Page 13 of Poisoned Pawns (The Gamemakers Trilogy #1)

Ivy-Chocolates & Text Messages

Gasping, I awake to the potent scent of ammonia mixed with something I can’t quite pinpoint.

Desmond stands over me with a look of concern on his face.

I dip my brows, trying to remember why I am on the floor of my bedroom as he reaches for my hand, pulling me up into a sitting position.

I look around and see all the blood. Covering my mouth in shock, giggling at my door has me snapping my head in its direction.

“Awe, poor Ivy can’t take a joke?” Mary says, but before I can respond, Desmond is already whispering in my ear while he helps me to my feet, wrapping his arms around my waist to steady me.

“Listen to my voice. Breathe in and breathe out. Those sluts are not worth it.” Pressing his lips against the shell of my ear, I damn near melt into his embrace and close my eyes for a second, trying to center myself as the giggling continues. Unfortunately, nothing is settling my nerves.

“Breathe, Spitfire. Don’t let them get the best of you,” he whispers as the clicking of heels comes hurriedly down the hallway.

“What is going on?” Beth says sternly as she enters my room with her hands on her hips.

I shrug and point at the giggling idiots.

She turns to them, and they scamper away like rats.

“Get this room cleaned up!” she orders before spinning on her heels and slamming my door shut.

Turning in his hold, I look up at Desmond, and he smirks.

“You know it’s not actual blood, right?” he asks, and I nod.

“Will you help me clean it up? My fucking bed is ruined!” I huff as he lifts my chin, forcing me to look at him.

“I’ll send Griselda to come clean this. Let’s go to the dorms tonight.

I’ll sleep on the couch and you can take my bed,” he offers, and I shake my head, but he pulls me towards my door, dragging me out and down the stairs.

Not paying attention to where I’m going, I slam into the back of him as he stops short.

“What are you doing here?” he growls, and I peek around his arm to see Pierce standing there with blood dripping from the corner of his lip. Jesus Christ, why do I find that so hot?

“I came to make sure Ivy got back here okay,” he says, and my heart skips a beat.

“She’s fine. We’re going to my dorm room,” Des tells him.

“Come stay at the house. Oliver isn’t going to pull any more shit tonight,” he tells us, but I pull away from Des, and he spins on me. Both of their stares locked on my face.

“You both can go. I’ll just stay here and clean my room or go sleep with one of the girls,” I tell them as both of their faces drop, rejection prominent on their features.

“Whatever!” Des says with a whole ass attitude as he storms off, leaving me and Pierce standing in the doorway. Rolling my eyes, Pierce grabs my hand and brings it to his lips, placing a kiss on the top of it.

“You sure you want to be alone tonight?” he asks, and I nod.

“Maybe we can hang out another night. I’m exhausted, and tonight was just too much,” I tell him as he places another kiss against my hand.

“As you wish. Call me tomorrow. Let’s get breakfast?” He grins, which brings a smile to my face.

“Maybe, if we are both awake for it.” He laughs.

“I know a spot that will make breakfast any time we want. You just hit me up, and I’ll take you out.” He smirks, and I nod.

“Alright. Sounds like a plan. I had fun tonight, Pierce. Thanks for showing me a good time,” I say as he lets go of my hand to cup my face, then brings his lips to mine and gently kisses me.

Copper and mint greet my taste buds, and I moan into his mouth as his hands leave my face and move past my shoulders to cup my ass, but I pull away before it gets any hotter in this doorway.

“Goodnight, Pierce.” I blush up at him.

“Sweet dreams, Vee,” he says, kissing my forehead and making his way down the steps. Shutting the door, I go back to my room and lock the door behind me. After stripping my bed and putting new sheets on the mattress, I put my phone on the charger and see Desmond sent me a text.

Desmond:

Griselda will be there in the morning. Get some sleep. Preferably alone.

Me:

Thank you.

Closing the thread, I see I have a message from the skull app, but I do not have the energy to play. Stripping out of my clothes, I shut the light off and climb into bed, and sleep quickly takes over with a vengeance.

