Games of Fire

by Airicka Phoenix

  “Hey.” Her voice broke.

  “What’s going on?” Lauren demanded at once. In the background, she heard Jessie murmuring something about speaker phone.

  Trying not to go into details or break down, Sophie told her friends everything, including the grotesque message left on her garage door. Lauren began cursing immediately.

  “We’ll come over after school,” Jessie said, trying to be soothing, but failing when she sounded like she was going to cry. “We’ll … Joe! Where are you going?” Her voice began to fade, as if she was running away from the phone.

  “Joe’s pissed,” Lauren said. “He took off somewhere. But yeah, Jess and I’ll be there after school. I’ll call my mom and let her know we’re spending the night.”

  “No,” Sophie said. “I don’t want you guys here. It’s not safe.”

  Lauren snorted. “Girl, whatever! We’re sticking together! Whoever this asshole is, he hasn’t met the team!”

  A near wave of tears sprung to her eyes. “Love you guys.”

  “Yeah, yeah! Now give hotshot the phone then lie down or something. We’ll catch you later.”

  Sophie turned to Spencer, offering him the phone. He accepted it without asking why. He kept one arm securely around Sophie, pressing her protectively into his side while he brought the phone to his ear with his free hand.

  “Yes?” There was a pause as he listened, occasionally making the appropriate humming sound. Several times he nodded his head as if silently agreeing. “I will,” he said finally, turning gray eyes down to Sophie as if making the promise to her. “I’m not going anywhere.” He hung up and returned her phone.

  “What was that?” she asked, tucking the phone away back inside her pocket.

  He shook his head, brushing a kiss to her forehead. “Eat my veggies. Get a goodnight’s rest. Keep you safe. Stop being gorgeous. The usual.”

  Despite herself, she snorted a laugh, elbowing him gently in the side. “That’s not what she said.”

  He shrugged, leaning into the sofa, dragging her back with him so she lay across his chest. “Some of that.”

  She didn’t press him. She snuggled into him, closing her eyes against the scene around her. In the distance, she could hear her father murmuring with the police officers as her mother did the same from across the room. She blocked the low chatter and focused on the steady patter of Spencer’s heartbeat beneath the soft material of his sweater. She turned her face into the warmth radiating from beneath the material. The steady beat calmed the agitation coursing through her, battering at her senses, and for a moment, she nearly forgot the threat outside her home. For a moment, those two, bloody words were erased from her mind.

  Found you!

  A violent shudder ripped through her. Spencer’s arms tightened instinctively, shielding her from something that wasn’t physical. It annoyed her how easily she’d fallen apart, and despite the piling evidence that this was not some random attack, she couldn’t help wondering if maybe the person had the wrong house. They seriously could not be looking for her. Why would anyone want to? She didn’t have any enemies. This wasn’t one of her books. She was just a normal teenage girl trying to live a normal life. But a part of her wished she was one of the heroines in her stories. Then she’d be strong and capable. She’d know what to do. She wouldn’t feel so powerless and scared.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  “For what?”

  “For getting you and your family involved in whatever this is.”

  He pushed her hair behind her ear. “You didn’t do this.”

  “Not intentionally, but they want me and … I dragged you into it.”

  “You don’t know that!”

  She raised her head to peer down at him. “They wrote it on my garage door!”

  He shook his head. “You can’t know it was meant for you.”

  Sophie frowned. “Who then?” But she knew even before his gaze snapped to where her parents stood. “My parents? Why would anyone want to hurt them?”

  His eyes returned to hers. “Why would anyone want to hurt you?”

  It made no sense. Her parents were good people. They were kind and decent and everyone loved them. There was no way anyone would intentionally hurt them. It had to be her. But what had she done?

  “It has to be Aimee,” she murmured. “There’s no one else.”

  His finger lightly grazed the side of her injured face. “Even if it wasn’t her who painted your garage door, she’ll be charged for assaulting you.” His lips pursed. “I wish you’d told me when it happened.” His eyes narrowed. “Is this why you didn’t come over last night?”

