Page 6 of Run with Me

“Actually, I’d love to, but I don’t like playing without stakes,” Xavier replied.

What?

He folded his hands together, resting his elbows on the table.

“That’s what I’m talking about, Xavier. I knew I found a kindred spirit when I sawyou.”

From the way Ben was eyeing Xavier’s Rolex, the only thing that Ben saw was an opportunity to rip himoff.

“What are we playing for?” Ben asked, his gaze fixed on Xavier’s wrist.

“How about if you win, you get this Rolex?” Xavier unfastened his sleeve and pulled it up, luring Ben in. There was a heart with a knife speared through its center tattooed on his forearm. I thought I’d seen it somewhere before, but I couldn’t remember where.

“And if you win? How about a free night at our motel?” Ben grinned.

“Why? So that Xavier can lose his Rolex while he’s sleeping?” I mumbled, but no one seemed to hear me. Xavier’s gaze was fixed on Ben and Ben’s on Xavier. It was like they were going to determine the winner through a staring contest. At this moment, I couldn’t have guessed because Xavier surprised me more with each passing moment.

“If I win, you’ll stop bugging Anna. From what I hear, she has pies to bake for the fiesta.”

Whatpies?

Ben frowned and once again, chills invaded my body. After a long moment of silence, he agreed. “All right. You have adeal.”

The men shook their hands and began setting up the chessboard.

“Do you even know how to play?” I whispered.

“My friend, the guy who’s getting married, was a world champion.”

“But he’s nothere.”

“I taught him everything he knows.” Xavier winked as Ben waved down his cousin, Pablo, to joinus.

The next hour was spent in silence. I knew a little bit about chess, enough to know whether someone was good and strategic. Xavier was better than good. He was making Ben sweat. Ben was calculating, but Xavier was logical. He thought a few moves ahead, all the time. I would have felt happy for him, except I knew that Ben didn’t give up that easily. When they each had a handful of pieces left, I felt my bladder fill. I pushed the chair back, its legs scraping against the wooden floor. “Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom.”

“Shall we wait for you?” Xavier asked.

“No, you keep going. I won’t belong.”

They nodded, and their concentration returned to the board. I went to the back of the bar, where I knew the washrooms were located. The last time I’d been here, my parents were still alive. The further back I went, the more the place morphed to the grungy motel I remembered. I pushed the washroom door open with my elbow and skipped over a small puddle that looked like pee. Dead flies were stuck to the green paint on the walls, a few bullet holes punctured the concrete – God only knew from which shootout, and patches of paint had peeled away here and there. I did my business in what seemed like five seconds, because honestly, who could stay in a stinky bathroom that never got cleaned, and stepped back outside. Someone grabbed me from behind and covered my mouth. I threw my elbow in his ribcage and heard a grunt.

“It’s okay, it’s me,” Xaviersaid.

“What are you doing here? I’m sorry. I thought you were someoneelse.”

“I don’t have a lot of time. There’s a door out back. Gohome.”

“Did youwin?”

“Not yet, but Iwill.”

“Then let’s go. I want to seeit.”

“Anna, when I win, Ben will be pissed. Do you want to be here forthat?”

I watched as his green eyes darkened. Xavier looked like someone else now, someone much more dangerous than a doctor. He’d told me he was a doctor when we drove into town. Was he really?

“You can’t stay here on your own. He’ll… Xavier, he’s a murderer. He killed my parents, and he won’t hesitate to kill you too. I bet it was his guy who guided you off 10 straight into Pace. No one comes here without a reason, and when they do, it’s because Ben wants themto.”

---