A shiver shook her from head to toe, but she glanced back and nodded. “I won’t. Ever.”
Dave watched her leave and smiled. That’s right. She wouldn’t. He had broken her entirely, years and years ago. She was the only of his victims whom he had taken as a child. She was also the only to have left his chains alive, but only because she had exchanged her will for his own.
Dave scooped up his own mask. His next line of work needed to be to track down Jay’s source of information. Whoever was leaking things needed to be silenced before they gave him enough to make the leap. Dave felt a small thrill of fear. He had little doubt that Jay would show no mercy if he discovered Dave’s true part in this game. If he was careful, he could use the man’s emotions to win that confrontation. However, the idea of watching those gray eyes turn to steel, sharp and cold, made him certain that if he took a misstep, he wouldn’t leave with his life.
***
Jay groaned as the pounding headache was even worse than the previous ones. Apparently whatever Dave was slipping him should not be taken often. He lay there a moment longer. The warm sun coming in through a gap in the curtains still felt cold to his mind. This new world was worse than he had been imagining.
He still struggled to mentally put together the dimpled, smiling Dave Tiller with the dark shadow he’d been imagining holding Stella. He was also struggling to understand the man’s motive. He was certain that he had never crossed paths with Dave, yet the man must have become aware of him somehow. It also didn’t seem likely that it was hate driving him. Dave didn’t seem to want to bring him down. This was somehow more personal.
Jay slowly pushed himself up. The pain that spiked across his skull made him wince. He needed to figure out the origin of Dave’s connection with him. If he could do that, then he might be able to get to his goal. Otherwise, he knew he had no chance of saving Stella.
He felt his heart jolt uncomfortably in his chest. He had chosen to give up hope that she was still alive, but now he knew the opposite to be true. He had learned enough of Dave’s character to know that he would keep the most valuable pawn for the end of the game.
Jay breathed in and out slowly. He could afford no mistakes from here on out. Dave had to believe him duped right up until the very moment he could spring his own trap. Which meant Jay couldn’t unravel Dave’s net himself. The only way to do it without error was to lead Dave into dismantling it himself. Yet that line was so fine, Jay was almost certain he’d stumble off it.
But I have help. Secret stage hands in the wings to keep me up.
Jay smiled and stepped out of bed. He needed to message Elliot and thought that his new RPG game might just be the best answer. He needed Natalie to look at the severed finger.
Jay ran a hand through his hair. Before, he wouldn’t have dared, believing that bringing anyone in would heighten their risk. Now he knew better. Dave would kill them regardless.
Jay felt a weight settle in his stomach as he remembered Dave’s threat against Ruby, even the other against Gary. Yes, the man would never let any of them go if he caught Jay. Jay was meant to follow the leads he was given for Dave’s planned ending.
Jay shook out his muscles. It was time to take control of this game.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Jay was sitting at the breakfast table, staring at the unassuming wooden box.
Dave smothered a smile and recomposed his face into the appropriate mask of horror, fear, and a hint of determination.
“Morning,” he greeted with a soft voice.
“Morning. I half expected you to flee in the night.”
Dave pulled his lips into a small smile. “Fortunately for you, I am smart enough to realize that it is far too late to distance myself from you. If I wish to survive, winning the game is the only way now.”
Jay nodded, eyes falling back to the box. “I appreciate it, all the same.”
“Even if it is the same self-interest that had me taking a bullet for you?”
Jay glanced up to meet his eyes then he smiled. “Yes. Even so.”
Dave smiled as he felt a similar rush to the ones he had experienced last night. He knew those flashes were not able to be masked. Jay would certainly not be able to miss them. In all likelihood, he would misinterpret it, but all the same it would add an unnecessary barrier to their game.
When he joined Jay at the table with coffee in hand, he noted the slight tightness to Jay’s eyes. “Headache again?”
Jay half smiled. “Not really surprising.”
Dave felt his heart tighten, but in the next moment, it had relaxed as Jay motioned to the box as an explanation. “What are your plans for it?”
“I need to have it examined. A good forensic will be able to tell whose it is. Obviously a fingerprint scan will give us ID,” Jay sighed heavily, “but my best go-to gal is no more.”
Dave frowned. Jay’s need for outside help had not been unexpected. Initially it was meant to be left alone. The great Jayden Roe and all the contacts he could muster after four years in prison, against Dave Tiller and his shadow, Amara Young.
Then Dave had witnessed Jay in the flesh, watched him catch onto and acknowledge Dave’s worth and ability. He had been surprised by the level of trust, even with all the
