Page 11 of Bleeding Hearts
We made a promise to each other the night we were attacked—wherever she goes, I’ll go. I plan to keep that promise, even if she forgot.
“Fine. Information gathering and that’s it, Alice. I mean it. We’ll work together on this one.”
I sit down calmly, but inside, I’m a bundle of nerves and concern.
Grabbing my phone, I type out a message.
Alice: Lally, tell me you aren’t doing it.
I read it back and then delete it. She won’t respond anyway.
She made her choice, and I made mine, but if she thinks she’s getting away from me, then she has another thing coming.
“Alek won’t like this,” Bones murmurs at my side as I put my phone away again.
“It’s not his life. It’s mine. If I get into trouble, then I’ll reach out. I’m just going to spy and figure out who’s behind it so we can stop it. Nothing else,” I tell him, but it’s a lie. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Lally safe. Hopefully, I can talk her out of it before it happens or stop her before the first meeting, but if I have to enter the game to keep her safe, then I will.
I’ve been trying my hardest to learn everything I can about Risk. Lally is completely avoiding me. I haven’t seen her at school to confront her, so my determination has only tripled. There are rumors everywhere, but no one seems to know the actual truth behind the game. I need something to go on, but it’s like grasping at straws . . . until him. It was by total accident. I don’t usually attend parties, but I do now, searching for Lally and information about Risk.
Leo is a computer science major I met through some friends. I slid into the conversation when his reaction drew my attention. As soon as I mentioned Risk, he shut down, and I knew I hit anerve. I watch him for the next hour, and when he goes to the kitchen for a drink, I follow.
“What do you know about Risk?” I ask.
He chokes on his booze, his gaze swinging to me. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Yes, you do,” I snap. “Risk.”
He covers my mouth, scanning the party before he leans closer. “Are you crazy? You can’t keep digging into this, Alice, or talking about it so loudly.”
I tug his hand away, my eyes narrowed. “Why not?”
“They have eyes and ears everywhere. They don’t want to be caught. This is bigger than you know, Alice. This isn’t just kids playing games, and they will stop anyone who gets in their way. They don’t want a repeat of last time.”
“When the kids died and it was shut down before the end?” I ask, repeating the bits of information I managed to gather, which isn’t a lot.
“Exactly,” he whispers. “People died, Alice. Don’t be so naive to think they won’t make you disappear or worse if you get in their way. This game has been happening all over the world for years, always moving and never getting caught, and there’s a reason.”
“I want to know who’s behind it and where it’s being held,” I demand.
“Shit, I don’t know much, okay?” he hisses as he looks around. “And if they found out I told you anything, it wouldn’t be good. I can’t lose this.”
“Lose what?” I whisper as I lean into him, dragging my hand up his chest as I plaster a fake grin on my lips. “Make it look like we’re flirting.”
His eyes widen in confusion, but he leans into me like we are flirting like everyone else.
“They approached me about doing some coding work. That’s all,” he admits.
“How? Who?” I question.
“I don’t know. It was all anonymous. I needed the money to cover my rent or I was going to be kicked out. I was desperate, and they knew it. I don’t know how. They said if I told anyone or went to the police, they would destroy my life, and I believe them.”
I frown. “Why?”
“Because they knew things, Alice, things no one else should know about me. They linked things to the dark web. Whoever is behind this has a whole lot of power and money, and I refuse to get on their bad side, not for anyone.”
“Please,” I beg, tugging him closer when he tries to pull away. “You don’t have to tell me everything. I just . . . At least tell me where the first game will be held. I need to be there. I need to be involved.”
“Why?” he snaps.