  She dropped her gaze. “I didn’t want to cause trouble. I did provoke her.”

  He pinched her chin between his thumb and index finger. “She had no right to touch you.”

  “It’s not a big deal.” She touched her cheek, tracing the scratches with a fingertip. “It doesn’t even hurt anymore.”

  “That isn’t the point. You should have told me.”

  “What good would it have done? You would have gotten upset and tried to confront her or Jamie and I honestly can’t stand either of them.”

  Something in his features softened. “Sophie—”

  “Sophie.” Her father appeared before them, face strained. “Why don’t we let Spencer head home? He’s already missed school today and I wouldn’t feel right keeping him any longer.”

  “My mom understands,” Spencer argued.

  Her father nodded. “Yes, but it’s not safe here.”

  Spencer straightened his shoulders, an impressive act considering Sophie was practically in his lap. “With all due respect, sir, I’m not leaving Sophie. If it’s not safe for me then it’s not safe for her.”

  Her father mashed the heel of his hand into his brow as if trying to grind a headache out of his skull. “Son—”

  “Ben.” Her mother appeared at his elbow. She touched him gently. “I already talked to Jackie. She knows where Spencer is. I told her he could stay.”

  “That isn’t a good idea!” he partially hissed through his tightly clenched teeth. “We can’t risk having someone else’s kid here if something—”

  Her mother intercepted his logic. “You heard what the police said, he’s good support for Sophie. She needs that right now! Let’s get you an aspirin, okay?”

  Sophie expected him to protest, to argue the many downfalls of that idea, but he surprised her by expelling a lungful of air and pinching the bridge of his nose. Without a word, he ambled to the kitchen with her mother a step behind him.

  “Maybe my dad’s right.” Sophie turned to Spencer. “Maybe you should go home.”

  He tilted his head and observed her carefully. “You want me to go home?”

  Her chuckle came out forced, weak. “No! But I don’t want anything happening to you.”

  He pulled her back against his chest. “The only way I’m leaving is if you come with me.”

  She knew she should argue, but being with him, having his heat and scent surrounding her, she felt safe. She felt less insane. It was incredibly selfish and severely dangerous, but she didn’t think she could have handled things if it weren’t for him.

  “Thank you,” she murmured into his chest.

  “For what?”

  “For always being there when I need you.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “Always.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  As promised, Lauren, Jessie and Joe arrived on her doorstep the moment school ended. Sophie’s mother let them in with a very strained smile before hurriedly shutting and locking the door behind them. She politely asked if they were hungry or thirsty then promptly left before anyone could answer.

  “She’s kind of freaking out,” Sophie murmured from her curled up position against Spencer’s side. They hadn’t moved, not once since that morning. Spencer had pulled the afghan off the back of the sofa and wrapped it around them, but otherwise, they’d sat there, mindlessly flipp
ing through channels while her mother, father and Jackie talked strategy in the kitchen. Every so often, they could hear her father’s growl about the police not doing enough to keep them safe, but her mother would shush him and the whispering would continue.

  Sophie couldn’t blame the police. They couldn’t very well have a patrol car parked outside the house forever. Plus, she liked to think they were doing all they could to catch the person or people involved in this nightmare, to which Spencer wholeheartedly disagreed.

  “It’s been over a month and they haven’t done anything,” he kept muttering.

  She couldn’t argue that, so she didn’t.

  “Hey!” She shifted into a sitting position as Jessie and Lauren came in for hugs. Jessie was sniffling softly, but trying so hard not to show just how red and puffy her face was. Joe hesitated, tossing exasperated glances in Spencer’s direction, but he ambled over and pulled her into a crushing hug, which she returned, so happy to see him.

  “You okay?” he asked, pulling back to search her face.

  Sophie nodded, fighting hard not to cry.

  His fingers gripped her chin, turning her face to peer furiously at the marks on her face. “Who did this?”

