“You’re right,” Mr. Volli agrees, leaning his shoulder against the stone wall beside him. “If Justin cares about someone, he is a man of his word. Parrish is yours, but first, you’re going to help us with something.” Mr. Volli reaches inside his brown tweed jacket and pulls out a gun. Just like that day with Mr. Fosser. He taps the butt of it against his palm. “Oh, and don’t even think about trying to overpower me.” He gives Maxx a warning look just as we all pause at the sound of even more footsteps coming from the opposite direction.
A man comes around the corner wearing a police officer’s uniform.
Oh. Shit.
He, too, has a gun, smiling at us in a way that gives me chills. Another pervert then? He sets off all my warning bells, the same way that Mr. Fosser did. Another minion in Justin’s stable. No wonder he warned me about choosing my pawns: he has some real winners on his gameboard.
“You people are real pieces of work, you know that?” Chasm snarls, angrier than I’ve ever seen him. Maxx, on the other hand, is quiet and brooding, his hands curled into tight fists on either side of him. He faces the cop while Chasm stares off against Mr. Volli. “So Justin is as much of a liar as everyone says he is?”
Mr. Volli points the weapon at the ceiling and fires it.
The sound is so loud that I actually cry out, but I don’t tear my fingers from Parrish’s to cover my ears, and neither does he. We stay clinging to each other as my ears ring, and I lift my eyes up to stare into his.
Parrish is talking to me, but I can’t hear him. He pauses to glance over in Mr. Volli’s direction, and I follow his gaze, looking up to see small pieces of plaster fluttering down from the ceiling.
“Justin is a man of his word for those he cares about. If you follow his rules, he, too, will abide by his promises. You’ll get Parrish back shortly. For now, you’re going to head back to the party and listen to the official pitch for Milk Carton. You’re going to learn about the merger with Fort Humboldt Security. And then you’re going to go back to Tess’ house and wait. Do you understand?”
We all just stand there, staring at him. I’m sure I’m not the only one whose head is pounding from the sound of the gunshot.
I look back at Parrish, at the despair etched into his face that he tries so hard to hide. And then I strain on my toes and press my body up as far as I can. He leans in, putting his mouth to the space between the bars. We’re just barely able to press our lips together, but it’s so worth it.
So fucking worth it.
It’s the sort of kiss that changes the world.
The sort of kiss that shatters boundaries and expectations; it’s beyond them. It exists in a universe of its own making. It’s a kiss filled with so much love and so much longing, so much want and so much affection, that it heals that broken, cobbled-together heart of mine in a single instant.
The only problem is: as my heart heals, it also becomes more vulnerable.
There’s a space there, an Achilles’ heel if you will, that will forever have Parrish’s name on it.
If this is the last time that I ever see him, I’m not sure what will happen to me or who I’ll become, but I’ll lose something that I never realized I needed until this very moment.
We separate just enough so that we can feel each other’s breaths.
“I love you,” I whisper, and I don’t care who hears me. Chasm or Maxx, Mr. Volli or this crooked ass cop guy. I care only that Parrish hears it.
“I love you, too, Gamer Girl. If this is the last time we see each other, remember that. And remember that nobody has ever fought for me the way you have.” He cups the side of my face as the cop approaches with his gun in hand, and my skin ripples in warning.
I back up, but the moment my fingers separate from Parrish’s, that kills me.
It’s the very worst instance in my entire fucking life.
“Follow me, please,” Mr. Volli calls out, leading the way up the stairs as the cop takes up the rear of our ragtag little detective team. Just before I turn the corner and head up the steps, I glance back and drink in every last detail of Parrish that I can manage, absorbing this moment, this memory, just in case.
Just in case.
We do as we’re told—exactly as we’re told, heading outside with Mr. Volli to find Justin’s limo waiting. Raúl looks annoyed as he holds the door open and ushers us inside. We pile in together and he slams the door, leaving us alone for the three second fucking ride back to the party.
