Page 124 of Brutal Game

Another text appeared from the unknown number.

If you’re trying to reach Jack, don’t worry, he’s with me.

Or maybe do worry, because he’s with me at Hallister Hall right now.

If you’re not at my office in twenty minutes, then Jack gets the fate I was saving for you.

My heart began to race. I wanted to puke. He had Jack. What was he going to do to him?

why would you hurt him? you care about him!

I care about the team more. The Kings need me, and I won’t sacrifice that—or them. For anything or anyone.

Clock’s ticking, Ms. Gold.

I texted Jack again.

No response.

I called him.

It rang through to voicemail.

“Aviva, what’s wrong?” Tovah asked sharply. “You’re pacing again.”

“Nothing, just want to talk to Asher,” I said, hoping she couldn’t hear the tremor in my voice. “Feel free to start the show without me, I’ve seen them all a million times.”

I headed down the hall to my bedroom, thinking through my options. But it came down to one thing:

I knew it was a trap.

I didn’t care.

Nothing would happen to Jack. I wouldn’t let it. If it meant sacrificing myself for him, then so be it. I’d do it willingly, to protect him—just like he’d protected me so many times, even when he’d thought he hadn’t wanted to. It was my turn now.

I swallowed. What did they say about bravery? That it wasn’t the absence of fear, but acting in spite of it?

Maybe Jack and Tovah were right. Maybe I was brave after all. I’d have to be.

I’m on my way, baby, I thought.Please be safe.

Please let him be safe.

I learnedthe hard way that there was no easy way to climb out of a window.

I fell on my ass, and something in my ankle hurt. I must have twisted it.

I had to hurry. Nauseating visions of what the coach could be doing to Jack flipped through my head like a horror story. I practically ran to campus, trying to ignore the sharp pain in my right ankle. I’d deal with it later.

Campus was quiet, empty in the dark night. Students were at the bars, partying at frat houses, studying at the library. No one would be at Hallister except me, possibly that security guard who hated me, Coach Jensen and Jack.

But then Jack’s face flashed in my mind’s eye. The earnest look on his face when he promised to crawl over glass to make me happy—I couldn’t lose that. Couldn’t losehim.He’d fought so hard for me, put himself at risk to give me what I wanted. It was my job, now, to make sure he was safe. I’d do more than crawl over glass, I’d fight through fire. Like anyone desperately in love would do if they were in my shoes.

Said shoes traipsed their way into the unlocked building, up the stairs to Joshua Jensen’s office.

The door was open.

And Jack was nowhere to be seen.

---