Page 36 of Poisoned Pawns (The Gamemakers Trilogy #1)

Desmond Sinclair-Piano Strings

Slamming my fingers down on the keys, I growl.

I can’t center myself. Not since last night.

The darkness swimming inside me has taken me under, and I can’t seem to crawl out of it.

Not this time. I haven’t reached out to either of them.

They probably hate me, and I don’t blame them.

After they left, I sobbed on the floor like a bitch for a while until I got up and took the whip and punished myself for what I did.

I tore into my flesh like never before, hoping to feel better.

But it didn’t. I made sure to make myself bleed and poured salt water over my wounds, but I still couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness and guilt.

I wanted to run after them and tell them how sorry I was and explain why I had to do it, but I’m a coward.

Sal’s right. I’m nothing but a piece of shit, like my father.

Useless human being that’s only good for one thing.

I almost went to him—to force him to dole out my punishment.

But again, I’m a coward, so instead, I crawled into my bed and went to sleep.

When I woke up, I prayed it was all a dream, but reality hit me when I saw the toys and watched the video.

I’m a fucking monster. I barely recognized myself.

There’s truly no excuse for the pain I caused.

So now, I’m here in the music room hoping the music my fingers create will get me out of the darkness, but nothing is helping, and I’m not sure what will.

My phone beeps in my hoodie, and I take it out. My eyes widen when I see an email letting me know a location has been found for Silas’s phone. Frantically, I swipe to the app to see his location, my fingers moving too slowly.

Getting up from the bench, I shut off the lights and exit the room to head back to my dorm.

I need my computer so I can navigate the app better before I go to him.

If only I had the pin to Silas’s workroom, then I could grab some weapons.

I really wish I had a connection to the River kids.

I ruined that when I never showed up to pick up the new identities I ordered for Laura and I.

Their family would go in there guns blazing and not think twice about it.

They are the most powerful family on the east coast and not a family you want to mess with.

I’ve heard stories through the years about them.

Hazel is batshit. I’ve met her a few times at parties.

She's gorgeous but lethal. Her brother, Prince, was dating Embry Cyprus, another family you don’t want to fuck with.

Pierce picks up from Bishop, Embry’s twin brother, and he’s been pining after Hazel for years.

Then you have Preston Rivers, the youngest of the three.

He seems like the most levelheaded one. Pretty sure he’s gay but hasn’t come out yet.

Rumors, I suppose. Wait… there is the Fatal Five, but I haven’t spoken to Kingston in a long time.

We lost contact after his father went to jail and his mom made him move.

Fuck! I guess I’m going to have to do this on my own and pray that I can get us out in one piece.

Finally arriving back at my dorm, I cue up my laptop, reach into my mini fridge and grab a drink.

Guzzling it down, I wait for the screen to light up.

Taking the mouse, I move it around and click where I need to be.

Maximizing my screen, I zoom in, and low and behold, Silas's location. Not too far from here.

Grabbing a pen, I write down the coordinates and look them up. My brows furrow at the screen. It looks like he’s in the middle of the woods in some cabin-like house. Changing the view, I try to get a better look, but there are too many trees and overgrown bushes.

Sitting back in my chair, I open up another screen and type in the address.

Hopefully, I can gather as much information on the property as I can before I go in there blind.

The house is abandoned and has been for at least three years.

It was sold to a developer. Not any developer, but—what the fuck?

“Andrews on top of Jay’s death.

He blames himself even if we all know it wasn’t his fault.

Getting into the truck, I turn it on and take out my phone, shooting Ivanna a text.

Me:

I know you hate me right now, but I found Silas. I’m leaving the university to go get him. I’ll let you know once we’re safe.

Opening up the GPS, I plug in the address and place my phone on the dashboard.

Pulling out of the parking lot, I get on the highway, and pray he is okay and alone.

I’m going into this completely blind, but I don’t have a choice.

