
She screams, and the guy quickly turns around, and once he sees me, panic flashes across his face.
“Relax.” I smile, pressing my finger against her glossed lips, then my eyes shift to him. “You’re dismissed,” I say, and for a second, he hesitates, glancing between me and Rowyn.
“Go! Now!” Kade orders, and the guy glances at Rowyn, expecting her to do something, or at least say something, but her eyes are pinned to mine.
I show her nothing. Just boredom and something much worse—desire to hurt her.
The guy runs off, letting the woods swallow him up as he disappears from our sight.
Branches snapping and leaves sloshing against the earth's floor is all that is heard as we circle Rowyn. Her eyes flying between us.
“You didn’t have to scare him.”
“We didn’t scare him. We just reminded him where the fuck he was,” Kade chuckles.
Stepping forward, I grab her wrist and pull her along before I shove her into the middle of the clearing.
She falls on her ass but gets up quickly, getting in my face.
Wrong move, Little Pet. I grab her wrist again, only tighter this time.
“Let go of me,” she demands as I dig my fingertips into her flesh.
“Smirk again, Chunkers," I tell her. “Go on. I fucking dare you,” I growl, letting the last word flow longer then it should. She swallows and stills with wide eyes.
“You liked it, didn’t you? That power,” Kade taunts as he begins circling her, his boots crunching softly. Her pulse picks up under my thumb, and I squeeze tighter, making her wince.
“She did. I bet she even got off on it,” I accuse.
“What? No! I did not!” she exclaims, and Kade laughs, picking up a stick and tossing it to me. I catch it swiftly, and her eyes widen.
“Please don’t. Please don’t hurt me,” she begs, and I laugh then look at Kade.
“Game time.” He winks, and I lick my lips. Her body shivers, and I finally let go of her wrist.
“W-what game?” she asks, and I crouch down, dragging the stick against the dirt, creating a line.
I stand up and look into her hazel eyes.
Her lips tremble in fear as her brows furrow a bit, but I see it in her eyes.
The excitement she’s too afraid to admit.
I need it gone. She doesn’t get to walk this earth being happy and carefree as long as I’m around.
“It’s simple. You stay where you are. You don’t cross it.
You don’t run your mouth or look at us like you won something tonight,” I instruct, and she gasps, bringing a smile to my face.
“And if you do, we’ll tell everyone what you were really doing out here tonight.
Who you came with and how fast he ran.” I laugh, and her breath stutters as her head shakes.
“T-they won’t believe you.” But I lean in closely and whisper, “They already do.”
The wind picks up, and she begins to cross the line but Kade steadies her.
“Careful. Accidents only happen once,” he warns.
“So I’m supposed to stay out here all night? I’ll freeze to death.” she exclaims, and I shrug.
“You’re smart. You’ll figure it out. Don't be such a drama queen.” I chuckle.
“Such a fragile thing. Do you know why people don’t come out this far?” Kade asks, and I grin.
“Because of people like you, Chunkers. Too naive to know when there’s danger near.
When a predator is mid-hunt, ready to sink their teeth into your warm flesh,” I snarl, snapping my teeth at her.
She shivers as Kade laughs. “But out here, Little Pet—screams are swallowed up by the forest, never to be heard again,” I lie and begin to walk away.
“See you around, Shadow Mouse,” Kade calls out to her, and we leave the same way we came in.
“We’re not done right?” he asks, and I smile sinisterly.
“I’m just getting started.”