Page 180 of Game Misconduct

“Do you think … do you think you could drop the knife so I could give you a hug?” he asked quietly.

In the background, Tanner heard a muffled gasp before it was quickly hushed.

Darla hesitated, her gaze flicking in that direction, but she kept looking at Tanner as she pulled the knife away from her arm. A little line of blood ran down into her palm.

Tanner stepped closer with his own palms out, moving carefully, not making any sudden moves. He figured it was a little like dealing with a really angry dog. You probably didn’t want to startle them, or they’d think you were attacking.

“Do you think you can drop it now?” he asked quietly, keeping his gaze locked on hers.

Her lower lip quivered but she let it fall to the floor. It bounced silently on the carpet and Tom kicked it away.

Tanner carefully wrapped his arms around Darla. “I’m sorry things have been so tough for you,” he said quietly and he meant every word of it. “But I think maybe you need some help.”

Leif held his breath as Tanner hugged Darla. She was crying now, shoulder-shaking sobs that wracked her whole body.

“I just want them to love me,” she wailed.

“I know.” Tanner leaned in and said something quietly, too soft for Leif to hear. “You think you can do that?”

“I’ll—I’ll try.”

“Okay. Now we’re going to get you some help, okay?” Tanner pulled back, his hands still on her upper arms.

Jesse darted forward and grabbed Darla’s wrists gently.

“Hey,” he said in a soothing tone when she struggled against him. “We don’t want you to hurt yourself, okay? Just trying to keep you safe.”

She glowered at him but didn’t fight anymore.

The lounge doors opened and Connor strode into the hall, bellowing for a security guard. One appeared and then another and there was a flurry of action as they put zip ties on Darla’s wrists, someone barking into a walkie-talkie about calling the police.

The moment she was restrained, Leif darted forward and pulled Tanner into a bone-crushing hug. “What the fuck?” he muttered, his heart thumping so hard he could feel it in his ears. “What were youthinking?”

Tanner let out a shaky laugh and clung to him. “Uhh, not so sure I was. I just … I felt really bad for her, you know?”

“You feltbadfor her?” Leif asked, pulling away to look him in the face. Tanner’s hair was still damp from his shower, a little frizzy, and for once he wasn’t smiling.

“Well yeah, I mean I know she was kinda … messed up but she was really sad and hurting too.” Tanner frowned.

“Andyouhad to be the one to fix that?”

“Well, I wanted to help Tom and Krista!”

“Did it never occur to you that this Darla woman couldhurtyou?”

“Uhh,” Tanner said. “I mean, not really.”

“She could havestabbedyou!”

“I mean, maybe, but?—”

“No maybe! She had aknife.”

“It wasn’t that big.”

“It wasn’t that big,” Leif muttered under his breath. “Oh my God you are insane. Certifiably insane.”

“Besides, I’m pretty sure it was 3D printed!” Tanner pointed out. “How much damage can a plastic knife really do anyway?”