Page 32 of Wicked Games

“I already have five million followers, asshole!” Kiara snapped.

He raised a brow. “Is that even good?”

“Yes!” she shouted, slamming a hand on the table. “I can’t believe you’d actually accuse me, you fucking prick! You’re lucky I’m not slapping the shit out of you right now!”

“Go ahead and slap him,” Jasmine said, eyes flashing. “He’s only accusing you because you said that stuff to him earlier about how no one wants him around unless he brings party favors. Pathetic man-child can’t handle the truth.”

I flashed a puzzled look at April, and she leaned in and whispered to me. “Tate’s the school dealer. At least that’s what everyone says.”

“Fuck you, Jasmine,” Tate said. “And fuck you too, Kiara. I’m standing by what I said. You’re the one behind all this shit. All I have to do to prove it is wait, and then you’ll all—”

He was cut off by Maverick bringing his fist down on the table. “Everyone needs to calm the fuck down, right now,” he snapped. “This is obviously what the Game Master wants. For us to fight and fall apart.”

“I agree,” Brooke said, nodding fervently. “And you know what? I think he’s lying. He’s not one of us. He just said that to sow discord among us. And it’s totally working!”

“Oh my god.” Courteney sat up straight, eyes widening. “You’re right. That’s the easiest way to fuck with our heads in here—make us hate and distrust each other.”

“Yup. I really don’t think he’s one of us at all.”

The room was still filled with tension, but it wasn’t so thick now. Everyone looked relieved… except Maverick.

“Guys, if that’s true, then it isn’t a good thing,” he said, slowly shaking his head.

“Why?” April asked, frowning.

“Because if it’s one of us, we’d be able to discuss it—or argue about it, as we’ve been doing—and eventually we’d be able to figure out which one of us has the biggest motive to do this,” he said. “But if it’s an outsider, it could be literallyanyone. And we have no way of knowing who.”

A somber silence settled over the room. Maverick was right, and we all knew it.

A moment later, the silence was broken by a series of pings and vibrations. Everyone around me pulled their phones out of their pockets. I did the same and glanced down at the screen with wide eyes and a pounding heart.

Better eat and drink up now, players,the text read.The first game is about to begin.

Carey

Tate slowly clapped his hands. “Okay, Kiara. Nicely done with the scheduled texts. It’s all very convincing,” he said. “But can we end this charade now? I really don’t feel like playing a game.”

“It’s not me!” Kiara jumped up and slammed a fist on the table. “I told you, I have nothing to do with this shit!”

Evan piped up. “Sorry, but I have to agree with Tate. You’re the most obvious suspect apart from Carey.”

“You can’t be fucking serious!”

“I am.” Evan raised a brow. “Everyone else agrees, but they’re all pussies, so they can’t admit it.”

“That’s bullshit,” Maverick cut in. “I don’t think it’s Kiara.”

“Oh, yeah? Then who arranged this shit? Carey?” Evan asked, shooting me a dark look. I rolled my eyes in response before looking away.

“We already discussed this,” Maverick replied. “Brooke’s theory has to be right. The Game Master is someone outside of this room. Outside of the twelve.”

“Guys, can we not have the same fucking conversation over and over?” April said hotly. “You saw the message. The gamecould be starting any minute now. We need to eat and drink, or else we’re going to be exhausted and dehydrated all day.”

“Go ahead and pour yourself a coffee, then,” Kiara said in a saccharine tone. “Have fun getting poisoned.”

“The video said nothing on the table is laced, and Tate is still fine after eating that croissant,” I pointed out, lifting a brow.

Kiara turned her sneering gaze to me. “You know, it’smucheasier to slip poison into liquids than solids. Just because the croissants are fine doesn’t mean the coffee and juice are fine too.”

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