Page 8 of Poisoned Pawns (The Gamemakers Trilogy #1)

Ivy-Swim Meets & Grey Eyes

Getting a text from Everly this morning telling me to get my ass back to the sorority house, had me groaning and the minute I realized the boy next to me snoring was Silas I got out of there quickly.

I did not want to hear his shit. By the time I got back to the sorority house Everly had already given me the details on the plans for this day.

Her and Millie want to go to the swim meet at noon.

Drool over some guys then hopefully a party.

Now, sitting in the stands of the aquatics center sweating my ass off from how hot it is in here, I shoulder bump Millie who turns to me with a raised brow. I wonder if the guy Millie was sucking face with last night is the reason for this little rendezvous.

“That guy you were hooking up with last night, is he on the team?” I ask, and her face goes red. Bingo!

“If you must know, yes. Yes, he is. His name is Warren Mitchell, and he’s the captain of the team.” She smiles. Damn, little virgin Mary is blushing over this dude. Sliding my arm in hers, I smile.

“I can’t wait to meet him.”

“You better not embarrass me, so help me god, Ivy,” she scolds, and Everly chuckles.

“Listen, I need you to introduce me to Warren's friend, the one with the dark hair and ripped body,” Evs says, and I laugh, looking down at the guys stretching before the meet starts. One of them looks up at me, and I gasp as his grey eyes collide with mine. He winks, causing my cheeks to heat, then smiles and looks away, but I can’t help but stare. Why am I so drawn to him? Fuck.

“She’s right!” I say to Millie. “Introduce us to his friends. What are our plans tonight?” Millie looks up at me with the biggest grin on her face.

“Hillsboro.” She smirks

“Oh, hell yes,” Everly chimes in, and I grin.

Hillsboro is where the mentally insane used to be kept long before we were born.

There’s so many stories as to what happened there, but most are bullshit.

No one really knows the truth except for a few people whose parents spent some time there.

The place is creepy as fuck, and too many people are afraid to even step foot on the grounds, which makes it the perfect spot to chill out.

I particularly love the place, and we might as well have our fun before we have to go back to attending classes along with the events the sorority is doing next week.

The starting pistol going off takes me out of my thoughts as Warren dives into the pool, gliding his body through the water, racing to get to the other side and back.

Once his hands touch the side, the guy who winked at me dives into the water as the crowd cheers in excitement.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I take it out and read the message waiting for me.

Silas:

You left without saying goodbye.

I roll my eyes and focus my attention on the hot guy gliding through the water, but my phone vibrates again. Looking down, my body goes rigid, seeing that it’s not from Silas. Clicking the message open with shaky hands as the crowd cheers., my body shivers as I read the words on my screen.

Unknown:

What would Mommy say if she found out her princess is sleeping with her own brother? Multimedia Video-Click to open.

Clicking it open, I immediately cover my mouth and trap the gasp that was ready to break free. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Closing the video of me and Silas last night, I reply to this motherfucker.

Me:

What do you want?

Unknown:

I’m glad I have your attention. You chose “A killer.” Are you ready to play the game? The rules are really simple.

Me:

And what is that?

Unknown:

You will see tonight.

Me:

Wonderful!

Putting my phone in my pocket, Everly turns to me with a raised brow, and I bump her shoulder.

“Just Silas being his asshole self,” I lie as she shakes her head, turning back towards the pool. I can only imagine what kind of bullshit tonight is going to bring.

I thought it was Checkmate, seeing as he’s extremely ruthless and gives no fucks about consequences.

But this person, the one behind the computer screen orchestrating this game, is very different from Checkmate.

I’m both terrified and intrigued to see what my first task is tonight.

I just hope it doesn’t turn into what happened already.

I’m glad this isn’t Checkmate again, Everly wouldn’t survive that.

She’s barely hanging on as it is and is very co-dependent, needing someone to sleep next to her every night.

Trauma of the past haunts all of us in different ways every single day, and now the prick is back.

Maybe they never truly left and were just biding their time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

I don’t know, but it’s fucking maddening.

The crowd cheering causes me to jump. I didn’t realize how deep in my head I was until I look up and see the bleachers emptying and Millie is grabbing my hand, pulling me up to go see Warren and his friends.

