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Chapter 116
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His Wicked Games series Chapter 1
BOOK ONE: HIS WICKED GAMESI lean out the car window and press the button on the call box for the third time."Hello?" I say yet again. "Anyone there?"No one answers. Yet again.I sit back against the seat and slam my hand against the steering wheel. Stupid rich asshole. I've driven all the way out here to the middle of nowhere and he won't even let me in.Not that I expected any different.A pair of wrought-iron gates stands ahead of me in the driveway. They're covered in ivy, like the entrance to some enchanted garden in a fairy tale, and I have no doubt the family paid a small fortune to their landscapers to create that wild, "overgrown" look. I kill the engine of my beat-up Honda and climb out of the car. I don't care how long it takes - I won't leave until they let me through. If that means camping out here for the next several hours, then so be it.I walk up to the gates and give them a good shake, hoping they'll magically pop open at my touch. They don't even wiggle. Bey
His Wicked Games series Chapter 2
I've only met Calder once in person, but that was enough. It was at the Frazer Center's Arts & Hearts fundraiser, a black tie dinner we host every Valentine's Day in our gallery space. The affair is our most formal event of the year, and in addition to raising a good chunk of money, it's our chance to honor our biggest donors and supporters. Wentworth Cunningham attended the event every year, but last February - about five months before he died - he brought his son Calder along as well.I'll admit it: I was excited to meet the infamous heir to the Cunningham fortune. I mean, you can't even pop through the supermarket checkout line without spotting him on one of the tabloids - usually on some Italian beach with the latest "it" girl. I was curious. I couldn't help it.Calder was, at first glance, everything I expected. There seems to be one in every "old money" family: the son with the good looks and bad behavior to spare. He definitely lived up to his photos. Some would call him the e
His Wicked Games series Chapter 3
He takes me to a bedroom.As soon as the door swings open and I see the enormous four-poster bed, I spin on him in a fury."What exactly are you trying to pull?" I say. "If you think you can march me to a bedroom and I'll just - "He cuts me off with a finger against my lips."My sister keeps her extra clothes in the closet here," he says. "I'd guess you two are about the same size."Oh. His sister. I completely forgot he has a sibling. She shows up in the tabloids sometimes, too, but usually for a different reason - she seems to share her late father's dedication to philanthropy."Louisa, right?" I say against his fingers. "Is she here too?"Calder shakes his head and removes his hand from my lips. The warmth of his touch lingers a moment longer."She's off saving the world, as usual," he says. "She left for Southeast Asia not long after the funeral."I don't miss the hint of bitterness in his voice, but I don't dare push the matter any further."You're welcome to wear whate
His Wicked Games series Chapter 4
Panic rises in my throat."You mean I'm stranded here? With you?""It appears so." Calder eyes me over his glass. "You don't have to look so terrified. I'm not going to devour you or anything.""That's not exactly the impression you gave me a moment ago.""Believe it or not, I prefer my women consenting. Enthusiastic, even. Until you're willing to admit that you're attracted to me, I won't lay a finger on you. After that...""There won't be an 'after that'. I'm not attracted to you. Quite the opposite, actually. You're an asshole, and I don't care if I'm stuck here tonight. Nothing is going to happen between us.""Very well then," he says, nonplussed. "But since you can't leave, would you care to return to the table? I don't want Martin's hard work to get cold while we sit here at our little stalemate.""It's not a stalemate," I insist. "There's no discussion here. Nothing will happen between us."He nods, unconcerned, and I want nothing more than to smack that smug smile off o
His Wicked Games series Chapter 5
I move slowly along the passage, the phone held out in front of me. The faint blue glow from the screen is just enough to keep me from walking into the walls. The corridor twists and turns ahead of me, and after five minutes I've already completely lost my bearings. I have no idea which direction I'm going or where I might end up. My only consolation is that there's only one way back, so it's unlikely I'll get too lost.As my eyes adjust to the darkness, I begin to notice other details. At regular intervals along the walls, for example, I start spotting small, nondescript door handles. Some have even been brushed with pale paint, making them easier to spot among the shadows. I stop at one and give it a wiggle. The door creaks open, revealing the dark room beyond.Part of me wants to venture out into the room, but another part feels weird poking around without Calder. I step back into the passage and pull the door closed behind me. I tell myself I should turn around and go back to my
His Wicked Games series Chapter 6
When I get back to my room, I pull out my phone. The calls were an excuse, but it's probably still a good idea to let my dad know I'll be delayed longer than I expected. I hate leaving him alone back at the Center, but there's nothing I can do. I'm stuck here, whether I like it or not.Dad's flustered when I get him on the line. He sounds even worse than he did last night."What's going on?" I say.He sighs. "Ella quit this morning. She felt really bad about it, you could see, but she found a position at an office downtown. Not that I blame her. Her last paycheck bounced. We were going to have to let her go soon anyway, and she was smart enough to see that."I don't blame her either. Ella's stuck with us through a lot, but she has to make a living, just like everyone else. Still, now there's even more work on my dad's shoulders."I hate to leave you swamped," I say. "I promise I'll be home as soon as I can. As soon as the road's clear, I'll be back. I'll stay at the Center all nig
His Wicked Games series Chapter 7
The first thing I do when I get back to my room is check my phone.There's a new message.I take a deep breath and press the voicemail button before I have the chance to lose my nerve. I know without even looking at my missed calls that the message is from Garrett."Hey, Lils. Got your message. Give me a call back when you can." His voice is casual, as if my calling him was perfectly ordinary - as if I haven't spent the last several months actively ignoring his attempts to contact me. There's no anger in his voice, but there's no pleasure, either. His tone gives no indication of what he thinks of my request. I'm instantly suspicious. For all I know, he wants me to call him so he can laugh in my face.But I'm not going to let myself take the coward's way out any longer. This isn't about me or my pride. It's about the Center. Before I can talk myself out of it, I click the button to call Garrett.This time he picks up on the first ring."Hey," he says.My stomach twists at the sou
His Wicked Games series Chapter 8
The corner of Calder's mouth curls up in that charming little half smile of his. He spreads his arms wide."Make your guess," he says, his eyes gleaming wickedly. "I'll be waiting.""How do I know you won't change your answer if I guess correctly?""You can trust me," he insists.I'm not sure I can, but this is going too well for me to want to pick a fight. He seems to be enjoying our little game, and I mean to play him for all he's worth.I continue my stroll down the gallery, scanning the art on either side of me as I pass, looking for anything that jumps out from the others. I'm at a major disadvantage here, that much is certain, but I'm willing to lose this battle if it means ultimately winning the war.Still, the competitive side of me wants to give it my best shot. I'd really love to see his face when I get it right. My eyes roam over the collection. There are paintings of every style and medium I can imagine, as well as sculptures of clay, wood, metal, even marble.I stop
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