The Game: Rebels of Ridgecrest High (Book 3)

Walker doesn’t answer, so Asher suggests we drive over to see him. I don’t want to bug him at his house for money, but this is time sensitive now. Once Pinkie gives up my plan to Roman, he, Hunter, and Jace won’t let me do this. And the Amato family will just keep us scared and Roman fighting. So, it needs to happen today.

“I know he’s home this weekend, and he will be happy to see you,” Asher says as he pulls into Walker’s huge circular driveway.

I’m surprised that Asher’s helping me with this, especially when it has to do with Roman. He hates him. Actually, maybe it’s more that Roman hates Asher.

“Well, we’re really going to surprise him when I ask to borrow ten grand.” I laugh. Nothing says hello, like rocking up to a friend’s door and asking him for money. I don’t want to do this, but I will pay him back. I will sell my car or beg my mom for cash… no that’s not gonna happen. I will get it back to him, though, one way or another. I can promise him that.

I love Walker’s house. It’s absolutely gorgeous and so much bigger than Asher’s. It looks like it’s from a movie.

We knock on the door, and Walker answers only a moment later, looking at us with a confused expression. He’s not in his usually getup; he hasn’t even gelled his hair. This is a whole different Walker, but he looks more real. More vulnerable and human.

“Hey, pretty lady.” He winks.

Okay, same cocky attitude, that’s all Walker.

“Hey, so this is random, but I came to ask to borrow ten thousand dollars from you.”

Walker furrows his brows at me, and Asher steps forward.

“What Mila means to say is, she needs ten grand right now, and she’ll pay it back.” Asher backs me up, and I smile up at him and nod a thank you. Asher’s been different since I turned up in his room today asking for money. He really wants to help me and Roman.

“Well, I know how you can pay me back, sweet cheeks.” Walker’s eyebrows wiggle at me.

I give him the most bored expression I possibly can. “Sweet cheeks?” Really? I smack Walker on the arm. Honestly, how he gets girls, I have no idea. Well, given this mansion, I can see why he gets girls. But not the right type of girls.

“Ouch, Mila. How did you know smacking me in the arm is all the pay back I need? You know I like it rough.” He winks and turns around, walking back into his house.

“Come on in,” he calls out behind him, and we enter his house, closing the door after us. The grand entrance into his house is as big as the lower level on my old house.

“Walker, are you coming back?” a female voice calls out.

Oh shit, did we interrupt a special something?

Asher looks at me. “That’s Walker’s mom,” he whispers.

“Oh.” Well, that makes sense. “I should go say hello.”

Asher grabs my arm and shakes his head, but I wrench out of his hold. Why can’t I say hello? It’s rude to come into her house and not say hello.

Is she a huge snob who will take one look at me and turn her nose up at me? Maybe. But I don’t care. I’ve never met or seen his parents before, so this is a good opportunity to go say hello and tell her how much I love her house. If she’s a bitch, then so be it. I’m more curious than anything now.

I walk over to the room she’s called from and peek around the open door. I can see the blonde, short hair of a woman sitting in a chair in front of a TV that’s paused. They are watching The Notebook. I love that movie.

“Hi there, Mrs. Murphy. Walker’s just grabbing me something. He will be back in a moment, but I just wanted to say how much I love your house and The Notebook.”

When she turns around, I see Walker’s eyes looking right back at me. She is pale and thin; she looks unwell, but the smile on her face tells me she’s happy to see me. Shit, is his mom sick?

“Oh, hello there. Do come in.” She pats the arm of the chair beside her.

From the look of the coffee table and the medical devices surrounding her, Walker’s mom is definitely sick. Is that why I have never met her? Does he not want us to find out? He’s my friend, and he should be able to talk to me about these things. If he wants to. Having a sick parent is challenging when you’re so young.

My dad lost both his parents at eighteen. He told me it was so hard on him, because he couldn’t go to them for advice, comfort, or just someone to talk to about a good or bad day.

“I’m Mila,” I tell her as I sit.

Asher just stands awkwardly in the doorway, like he’s too scared to come in. Did Walker not want us to be in here?

She turns to Asher. “Who are you?”

Fuck, he’s been friends with Walker for way longer than I have, and she hasn’t even met him yet. But before Asher can reply, I do it for him.

“That’s Asher, my stepbrother. He’s on the football team with Walker.”

Asher rolls his eyes at me when Mrs. Murphy isn’t looking, and I smirk. He hates that word, and it’s the first time I have really used it. Now that I’m living at his house, he pretty much is my stepbrother.

“Ah, I have heard of you both. Mostly you, Mila. So, tell me, are you dating my son?”

My eyes widen at that. What has Walker told her? Did he tell his mom I was his girlfriend? I’m going to kill him if he did.

“Oh, don’t be shocked. I just thought, with the way he talks about you, that you must be dating. Confident and beautiful. If my son doesn’t want to date you, then there’s something wrong with him.”

Walker chooses that moment to walk into the room. He winks at me. “I’ve told you, Mom. You’re the only girl I need. Who needs a girlfriend when I can sit here and watch sappy romance movies with you? Don’t need to do that twice. Once is enough torture,” he says playfully to his mom. He grins over at me, and I smile. He’s sweet with his mom.

