Page 31 of The Players

It was then I saw the table set up in the middle of the track.

Where all their other games had been these elaborate set-ups, this one seemed overly simple. It was a standard card table, the kind moms would set out at a family party. There was a folding chair on either side and nothing else.

What in the hell was this?

I walked toward it, my eyes casting around as I scanned for threats.

When I got to the table, I stood stiff, waiting.

That’s when I heard the crunch of tires on the far side of the field.

Headlights sliced through the dark as a car cut from the far side of the field and slid onto the track. I couldn’t tell what kind of vehicle or who was behind the wheel, but I could see that it was headed this way.

Fast.

I blinked twice as the car raced toward me. It was accelerating.

They were going to run me over!

I had a second to think as everything inside me screamed to run. But, as I turned to do just that, the car cut sideways. It slid to a stop, tires squealing on the broken pavement. Finally, it lurched to a stop a few feet before it would’ve crashed into the card table and me.

My heart tore around my chest as I tried to catch my breath. The people in the car didn’t seem to have that problem. They slid out and stared at me like they wished I had been squished under their tires.

Spencer stepped out of the driver’s seat, then Easton from the front passenger seat. Savannah climbed out next. It was the last person I wasn’t sure of. Who was the tall, dark man unfolding himself from the back seat?

I blinked when I saw his face.

No… it couldn’t be…

Mills.

He was here, not in Europe. But what was he doing with them?

“Mills?” I asked, taking a step forward.

He gave me a hard look before walking over and standing beside Savannah and sliding his arm around her.

I couldn’t help it. I gapped. She’d done it. She’d beaten me. She’d taken someone I cared for and twisted him against me.

And when she wrapped her arms around him and put her tongue down his throat, I nearly lost my lunch.

They made out right there in front of us, a disgusting display that was more opening credits of a porn video than anything else. I wondered if they’d fuck right here in front of everyone, but then Easton barked, “Knock it off!” and they pulled apart.

Savannah, with her arm still wrapped around Mills’ waist, smiled at me. “Isn’t he cute? He’s good in bed too, but you know that already, don’t you, orphan?”

I bit the side of my cheek and refused to answer. “What am I doing here? I came for a game. So where is it?”

“Hold on to your thrift store panties a sec, God.” Savannah detached herself from Mills and walked forward. It seemed Spencer and Easton were here to watch and Mills was simply a pawn. She was in charge now. I needed to accept that. I needed to adjust my strategy.

She sauntered over to the table and reached below it. When she came up, she was holding a vodka bottle and two shot glasses which she set down on the card table.

“The game is simple. Last woman standing wins.” She pointed at the shot glasses, then lifted her cold, blue eyes to me.

“A drinking game?”

She nodded. “More or less.”

“Against you?”

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