Page 114 of Forgotten Sacrifice

“I don’t know anything other than what I’ve told you,” Vince admits. “Since we’ll have to miss your morning practice, why don’t you do some online training,” he suggests.

“You expect me to practice chess on an empty stomach?” I bitch.

He pulls off at the next convenience store. Hustling in and out, he hands me a bag.

After the olive oil and salt purchase, I’m concerned about what’s in the bag, but I’m relieved to find a muffin and soda. “Thanks.”

“Yep. And you still drink too much soda.”

I pop the top and take a sip, making anAhhhsound. “Fine, I’ll practice online, but you’re the one who has to tell Coach I’m bailing this morning. He’s already pissed at me.”

Vince cuts me a look. “Wonder why?”

Ignoring him, I grab my laptop from my backpack and balance it on my lap, beginning a game against the computeras I nibble on my muffin. I recreate the game with Aspen, and this time, I don’t make a silly blunder.

Glancing up, we’re in the middle of freaking nowhere, with Kat and a woman hanging out in an abandoned gas station parking lot. “Why are Kat and her friend here?”

“Still don’t know.”

Vince pulls up beside them, rolling my window down and leaning over me. “Ladies, get in.”

Kat and her friend scramble into the back, and Vince takes off.

“Hi, Kat,” I say, craning my neck. “Who’s your friend?” I ask about the woman who looks like she’s in shock.

“Luna and Vince, this is Taylor.” Kat introduces us.

The woman stares ahead with glassy eyes.

“Looks like you two have been through some shit. That seems to happen around these men,” I muse.

“Luna, that’s enough,” Vince warns. “Shouldn’t you be practicing?”

“I have a chess tournament coming up,” I explain to everyone. “And I already have a chess coach,” I snipe at Vince, but get back to my online game.

Finishing my game, I realize we’ve gone down the shore and are pulling into the driveway of a beach house.

“Where are we?” Taylor’s friend asks with a yawn.

“My house. Well, mine and my husband’s,” Kat answers.

“Husband?” Taylor gasps. Glad I’m not the only one in the dark around here.

“A lot’s happened since we last talked,” Kat tells her friend.

Vince rolls the back window down, and Kat punches in the gate code.

The gate swings open, and we pull through and park. “We’re all going to hang tight until Fabio gets here,” he announces, opening the back door before hustling around and opening mine.

“And hanging with Vince is about as much fun as you’d imagine,” I say, fucking with him. “Oooh, I want to hang at the pool,” I amend when we walk through the courtyard.

Vince shakes his head. “Everyone inside.”

“See what I mean.” I roll my eyes.

We follow Kat inside the house. She heads straight for the liquor cabinet, pouring herself and her friend a shot of whiskey.

Vince is checking out the house, I guess as a security measure, and I take the opportunity to sneak over and grab the bottle. I have no interest in drinking; I’m just trying to push him to see if I can get him to break on the six days. He held firm the last time I was in trouble, but today’s a new day.