“You can’t save her. She needs to die,” he spits as I sink the knife into his chest, twisting it as his blood pours all over my hands. I smile as I feel his tendons snapping beneath my blade.

“Fuck you!” I grit, pulling the knife from his convulsing body. Standing over him, I watch as he lifts his hand to reach for me but I kick it away. He begins to wheeze, gasping for air that will never come. I smile as the light in his eyes dulls through the mask and he falls still.

Waking up to pounding on my door, I wipe my sweaty forehead and climb out of my bed. Swinging the door open, Griselda steps into my room with a few other ladies.

“Mr. Sinclair sent us,” she says, and I nod.

“Thank you. Do what you need to do. I’m going to grab a shower,” I tell her, and she smiles, quickly getting her team started.

Walking to my closet, I find clothes for the day and head to the bathroom. Forty-five minutes later, I emerge from my shower and open the door to a spotless room and no Griselda in sight. I smile, spotting my favorite Dove chocolate square has been left on my pillow.

Suddenly, my door swings open just as my phone pings on my nightstand.

“Um, Ivy… Check your phone,” Everly says in a panicked tone with Millie hot on her heels.

“Hello to you too,” I say just as she raises a brow, so I pick up my phone and see a text waiting for me. “I assume we all got the same text?” I say, and they both nod.

“Why is this happening again?” Millie says, her voice shaky.

“I’m still trying to work that out.”

“Well, this shit is annoying, and I’m already over it,” Everly adds.

“No shit.” Opening the text, I read it.

Checkmate:

Tonight you are to go to sweet Katie’s grave. The others have the rest of the instructions. If you don’t abide by the rules, I’ll be sending the police a very compromising video of you from three years ago. XOXO- Checkmate, B*tches

My hands shake as I look up at the others. “What do your texts say?” I ask. Millie takes her phone out and reads what her instructions are.

“You are to go to the bus terminal and open locker eight. Retrieve the contents then ask your dear bestie Ivy what the next step is,” Millie says as she holds up a small key with a number eight tag on it.

“And then we're going to Katie’s grave,” I add, and Everly gasps.

“To dig her up. More instructions are in her casket. What the fuck you guys? I don’t want to do this,” she says, fear apparent in her tone. We all sit on my bed dumbfounded at what is expected of us tonight.

“Did Checkmate threaten you all?” I ask, and they both nod. “Fuck! We’re left without a choice then.”

“We could just go to the cops,” Millie says, and I shake my head.

“Or tell our parents, they will know what to do,” Everly adds.

“Yeah, because that worked out so great the last time we got into shit,” I growl.

“Then what the fuck are we supposed to do? Play this sick fuck’s game again and pray to god we don’t get killed in the meantime?” Millie snaps.

“Yes. That's exactly what we fucking do. But we have to play smarter this time and make sure we use all the resources we have to our advantage. We need to beat Checkmate at his own game,” I tell them, and Everly snickers.

“That’s if Checkmate is even a guy. Maybe he’s a chick. Where do we even start?”

“Use our fucking brains. We need to hack his shit. Figure out where he’s sending messages from. How he–”

“Or she,” Everly interrupts

“Or she is everywhere and we never know when they will strike. Tonight we start our own game. Instead of us being the prey. We hunt them!”

“I like that plan,” Everly agrees, but the look on Millie's face is nothing but fear and doubt.

“Come on, Millz. We got this,” I tell her, but she shakes her head.

“Can we at least tell Des or Silas? We need someone on our side,” she asks, and we both, in unison, say, “No,” and she huffs.

“Too late. And you both can be mad all you want, but I’m not dying over this shit,” she states, getting up from the bed and stomping out of the room.

“Jesus fucking Christ. Does that mean they already know?” I ask, and Everly shrugs.

“Only one way we will find out,” she says, and I shake my head.

“Welp, let's get this shit going. Go get Millz back in here and then we’ll come up with a plan for tonight. Operation trap a damn chess piece.” I laugh, and she nods, leaving the room.

Time to think like a predator instead of falling victim.