Stepping off the bleachers, chilly hands grip my waist, hauling me over and down the last set of bleachers.

“Hey there, I don’t mean to be presumptuous, but I don’t want you to slip,” he says, but I look down and see a dry floor. I blush, thinking he’s either super smooth or he really just wanted to touch me.

“Thanks for looking out. What’s your name?” I ask as he sets me down on my feet, his hands lingering on my hips. Running my fingers up his biceps, I take him in, staring at his strong jawline, leading up to his high cheekbones and deep grey eyes. Is that a blush crawling up his cheeks?

“You’re so beautiful.” He smiles, bringing his hand up to tuck a piece of hair behind my ear.

“Is that what you tell all the girls? But never give your name before leaving them high and dry.” I smirk, backing away as the coach calls them over. Millie grabs my arm, but my eyes never leave his as I walk backwards with my girls.

“It’s Pierce. See you tonight, Vee.” He winks then turns away, heading towards the others waiting for him. My eyes rake down his back, right to his ass. Fucking biteable. Giggling, I spin and catch up with the others.

“Damn, Ivy. I’ve never seen you look at anyone like that,” Millie states, and I laugh as butterflies fill my stomach. I have no idea why he’s pulled such a reaction from me, but I don’t want it to stop.

“I know, and it’s weird,” I reply.

“Well, we are chillin’ with them tonight. What’s our poison for tonight? I’m going to meet up with Embry later,” she says, and Everly chimes in.

“One of her uncles would be great to play with tonight.” She laughs, and I shake my head.

“Thirsty much?” I wink.

“Listen, Maverick and Braxton are fucking hot as shit. Embry’s mom is so fucking lucky. I need a damn harem of men in my life,” she states ,and we all laugh.

“We really do. One is just not enough,” Millie says, and I laugh even harder.

“Don’t you fucking say it. I know.” She rolls her eyes as we get to Everly’s silver Evo.

Climbing in, she starts her up and blasts our playlist as we drive back to the sorority house to get a nap in before tonight's festivities.

Millie peeks her head in between us from the backseat.

“The same order as usual?” she asks, and I look over at Evs and we both nod. “Alright. You two go nap, and I’ll go meet up with Embry,” she tells us as we park along the curb at the house.

Getting out, me and Everly walk into the house, and I go right up the stairs and into my room, plopping onto my bed. Sleep comes fast, but the nightmares come quicker.

Panting as I run through the forest of trees just outside our development, trying to get home as quickly as possible.

My hands are soaked with blood, splatters of it along my face and in my blonde hair.

I don’t feel bad about what I did. I’m just terrified of what’s to come.

What will be the consequences if I’m caught?

Fuck! I can see the fence of my backyard and my treehouse just beyond it. I smile, knowing I’m almost safe.

“Ivy, Ivy,” a voice calls in the distance. I turn to look behind me and I see multiple people dressed in all black wearing masks that smile at me.

“Ivy, Ivy. Wake up!” the voice yells.

Gasping, I jolt up, trying to catch my breath.

My eyes go wide when I see Everly’s frightened face looking at me.

“W-what happened?” I pant, still trying to catch my breath.

Why are my nightmares replaying the past but different versions of it?

All the trauma I hide is ready to burst at the seams. It’s like the past is forcing me to confront my buried issues through my dreams.

“You were moaning for help in your sleep. Yelling for someone to stop touching you,” she says, and my eyes go wide. What the fuck is going on with me? That doesn’t make any sense.

“Just a nightmare. I’ll be fine. What time is it?” I ask, trying to change the subject.

“They started again, didn’t they?” she asks, and I nod, keeping the fact that they never truly left to myself.

“Yes, Evs. What time is it?” I ask again, and she pulls out her phone before smiling.

“Time for us to wash our asses and get ready for the night. Millie is showering now. Let's move it along,” she tells me, bouncing up and down on the bed.

“Listen, I plan on getting laid tonight, so easy access attire is what it is.” I grin, and she nods.

“Slut it up baby,” she cheers, and I shake my head. My phone vibrates and I take it out, seeing the skull with the X icon blinking with an incoming message. Clicking it, I read it and smile.

Oh, this is going to be so much fun. Let the games begin.