Page 14 of Boneyard Tides

Goose bumps rise on the back of my neck, and I touch it softly with one hand, putting my weight on my other foot. “Why am I here?”

His long fingers curl around a glass bottle as he removes the lid and gently pours amber liquid into a waiting glass. I almost don’t want to interrupt him, and right now I don’t. I try to take in everything I’m seeing. The dark hair that clearly only sees the sharp scissors of an expert barber, and the crisp suit that hugs the swell of his muscles to perfection. He is beautiful, truly, but that still doesn’t overtake the fact that this man has, I think, kidnapped me.

He takes long strides to the middle of the living room, and I watch as he flicks open the first three buttons of his suit shirt before lowering himself down onto the single leather sofa. It’s not until my eyes travel back to his that I notice him studying me intently.

My stomach coils and my cheeks burn. “Answer me, please…” I didn’t mean the words to come out so gentle, but it’s like everything has just crashed into me and I’ve realized the position I’m in.It has started.

Hehaskidnapped me.

He swirls the liquid around his glass, finally lowering his gaze to the movement before shifting back to me. “Cooper, Ruin, they’re all at home, as is everyone else who entered last night.” He brings the glass to his lips, again, his eyes never leaving mine. Bet he’s just like his drink. “You entered a game you didn’t know the rules to.”

My mouth opens and then closes. I know the words I want to say, but they won’t come out. “I didn’t really have a choice.”

His lip curls up one side and a deep snicker rumbles off his chest. “You did have a choice, Shiloh, and you chose to accept.”

I swallow, my fingers tingling. “What is this about?”

“Sit—” He points to the sofa opposite. “We need to have a chat.”

“Then can I leave?” I ask, rounding the sofa and slowly lowering myself down. He has all the cards in his hand, I know this. Best I can do is what I’msupposedto do. To help do that, I have to listen to what he has to say, even if I do keep getting distracted.

“Haven’t decided yet.” His brow kicks up in an arch. He waits a few seconds, and I wonder if he’s going to elaborate any more or if I’m going to have to ask yet another pointless question. “You asked if you’re playing The Game, and you are—but you won’t know the rules until you’re allowed to.” His leg spreads wider and the corner of my eye twitches. “There are three levels to The Game. In those levels, you will be given three tasks, with a test at the end to be able to move to the next. You can only fail one task for each level.”

My mouth opens to ask another question, but he shakes his head, and it slams closed.

“Every task will be completed here, with the test to be done…” He pauses, his head cocking to the side in a way that has the morning sun beaming through the back window and creating a shadow for his jaw. “…someplace else.” I follow the curve of his high cheekbones, and down past the pulsing vein on his neck.

“When do I get to go home?”

He shrugs. “Today.”

I launch off the sofa, ready to run.

“But remember, Shiloh…”

His words stop my footing before I have a chance to leave.

“One phone call, and your mom? Gone. Your best friend? Pig food. My patience?” The end of his sentence, his words are clearer, as if he followed me. I close my eyes when I feel his body so close to mine without so much as touching. “I have none.”

“What if I disobey?” I whisper, drilling holes into the large wooden door that is merely ten steps away.

“Do it.” He chuckles so deeply that it sets off goose bumps over my spine. “See what happens. I dare you.”

I jolt forward and wrap my fingers around the door handle before he can say another word. As soon as the outside hits me, recognition falls around me and I breathe out a sigh of relief. There, four houses down, is my home. And here…where I stand…is Whisper Manor.

There’s a kind of freedom that comes from existing among a world that you never thought you could. There were warning signs over every step I took, but the deeper I fell into this hole, the more I knew I could never crawl out. They knew this.

I was trapped now, and for the first time in my life, I knew I only had myself as help.

Sparrow

Iknew deep down that if anyone was going to disobey orders, it would be this one. There was something about the way she asked questions. She never panicked. Never cried. Didn’t so much as show an inkling of fear.

I glare out the windows that give a direct view of the ocean when the front door closes, and I shift over my shoulder.

“She’s cute.” Her voice always felt like nails on a chalkboard. “I have to admit, she impressed even me last night.”

“That’s not a compliment, Priscilla. You’re easily impressed.” I swallow the rest of my whiskey and leave the glass in the sink.

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