Page 74 of Dangerous Games

“What?”

“Come on.” Gio pushes off the counter, leading me further into the house.

Automatic lights dimly light the room enough for me to see that it’s a family room with a massive TV on the wall. A sectional equally large that looks like a cloud surrounds it.

Gio slumps into the corner seat at the same time he grabs a controller and remote off the coffee table. He pats the cushion next to him. “Sit.”

The TV screen illuminates the room as I sit down next to him. I hear the familiar beep of the gaming console coming to life.

Gio games?

Tension is radiating from his body as he hands me the controller. “Sign in.”

I stare at it. There’s a reason he wants me to take it. I’m just not sure what that reason is. “I’m fine with watching you play,” I say, still not reaching for it.

“Take the controller, Bronwyn.”

Something in his tone tells me to obey. I slowly take it from him and sign in. It takes a minute for everything to load. “Are you sure this will make you feel better?” I ask because it seems like it’s having the opposite effect.

“Sure,” is his reply as he takes a drink.

Okay, then.

“Play the game you were playing the other night.”

I study him out of the corner of my eye. I feel like I’m missing something, but I’m not sure what. “Alright.”

As I’m waiting for the game to load, a notification pops up in the upper right-hand corner of the screen, letting me know Wiz is online. I tense, hoping Gio doesn’t see it. Ever so slowly, I drag my thumb over to press the button to mute the mic on the controller. I don’t want a repeat of last time because I have no way home if he kicks me out. Once my game is loaded on the screen, Gio reaches over and unmutes the mic on the controller.

Shit.

My chest tightens with the anxiety that’s quickly flooding my system.

“Hey, are you up to play or are you just roaming around?” Wiz’s voice sounds through the controller, making me jump.

Gio leans over, his warm breath brushing against my skin. He smells of bourbon. “Tell him you’re up to play,” he rumbles in my ear, low enough where it won’t be picked up by the mic. “I want him to hear what’s about to happen next.” He bites down on my earlobe, dragging it between his teeth, making me hiss.

My heart is pounding. The anticipation is going to make me throw up.

I swallow. “Yeah, I’m up to play. Pick the quest.”

Gio’s arm snakes behind me as he relaxes back as if he’s settling in for the long haul.

“Any preference?” Wiz asks.

“Um, no,” I get out. “You pick.”

I internally flinch as Gio’s hand flexes on my shoulder. He’s still wound tight, but is trying to play it off like everything is fine. And that’s freaking me out because everything is far from fine.

I lean into Gio and whisper, “What does Wiz need to listen to?”

I hold my breath as I wait for his response.

“Don’t worry about it.”

Don’t worry about it?

Is he fucking crazy?