There’s no one to call for backup. Even if I didn’t do what I did to Pierce last night, I still wouldn't have called him. If this was a different scenario, Silas is who I would call, and it was the same for him. Time and time again, we beat the shit out of guys who messed with the girls and those who owed him money. He knew I didn’t care about getting my hands bloody.

I’d rather throw down with my fist than with a weapon.

Silas and Jay were my best friends, the only friends I had.

The only ones who knew what Sal was doing to me.

So many times I had to beg them, especially Silas, to not go to my house and kill my stepfather.

Why I protected him all these years is beyond me. I’ll just blame it on the trauma.

Twenty minutes pass by, and I’m so deep in my head that I don’t realize I’ve arrived.

Parking down the dirt road, in the brush of overgrown trees and woods, I turn off my headlights, leaving the truck running just in case I need to get out of here quickly, and get out into the night.

All I hear is the crickets chirping and the leaves crunching under my boots.

Putting my hood up, I take my pistol from the back of my jeans and slide it into the front of my hoodie, next to the knife, while I walk down the dirt path. The night seems so still—so silent. It creeps me out not knowing what the hell I am walking into.

As I walk further, the dimly lit abandoned house comes into view, and I grip the gun, switching the safety off.

There’s no cars in the circular dirt driveway, and I don’t see any movement from inside.

Instead of walking up the front steps, I walk around the side and peek into the first window.

Nothing but cream-colored sheets covering an array of furniture with no signs of anyone being inside.

I continue to walk and look into the next window and see a dining room table with plate settings in front of each chair.

But still no sign that there’s anyone here.

Making it around the back, I climb the two wooden steps to the back door and turn the knob.

Taking a deep breath, I push it open slowly, trying not to make any noise, but the door creaks loudly, and I wince.

Sliding inside, I shut it behind me and notice the kitchen is filled with black mold and peeling paint.

Shoving my hoodie up and over my nose, I quickly move out of there and step into the hallway.

It’s an open concept. The dining room and living room are one enormous room to my left and to my right is another sitting room along with three doors.

From looking at the plans to the house, it’s two bedrooms with a single bathroom.

No upstairs and no basement. As I stand in the hall, something is telling me that this was too fucking easy.

Something just doesn’t seem right. If Silas was here being held captive, why wasn’t there anyone else here?

Why is it so quiet? Wouldn’t he be struggling to get out?

Or screaming for help? My mind whirls with all different possibilities, but there’s only one way to find out.

Opening one door, I see it’s a bathroom.

Stepping back, I shut the door and head a few feet to the next room, but the hairs on the back of my neck stand as if someone is watching me.

I grasp the handle of my gun as I whip around, pointing the gun aimlessly, but nothing is there.

Then I hear a creak behind me and spin back around, but again, nothing is there.

“Ha, ha, ha,” a sinister laugh echoes around me. I whip around again but still see nothing.

“Who's there?” I shout, but I catch movement in my peripherals and shoot as the laughing continues.

“Poor little rat caught in a trap. Whatever will you do?” the robotic voice says. I turn in the direction it’s coming from and see a tall figure standing at the opposite end of the hallway, so I shoot, bullet after bullet after bullet, until the figure stumbles back, falling to the ground.

“Fuck you, asshole!” I growl as I step closer to the unmoving body.

Bending down, I reach for the mask and pull up, but suddenly something sharp and strong wraps around my neck, forcing me backwards.

I drop the gun and reach for my throat as I choke.

The metal is so thin, and then I realize it’s piano wire.

I thrash wildly, trying to connect with something, but the person just pulls tighter, causing my eyes to bulge and my chest to cave in.

Losing my balance, I fall on my ass, trying to set myself free, but he’s pulling so fucking tight.

I feel my skin rip and the burn of the metal against my skin.

“Dying by the instrument you love the most is truly bittersweet, Desmond Sinclair. I told you Silas was mine, and now, so are you,” the voice laughs from behind me as the room spins.

Darkness seeps into my vision as my lungs beg for a breath that never comes.

This is it. Checkmate fucking won, and the last sound I hear is Laura’s sweet voice calling me home.