Page 68 of Wanna Play A Game?

“A buddy of mine made something for me. I need to pick it up.”

I glance at the time on the clock. It’s almost 5pm, which means we only have thirty-five minutes before they come looking. What the hell does he need to pick up?

I’d like to get as far away as possible before ditching the car. I know they know this car, and I don’t trust Sawyer not to have a tracking device on it somewhere. I know there isn’t one in my clothes. I checked.

We roll past a few homesteads out in the distance and pull into a tiny town. I sit up straighter. There are people here. People could help me.

“You’ll lose all your points, Cali.” Sawyer’s voice is soft. “And Ryder won’t look kindly on you running.”

I ask emotionlessly, “Does he look kindly on anything?”

“Yes. The people he likes.” Sawyer stops in front of a beat-up, single-story house. He gets out, walks around the truck, and opens my door. “Give me your hand.”

“Where are we?”

“Friend’s place.” The place looks about 50 years old, with the paint peeling off the sides and bushes almost as tall as the roof. Sawyer grabs my hand and escorts me down. He holds my hand as we walk up to the door, and a few cats dart off the steps. Sawyer knocks. The door opens, and I shrink back. An old woman with gray hair and a nightgown stands there. She takes one look at Sawyer, and her eyes crinkle. “Sawyer, I was just thinking about you!” She eyes me and says, “Who’s this?”

“This is my date. Cali, this is Jenny.” Sawyer beams down at me. His smile is megawatt, and if I didn’t know better, I would have damn near swooned at him. He’s startlingly handsome.

Sawyer slightly nods at me. I blink out of it. Oh my god. I’m supposed to say something.

I swallow. “Hey, Jenny.”

She grins. “Oh my god! Sawyer, she's gorgeous. I knew you’d find a good woman to settle down with. Come in, come in.” She bustles inside.

We step inside, and the place is as run-down as the outside. Cats scurry out of the way, and I jump. I glance at Sawyer, but he still looks pleasant. Who the hell is this woman?

She bustles around. “I’m getting it for you. You still have that cat? The orange one?”

“No, he ran from me as soon as we got home.”

She chuckles. “Ornery little things they are. Orange ones especially.”

She brings back something silver. It’s…a necklace. It looks like a choker with a delicate silver band and two small rings on the ends. There are tiny stones set in the sides that catch the fading light. It’s gorgeous.

“Thanks, Jenny.” Sawyer takes it with his other hand and leans down to give her a kiss on the forehead. “You’re the best.”

The woman blushes. “Oh lord, have mercy, I’m not, but I do what I can.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me. “You’re a lucky woman.”

I flush.

Sawyer laughs and scoots me back. “I’ll be back, Jenny.”

As we step outside, she says, “Come back when you’re ready for the ring!” She wiggles her fingers at me.

I flush.

We climb back in the car.

“Who was that?” I ask.

“Someone I’ve known since childhood.” Sawyer turns to look at me. He holds out the necklace. “I told you I’d get you a proper collar.”

I swallow and look at the necklace in his hand. It’s gorgeous and sparkly, with a solid band of silver on the inside. The outsidelooks like intertwining bands of solid and studded strands with rings on either end. What’s the catch?

“Look.” Sawyer turns it over. Flowers are engraved on the smooth inside. “Recognize those?”

I squint. “No?”