“Oh, I don’t know about that, Walker. Mila’s a very pretty girl.” She smiles at me, and my cheeks heat a little. She’s making me blush.

“Mila is awesome, talented, and smart. She’s just playing hard to get. Tell her how wonderful I am so she’ll want to be my girlfriend,” he teases.

His mom shakes her head and laughs. “Ah, so Mila’s smart, then. Too smart to fall for your sweet talking, Walker.” Then she looks at me and nods. “As much as I love my son, he’s right. No smart girl wants him. All he does is leave a line of heartbreak behind him. My boy’s a sweet talker and a looker. I know those type of boys from back in my day. Good for one thing only.”

My mouth drops open. Did she really just say that?

“Taking care of their mommas.” Then she winks at me, and oh my god. I think I’m in love with Walker’s mom. She’s funny as hell. I can tell where he gets his sense of humor from.

Walker nods to the door, and I stand up to leave. “Well, I better go. It’s been so nice to meet you, Mrs. Murphy.”

“Marta. Call me Marta.”

I smile and hold my hand out to hers and shake it. She’s cold, and I can tell that it took a lot out of her to talk to us as she sinks back into her chair. I want her to know how much I like her son.

“Walker’s a very sweet and charming guy. One day, he will find the perfect girl for him, and she will probably punch him.”

She laughs, and Walker’s eyes meet mine. He looks tired, but the sound of his mom laughing makes him smile.

“You’re probably right, Mila. I hope I can see the day that he does.”

Now I have a lump in my throat. How do I answer that? I want to know what’s wrong with her. Is she going to be okay? I really want her to see that. I do too.

As we shuffle to the front door, I see the money on the table near the front door. I pick it up and place it in my bag. I let out a deep breath. Asher’s hand is on my back. It’s a small touch, but it feels comforting. Like he knows I need a moment. He brushes my hair over my shoulder and whispers in my ear, “Cancer, but she has all the best doctors in the world.”

My heart clenches. I feel so bad for her. She seems like the nicest person, and she needs to see Walker be punched by the girl he loves. To be at his wedding and watch her grandchildren grow up.

I can hear Walker and his mom talking in hushed whispers, then he runs out to see us at the front door. I didn’t want to just leave without saying goodbye.

“Hey, I’ll come with. Just give me five.”

How can I say no to the guy who just gave me ten grand in cash? Shit.

I didn’t think about this when I drove Asher over… I guess they are coming for the ride.

“Where are we going again?” Walker asks.

I look to my GPS for the millionth time. We’re getting close. I never intended to bring them along, and I haven’t told them where we’re going yet.

“A mob boss’s house.” I answered truthfully.

I’m trying to make a habit of not lying anymore, and that’s a good answer. He is a mob boss, and it’s his house. They can stay in the car while I make my deal, because I don’t want them getting involved.

“Yeah? I thought we were gonna get ice cream or some shit. But a mob boss’s house sounds fun. What’s his name?” Walker jokingly asks.

“Alessandro Amato.”

That’s what I’ve read in all the news articles I could find. He’s some guy in his fifties. Hell, he’s a silver fox, to be honest. The press likes to take a lot of photos of him, and the fact he’s named as the boss to all this underground world stuff… well, he’s the guy I want to talk to.

“What the fuck, Mila.” Asher grabs the dash from the passenger seat and looks over at me, his eyes wide, and he looks a little pale.

“Tell me you’re joking. You’re messing with us, right?” Walker’s moved forward now to look at my face. He’s waiting for me to laugh or something.

“We can still go for ice cream after.” That actually sounds nice, because I have a feeling this will be very stressful.

They both start talking over each other and don’t let me answer..

“You’re crazy.” Asher huffs beside me.

“Are you insane?” Walker throws his hands up.

“What’s the matter with you?” Asher yells.

“Is this what the money is for?” Walker points to my purse.

“Why are you giving money to a mob boss?” Asher sounds really worried.

“What did you do?” Walker asks.

Then Asher growls. “What did Roman do?”

And that’s it. I slam on the brakes and stop the car. They’re both wearing seatbelts, but I love the way their heads smack back against the headrests and their faces grow angrier. They knew I did that on purpose and I’m not apologizing.

I point at Walker, “you said you would give me money. And you did so without asking what it’s for.” I swing my eyes to Asher. “You—” I’m angry now, “you said you wouldn’t judge. That you wouldn’t ask questions. You knew it had something to do with him.”

The car is silent as they both stare at me like I’ve lost my mind. I’m running off caffeine and adrenaline. Because if I don’t keep going, if I don’t get this over with, then it’s never going to stop for Roman. For us.

“You both wanted to come. I’m going to visit a mob boss and give him some cash. You didn’t ask. So, you can get out here. I will go do what I need to do, and I will come pick you up on the way back, and we can go for ice cream.”

They both look at each other then back at me.

“No way you’re kicking us out,” Walker says. “I’m not letting you go see him without us.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that about Roman. But you’re not going alone, Mila,” Asher adds.

I relax a little. Even though I planned doing this alone, I’m glad they’re coming with me. Because I want to throw up, and I have eaten nothing but a cherry sucker all day.

“Thank you,” I whisper to them both.

I need them here more than I realized.