The Game: Rebels of Ridgecrest High (Book 3)

I can see them both, but it’s as if I’m no longer in my body. I’m frozen on the spot and screaming at myself to run. Get out of here. I can’t believe he called them in here. Did he not hear what I said about them trying to kill me? There’s no way they are gonna just let me walk out of here alive.

Johnny waves his hand over at me and says something to Carlos that I can’t hear. Hell, I can’t hear anyone but the rushing sound of my heartbeat in my ears. I look down at my phone again. Asher told Hunter. My phone is blowing up, Roman telling me to get out of here, Hunter asking for an address and Jace telling me to wait for them before I do anything “Mila like.”

I think that time has passed, the fact I’m even here is already, “Mila like.” Hell, I’m way past “Mila like” right now and into “crazy I lost my mind,” stage. Asher takes the phone from my hand and types back an address for the guys to find me. Walker’s saying something, but I don’t register it. I feel so stupid. I shouldn’t have come here. They know, Carlos and Johnny know I’m here.

Carlos grins at me, and I can’t breathe. He hit me in the car. It was him. He looked right at me as he did it. I swallow the lump in my throat. I look to Johnny now. They beat Roman so badly the cops thought the same car had hit him. They almost killed me and Roman.

They wanted to kill us. Why? For fun? Pleasure? Sick fucks.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. In and out. I came here to get rid of them from our lives, need to do this. To face this fear. I can’t let them win.

When I open my eyes, everyone’s watching me, I can hear again. My body isn’t numb and I’m shaking. But now with rage.

“You tried to kill me.” I spit at him.

Carlos waves his hand in a way that infuriates me even more. Like I’m nothing, and Johnny chuckles.

“We did no such thing. Who would want to kill an angel.”

My stomach drops at the word angel coming from his mouth. Is he serious? I look at Alessandro, the way he’s standing there, watching this. I don’t know if he believes them or me.

“You know you did. Your car was black. You hit me on my bike when I was trying to find Roman. You took him, you beat him almost to death and left him to die.”

“We have never met you, or this Roman. You have us confused, bitch.” My mouth drops open. He didn’t just call me a bitch.

“Back up a moment.” Alessandro puts his hand out towards Carlos. “One.”— he holds his finger up— “Don’t be calling my guest a bitch. And two, it’s very odd how Mila named you both, then the way you hesitated when you first saw her tells me you knew who she was the moment you came into the room.”

Johnny shakes his head, but Alessandro continues. “And three, the damage on the car that had to be fixed. You said you hit a sign? Not a girl on a bike.”

I almost stumble, he believes me. At least enough to know they’re lying.

“No, it’s not like that. We don’t know her. We just go down and place bets sometimes for fun. She probably saw us down there, or something.” He shrugs. “Win some money and wants a cut or something from us, Alessandro. You know how these trashy girls can get when they smell cash?” Johnny nods like that answer will get him out of this mess.

Alessandro’s eyes darken, and even I take a step back from his expression.

“You do not call me Alessandro. I’m Mr. Amato to you. You have not earned the right to call me by my first name.”

“You are here for one thing only. To watch my back at school and work for the family. But you have been off selling drugs and gambling? Betting money on some kid and trying to destroy his life? Then hitting a girl on her bike? Well, my father will hate to hear about this.” His voice is deep and calculating.

Alessandro turns to me. He nods, and I try to keep cool. Carlos and Johnny say nothing in protest, and I don’t know what I’m supposed to say right now.

“Can I get a copy of the text messages they sent your boyfriend. I would like the added proof for when I go to my father. Carlos is nothing, but Johnny is my father’s third cousin, so he might like to see something before he decides what to do with him, at least.” I slowly nod.

I can’t believe this is happening. Asher texts on my phone again. Probably asking for the proof from Roman so he can show Alessandro.

“Anything else you want to add, Mila? Have they done anything else to you?” He asks. I shake my head. This has been more than enough. “Actually, I would like to know how much they earn betting on your Roman and return it to you.” Alessandro adds. My eyes widen.

I shake my head. “We don’t want the money, we just want to be left alone and put all of this behind us.” Alessandro watches me for a long moment before he nods. He texts someone and looks over to the two assholes.

Three men in suits come out of nowhere. They are quiet and scary. Carlos and Johnny starts calling out that I’m lying, that I made it up as they take them away. The last thing I hear them say is they will come for me. It’s like I’m in some mafia movie. It’s surreal, but scary as all hell. They will come for me?

I just stand there, and the room grows quiet. Walker just stares at me like I have the answers here about what to do next. Shit, I guess we should go. That’s the right move, right? I have no idea. I look at Alessandro, I made this worse. So much worse than before. This has helped no one.

“They won’t be coming for you, they will be… dealt with.”

Dealt with? Don’t think I want to mess around here with Alessandro any longer, so best we leave before I run my mouth or say something that will get me into trouble… like “I’m gonna jump the gate and come find you,” wasn’t asking for trouble.

“So… we are off to go get ice-cream now. Thank you so much for having us in your home, Mr. Amato. And thank you for helping me with my problem.”

I start to back out the room and grab Walker’s hand as I pass him. We are all going, and now.

“Mila… I think we can agree, Alessandro, is what you call me. Especially after the grand entrance I got from you today. Was a nice distraction and a little entertaining.”

I smile at that, and Walker chuckles.

“When Mila is involved, it’s always entertaining.” I smack his arm and he laughs again.

“Give me your number, Mila.” Alessandro asks and I freeze. Why does he want my number?

“So I can get in touch with you if I have any more questions. But don’t worry. Your problem will be taken care of. You won’t hear or see from either of them again.”

