Page 70 of Break the Ice

“Did you hear the latest?” he asks. “I’m sure you’ve read the headlines.”

My expression remains vague. “Hawk’s missing persons case has been upgraded to a homicide investigation. Yes, Rafe. I heard the news.”

“The police are bluffing. They don’t have any new suspects. Yet.”

It doesn’t take a genius to pick up on the threat Rafe’s making. But I still don’t understand what’s prompting him.

Being a step behind disturbs me to my core.

So far, I’ve begun forming an alliance with Mr. Blackman. I’ve done some digging on others like Mr. Beringer and his partnership with Mr. Hawk. I’ve even looked into Rafe and his family’s hockey legacy.

What am I missing to be so in the dark about round three?

“I have to be honest,” I say, returning the waiter’s smile. He’s poured us red wine and walked off. “I still stand by the fact that tonight feels like a trap.”

“How so, Sugar?”

“The other rounds before this felt different.”

Rafe sits cool and relaxed across from me, picking up his glass for a taste. “Maybe it’s a sign you can’t complete the dare. In which case, you pick truth, and you lose.”

“I never lose,” I snap.

“What a coincidence. Me either. Guess that creates a problem for us, doesn’t it?”

“My father passed away when I was eighteen. I was still training in speedskating. But there’s one thing he always taught me… and that was to never quit. I could do anything I set my mind to.”

“Sounds like you’re an athlete, alright. We’re a special breed—we’ll do anything to win.”

We sip our wine with eyes stuck on each other, the tension dialed up to ten. It still feels like there’s an invisible elephant lurking in the fancy, brightly lit dining room. This elephant would provide meaning to everything Rafe’s said and done so far if only I could see it.

The waiter returns for our order. Rafe rattles off what we’ll be having, without even consulting me. I sit poised and humoring and let him. Until I figure out the angle he’s playing at, it’s best to sit back and observe.

In some ways, as toxic as it might be, I’d prefer the outright punishment.

Something like what happened during round two, where he restrained me in bed and then spanked me over and over again. It was black and white, no gray area to be found. Instead, round three feels like a live game of chess where one wrong move could cost me.

But I was serious when I said I wouldn’t quit.

I’m doing whatever it is tonight has in store.

There’s no other option when I’ve already allowed Rafe to drag me into his sick and twisted world. I’ll not only play along, but I’ll come out on top. I just need to figure out another way to turn the tables on him…

Rafe pins me with an amused stare. “I’ve been thinking. You might be right, Sugar. Tonight is different than the other nights.”

“What would make it so different?”

“You remember the night I turned up at your apartment all bloody? I’d just gotten done being in a brawl at Axis. You sucked my cock.”

The older woman at the table next to ours shoots me a scandalized glance, practically clawing at the Chantilly shawl draped around her shoulders. My cheeks warm up slightly before I do my best to ignore her.

“You could lower your voice,” I mutter.

“You wanted to know where all the blood had come from. The cuts and bruises,” he says, his volume no quieter. “The truth is, I had been attacked. Some men jumped me in the bathroom. They got some good licks in. I laughed my ass off anyway.”

Tension cuts off the air in my lungs. “Oh… really… that’s… interesting.”

“Very interesting. Especially considering the same thing almost happened an hour and a half ago. Some guy by the name of Chris tried to attack me outside my condo.”