  She told them what happened, leaving nothing out. Her friends stared with a mixture of interest, horror and anger. When she got to the part about the message on the garage door, Joe glowered. Jessie made a weak whimpering sound that had Lauren patting her lightly on the back and Spencer lightly stroked Sophie’s hair.

  “We saw that coming here,” Lauren said. “I can’t believe someone would do that.”

  “They have the wrong house!” Jessie croaked. “They have to!”

  “Well, it doesn’t make any sense,” Lauren agreed with a nod. “Unless you’re under protective custody or something. Who could possibly be looking for you?” Her eyes suddenly brightened. “What if they’re looking for your parents? What if they’re part of some underground gambling ring and—”

  “Lauren!” Jessie scowled. “You’re not helping!”

  Lauren shrugged sheepishly. “Sorry.”

  “My parents aren’t in hiding!” Sophie said. “I mean, have you met my parents? They’re ridiculously honest.”

  Lauren sighed. “True.”

  No one got the chance to speak when Sophie’s mother rushed in carrying a tray of bite-sized pizzas and glasses of orange juice. She set the tray down and offered them a weak smile. “I’m so glad you guys could come to see Sophie, but you’ll have to leave in an hour.”

  “Mom!”

  Her mother turned sorrowful eyes to Sophie. “I’m sorry, but it’ll be dark after that and I don’t want your friends walking home in the dark. Besides, I don’t want whoever is doing this to see you guys and … ” her voice broke. She pretended to clear her throat and forced another smile. “Sorry. Enjoy your snack, okay?” Then, she hurried back to the kitchen.

  “She’s right.” Sophie rubbed a hand over her face. “You guys should never have come. It’s too dangerous. You should go home.” She looked at Spencer. “All of you.”

  He met her gaze unflinchingly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Neither are we—”

  Sophie snapped her head around the stare at Lauren. “No! You guys can’t stay. Mom’s right. This person could be watching the house. He could target you guys next. You need to leave.”

  Joe opened his mouth, possibly to protest when a heavy set of footfalls echoed through the room as her father marched in.

  “Sophie’s right. Come on. I’ll drive you guys home.”

  Her friends left with a ton of complaints following their wake. But Sophie didn’t breathe properly until she heard her father’s car start up and back out of the driveway. She sagged against Spencer, relieved when his arms found their way back around her.

  “What if it never ends?” she wondered.

  “It will.”

  Zapped of all strength, Sophie couldn’t find the energy to argue. She curled into him and prayed he was right. They were still sitting there that way when her father returned with a grim look on his face. Her mother and Jackie hurried into the room just as he shut the door behind him.

  “It’s too late tonight, but I’ll get someone to paint over that tomorrow.” He jingled the keys in his large hand as he considered something. “Pack a small overnight bag.”

  Her mother looked as stunned as Sophie felt, but was quicker to respond. “An overnight bag for what?”

  Her father sighed. “The police officer was right about one thing, we should stay in a hotel for a few nights, just until things cool down.”

  “That could be months!” her mother gasped.

  “I can’t stay here, Mary.” The worn, exhausting slump in his shoulders, the thinness of his voice, must have attested to his fatigue, because her mother nodded.

  “Okay.”

  He gave her a faint smile before turning to Jackie. “I think you and Spencer need to come as well.”

  Jackie’s eyes widened. “Us? Why?”

  “Because the incident isn’t isolated to just my family. They’ve been attacking you as well and if they come here and don’t find us … ” He let his words trail, but everyone in the room felt the cold meaning behind the unsaid and shuddered.

  Jackie went ashen. “Oh!” She visibly swayed.

  “Mom!” Spencer leapt to his feet.

  Sophie’s father caught her, held her up as she trembled uncontrollably. Her blue eyes shot up to Spencer’s. “Your sister … ”

  “Suzy’s fine!” Spencer took her from Sophie’s father. “She’s at Dad’s.”

