Page 90 of The Games We Play

Spark grins. “You gotta find at least three vegetables you can stand, kid.”

“And what about me?” I ask.

He passes me my lunch through the gap in the railings. “You gotta forget your lunch more often, Miss O’Connor, so I can come see you and your club at lunchtime.” He kisses his fingertips and touches them to my cheeks.

The girls giggle. I want to join them.

“I’m going to see my brother tonight, straight from school,” I tell him, and the smile leaves his eyes for a second.

“That’s not a good idea.”

I sigh. “I know. But I need to see Michael. He’ll be expecting me. And second, if I deviate from my routine, doesn’t it let Cillian know that I know he’s behind the hit and run? Why else would I stay away?” It’s only part of the reason. I need to speak to Cillian and try to end this, without any more of us getting hurt. The lies are getting too complicated.

Someone is going to trip.

Someone is going to die.

A frown gathers on Spark’s brow. “Okay.”

“Just like that?” I ask.

“Just like that.” He kisses me on the forehead. “Bye, LC,” he says.

When he starts his bike, he revs the engine several times in a row, and the kids go wild. It’s cute, and now I’m going to have to find a way to settle them down for the first class after lunch, or they are going to be bouncing around the classroom all day.

After work, I head to my car.

“Iris, wait up,” Kasey shouts, juggling three footballs, which I’m guessing are for her after-school program.

“Hey. How’s it going?”

“Good. I wanted to check in with you. That you’re okay. We’ve barely spoken.”

I place my palm on my head. “I’m turning into that friend who finds a guy and then disappears. I’m sorry.”

Kasey laughs. “I get it. Every woman wants a man to look at her the way Spark looks at you, preferably while trying to remove her underwear with his teeth or some bullshit. But the stuff with your uncle?”

“I’m just heading there now to talk to him. He’s set me an impossible task. I spent an afternoon at the clubhouse and learned nothing. But seriously, if I ever disappear, tell them my hairbrush is likely full of my DNA.”

“Don’t joke about this,” Kasey says.

“Don’t worry. I’ll fix it, and that joke was in bad taste.”

She kisses me quickly on the cheek. “Take care. And message me when you’re home.”

I pull out of the street, taking a left onto the road to the highway. But when I merge, I see a line of glistening chrome on the shoulder. And as I fly by, I see the men on their bikes. Niro, wearing a black bandana over his mouth and nose. Vex leaned forward over the bike handles. Saint and Switch, side by side. Halo. King. Clutch. And Spark.

I’m past them before I can react. Yet as I pull out into traffic, I see them in the rearview mirror. They fall into formation behind me. Cars literally move out of their way, giving them a wide birth.

Of course Spark wouldn’t let me go on my own. Not when he thinks I’m at risk.

And to prove a point, he brought the club, to show me they have our backs.

They’re going to follow me right to Cillian’s home.

To his turf.

What if Spark insists on coming in? What if Cillian reveals what is going on?