Oh, God. Sounds a little “sleeping with the fishes” type of saying. And as much as I don’t want these guys around, I don’t want to know about their deaths either.

I nod and take Alessandro’s phone and put my number in there. I save myself as ‘Mila gate jumping girl.’ So, he remembers me in a good way. He looks at it and laughs.

“I’ll show you to the door.” He gestures to the way we came with his hand, and we follow him.

He turns around in the foyer and gives me back the money, I almost forgot about that. I hand it over to Walker.

Alessandro nods at him and I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders from coming here. It’s done. We are free. I smile to myself. This is going to be so much better for us all going forward now.

The guard at the door nods and opens the door for us. And I can see Roman running towards the house with Hunter on his tail. What? How did they get here so fast? Alessandro moves swiftly and so does his guard.

Fuck.

“He’s harmless.” Asher quickly says to them both. The guard is holding his gun. And where did Alessandro get a gun from? Did he have that the whole time. Oh, my God.

“Roman,” I tell Alessandro. I want him to know it’s Roman.

“He’s very protective of Mila.” Walker explains. “Like insanely protective.” Asher adds.

Alessandro nods towards Roman, and I run. I didn’t realize until then how much I needed him here. As I see him, I cry. This weight was so emotional that was pinning us down and now we’re free. All of us.

He crushes me to his chest, spinning me away from the house as he hugs me tight. We drop to our knees as he takes me down with him. His back to the Amato house. When I try to look over his shoulder to see where Asher and Walker are, Roman grabs my face and pulls it to his chest again. I let out a deep, shuddering breath and let him hold me. He wants to protect me. I’m going to let him do that. I need that as much as he does right now.

Hunter wraps his arms around me. And the three of us. Just hold each other tight. Until there’s a clearing of a throat and Hunter stands.

“I’m Hunter, Mila’s boyfriend.” He says. He looks down at me and smiles.

“Well, one of her boyfriends, but I don’t think Roman’s gonna let her go right now. So let me thank you for everything. Asher kept me in the loop on our way here.”

I realize then it’s Alessandro, he’s talking too. Jace appears to our left, and he smiles at me before looking at the others.

“I’m Jace, future husband of Mila.” He almost growls. He catches my eye, “once she kisses me,” and winks. I roll my eyes and he chuckles.

“Wow, Mila.” Roman lets me look over his shoulder at Alessandro.

“Three guys? I would think you would have to be someone very special to have three of them wanting to share you. But I’ve now met you, and I can see why.” Alessandro speaks and I smile. I’m the luckiest girl.

“Four, actually. When she’s ready to admit her feelings for me.” Asher states. Looking down at me, nodding. I roll my eyes, but it’s painfully true. And I need to do something about my feelings for him.

Alessandro chuckles. “Do we have number five here, Walker?”

Walker bursts out laughing. “Hell, no. I love the little firecracker, but she’s too much for me to handle. But I love looking at her ass in that little red—”

Asher smacks Walker in the chest, cutting off what he was just about to say. I laugh. Roman grunts and whispers into my ear.

“Asher… he’s okay.” I smile into his chest. He is. He came with me and I’m so glad he did. I need to tell him and Walker thank you for today. I don’t think I could’ve gone through with this without them both.

I try to stand, but Roman won’t let me. He cradles me in his arms and holds me close to his chest as he picks me up. He slowly turns to Alessandro, and it’s then I realize Roman has a cut under his eye and a bruise. That would be from the fight last night. The last fight he will be in.

“Roman, I’m sorry for what’s happened. I promise you they will be taken care of.”

Roman grunts and nods, and once again I have this feeling in my chest that Carlos and Johnny will no longer be breathing… just the way Alessandro’s eyes twinkle a little at the words ‘taken care of.’ Like he can’t wait to go take care of business once he’s done with us here.

Alessandro, he comes across a nice guy, but I wouldn’t want to ever cross him. Thankfully, he has a sense of humor. If he hadn’t… well, I don’t want to think about that. I bet his dad would have shot me before I could have even touched the gates. I’m lucky I got the Alessandro Amato with a sense of humor.

There are goodbyes exchanged, and Roman carries me to my car. Hands Asher my bag as he slips us into the back seat. Asher takes my keys out and starts the car. I can see his eyes in the rear vison mirror and I give him a brief nod. Roman just handed him the keys. He trusts Asher to drive us home. I take a deep breath and let my body sink into Roman’s embrace.

Everything’s going to be better from now on.

We drive in silence until we are out of the gated community and on our way back to home… wherever that is.

“Ice-cream?” I ask. And they all turn to me.

“You are the most unbelievable chick I have ever met, Mila. You know how to get a heart started. Fuck, I thought I was gonna die in there or something. And here you all are, ‘ice-cream’ like we just went to the movies or some shit.

“You took us to a mobsters’ house like it was a normal way to spend a Saturday afternoon.” Walker’s eyes widen and Roman holds me tighter.

I wink over at Walker and he shakes his head.

“Yeah, okay, I still want ice-cream.” He turns to look out the front again before turning around and pointing his finger at me. “Just remember, I’m not number five here. I only keep you around for your fine ass and smart mouth.” He winks at me.

“I told you I’m taking you to a mobsters’ house. That was the plan. And don’t tell me threatening to break into a mobsters’ house doesn’t turn you on?” I tease back. He shakes his head.

“I get turned on by girls throwing themselves at me for a night of Walker Murphy, then leaving the next day. No strings, no drama, and no chicks trying to break into a mobsters’ house. If you know any like that, send them my way.”

I fake gag “boring.” Roman chuckles at that and I kiss him.

“Ice-cream?” I ask him and he smiles.

“Let’s get ice-cream.”