  “But what if—”

  “They won’t go all the way to Richmond,” her father assured her calmly. “It’s too far and you only have Suzy on the weekends. They probably don’t know about her, but you need to call your ex-husband and make him aware of the situation.”

  “But … ”

  “I’ll call Dad and let him know what’s happening,” Spencer said, leading his mother to the armchair and lowering her down gently. “You stay here and I’ll go grab our things.”

  “I’ll come with you—”

  Three sets of no’s rang out, pinning Sophie to the sofa.

  “He can’t go by himself!” she said, furious at how quickly everyone seemed to jump at her safety, but not his.

  “I’ll go with him,” her father volunteered. “You three stay here and lock the door.”

  No other options were given. Her father and Spencer left. Her mother closed and snapped the locks into place. She even set the alarm. Jackie remained in her place, staring frozen into space.

  “Sophie.” Her mother said quietly, grabbing her attention. “Go gather your things.”

  “But Jackie … ”

  Her mother shook her head. “I’ll take care of Jackie. You go on.”

  Feeling completely useless, Sophie left. She went to her room and closed the door behind her. She pulled out her phone and sent a mass text to Lauren and Jessie, telling them the plan. Lauren responded first with an, ‘good!’ while Jessie said, ‘that’s such a good idea! I’ll let Joe know. He was so worried!’

  She stuffed her phone into her pocket and went to work putting together a small bag of clothes. She grabbed her toiletries from the bathroom and her school bag. For good measure, she stuffed a few more novels into the backpack and a few into her duffle bag before stumbling back downstairs.

  She hadn’t heard them, but at some point, her father and Spencer had returned. A small mountain of duffles and backpacks were piled next to the door. Sophie added her things to the collection.

  “We can all fit into one car,” her father was saying. “We moved your van into the garage, Jackie. I’ll do the same with Mary’s car and we’ll take mine. I already called the hotel and reserved two joined rooms with four beds. I think that should suffice.”

  “But what about the children’s school and your work?” Jackie murmured.

  “I’ll call into work tomorrow and take
a few days off,” her father said. “As for the children, I’ll drop them off and pick them up.”

  Jackie shook her head slowly. “You’re doing so much.” She looked on the verge of tears. “At least let me pay for our half of the room.”

  Sophie tuned them out. She walked to where Spencer stood leaning against the door.

  “Everything okay?” She took his hand.

  He squeezed her fingers. “Yeah. Fine.” He was lying. She could hear it in his voice, see it in his eyes. But she didn’t press him, making a mental note to do so later.

  Her father and Spencer hauled all the bags to her father’s Escalade and stuffed them into the back. Then the five of them piled into the SUV and, without sparing the garage door a glance, set off.

  The Royal Palace glowed bright in the gloom of the setting daylight. Brilliant lights shimmered in the soft drizzle as her father turned into the underground parking area and located a spot. Together, they dragged their bags to the main foyer. Sophie and Spencer waited a short distance away as their parents hashed over the details with the perky girl behind the counter.

  “Did you call your dad?” she asked him.

  Leaning against an ivory column, nipping at his thumbnail, Spencer nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Suzy okay?” As much as she disliked the girl, Sophie really didn’t want anything bad happening to her.

  He dropped his gaze to his feet. “Yeah.”

  “Spencer?” She took his arm. “What is it?”

  “Okay!” Her father walked over to them, his wallet and a wad of papers in hand. “We’re in room 412 and 413.” He exhaled. “Let’s go.”

  The rooms were long, overpowered by two queen sized beds, two long dressers claimed by a bulky TV and a round table with two chairs. The adjacent room, the one attached to theirs by a single door next to the dressers, was the mirror image. Spencer and Jackie disappeared into that room and Sophie didn’t see them again until supper.

  They ate in the restaurant downstairs. Everyone got a small meal, none of them having the appetite for much else. No one talked, not even when they ambled back to their rooms.

  Spencer took Sophie’s hand, pulling her back as their parents disappeared into their respective rooms. He waited until the doors closed behind them before turning to her.