Page 29 of The Players

He shrugged, his hands in his pockets again. “I am in some ways. Not in others.”

“Well, that gives me nothing to go on. Is that all you’re here to tell me?”

“No.” He paused thoughtfully. “I am related to the Hills, but I don’t like an unfair fight. It’s far more fun if both sides have a chance.”

“Are you saying I don’t have a chance?”

He regarded me. Once again, I felt like shivering but for a different reason. “You’re a lot stronger than you seem. It continues to piss Savannah off.”

“Good.”

“I’m not sure it’s good for you. She is determined to break you.”

“Let her try,” I said, my arms crossing over my chest. “But what about Easton? He’s in on it too, right?”

Spencer shrugged. “He seems… less inclined to participate. I wonder why that is.” His eyes flitted up to my face and held. We exchanged a glance, one that flashed through me. I felt my heart begin to pound, and the hairs on my arms stand up. Spencer was nothing like I thought he’d be, but I reminded myself he shared blood with the Hills. They could be charming to a fault.

He took a step toward me. I knew I should retreat, but my legs seemed locked. Suddenly, he was inches away. I studied his face, his fine features, and his pink mouth.

Why did everyone who wanted me dead have to be so beautiful?

“Be careful, Vivian Romero,” he said, reaching out to tuck an errant strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers brushed against my skin, igniting fire everywhere they touched. “My sister will do anything to grind you under her heel. Don’t let her.”

“I won’t,” I mouthed.

He smiled and took a step back. “And, whatever you do, don’t play their next game.”

He turned and began walking away.

“Spencer,” I said. Then louder. “Spencer!”

He looked back and gave me a wave before slipping into his sports car.

“What does that mean?” I asked, walking toward the car. “What is the next game?”

But he peeled out, leaving me alone and confused once again.

Chapter thirteen

“And,whateveryoudo,don’t play their next game.”

Spencer’s words rang in my head all that night. It felt like another of their mind-fucks. One side was telling me I had to play their games or else people I loved would lose their livelihood or be blackmailed. Another side was telling me if I did play their game, bad things were going to happen.

So I couldn’t win for losing as my dad used to say.

Back in the store, Randy and I went over Spencer’s words as we finished out the shift. Brendan seemed oblivious, and Randy let him go home early since he was no help. But even if he had stayed, I doubted whether he, nor anyone, could untangle the web the Hills were weaving.

“They always want to fuck with you,” Randy said, eating a Twix this time. “This is another example of that.”

“But then I do… what?” I leaned against the check-out counter. I shook my head when she offered me a bite of her candy bar and chewed my lip instead. “I do play the game or I don’t?”

“Don’t,” Randy said. “They almost drowned you last time. What’s it going to take for you to quit?”

Her eyes had a desperate quality to them, and I realized that this was painful for her. Yet, I couldn’t tell her why I had to compete. I couldn’t let Randy’s family lose everything they’d worked so hard for, and I couldn’t set her mind at ease either.

Nothing was working out for me, it seemed.

But there was no time for self-pity. It was getting late on a school night. I was still on academic probation and had a quiz tomorrow I hadn’t studied for. Thank God it was in history, and I had already read the chapters.

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