Game of Revenge

Chapter 7

Michael

My mind is racing now as I’m listening to Blakely rage about planning revenge for Brian’s death. Everyone is obsessed with him still, while I hoped that his being dead would mean that I’d finally get the love and attention I feel I deserve.

I wish I could be a better brother, but I’m simply me, riddled with flaws and anxiety. I’m not even guilt stricken, really, which also probably makes me a bad person. My worry comes from the possibility of being caught. Blakely is like a dog with a bone, and she won’t stop until everyone who had a hand in Brian’s death is dead.

Even me if she finds out what I ultimately did.

I can’t imagine what Kiernan will think once he knows. Why can’t anything just go my way?

Needing a break, I walk outside to the backyard to take a breath. It’s beautiful out here, the air crisp and fresh as I lean against the railing of the back porch. I should be snuggling with Kieran, helping him plan his silly house projects instead of here.

The air inside of the cabin feels heavy and filled with rage and grief, and I just couldn’t handle it anymore.

Sometimes, when people grieve, they want support and comfort, and that’s how Kiernan and Tray have been. The very reason for the cuddling makes me angry. Why can’t we just go back to normal: fucking and living like we did when Brian was alive? Only it would be better now.

My thoughts are disjointed and cranky as I get lost in my annoyance, hoping no one will come outside.

“Michael, are you okay?” asks a voice.

Shit.

Turning, I see Blakely standing by the sliding glass door, her dirty-blond hair falling down her back. Occasionally, the wind lifts it to toss it into her face, and it would be funny if I wasn’t currently terrified of her.

She’s a lot more fun to be around when I’m not hiding things from the world.

“Yeah,” I rasp, nodding. “I was thinking about my brother.”

I won’t tell her what it was about though. I’ve been acting too happy around the guys, and that’s the wrong reaction for death. It’s hard for me to pretend to miss him, but I can mimic being lost in my memories for Blakely.

One wrong move, and she’ll decide to make my life hell.

“Brian was such a good guy,” she says softly, closing the door behind her. “The hunt will be in his honor. It’s hard to believe there are so many people in the world who believe love should be dictated to.”

Sighing, I nod. “It’s pretty fucked up,” I agree.

Less is more. Keep your mouth shut.

Thankfully, Blakely is willing to do the talking for me.

“Death is such a pretty thing when gifted to people who deserve it,” she says fiercely, making my blood run cold. “My guys won’t let me play as much as I’d like to, but I still expect the fields to run red. Won’t that be nice?”

“Just like old times,” I murmur, hoping it’s the right thing to say.

“Yes,” Blakely says with a wide smile. “We’ll have masks and fun spiky weapons that will make a mess!”

“It sounds like a really creepy kids party that’s being tailored instead as a murder party,” and the words are out before I can take them back.

“A murder party!” Carrie squeals. “Fuck yeah! Michael, you come up with the best ideas.”

She walks back into the house chanting about murder and spikes as Kiernan walks outside to join me, shaking his head.

“Blakely has entered the building,” he murmurs. “Are you okay with all of this?”

“The murder and mayhem in Brian’s honor?” I ask uncomfortably as he comes closer.

Does Kier think about my brother when he hugs me?

“Yeah,” he says, nodding. “She’s on a roll now. It’ll be impossible to stop her.”

“I get it,” I murmur as he comes to hug me.

“It’s been a long time since we last organized a hunt,” Kiernan sighs. “I have to make it attractive enough that people will want to come. What if Craig decides he’s too good to attend?”

Shrugging out of his arms, I say, “Then you’ll find a way to make him. I’m going to lay down for a while. Tray is better with wording than I am.”

Lies, lies, lies. I’m great with words and manipulation, I simply don’t want to be reminded of my brother again. I wish I’d never had a twin, and he’d simply died in the womb, so I wouldn’t have had to do the dirty work.

Then, no one would know who he is, and I’d be first for once in my life.

“Yeah, okay,” Kiernan says in a small voice, but I’m already walking away.

Tray

“I think we need some spider webs here,” Frankie says as we walk through the woods.

Frankie and I are in charge of creating the grid for our hunt, setting traps, and ensuring we can herd people toward where we’ll be beating them to death. Sure, we’ll still be chasing others through the woods, but not everyone can run.

I don’t care how often Blakely says she can do it, I don’t believe her guys are going to allow her to fully participate in the hunt.

She’ll bitch and complain, but I know that she’ll understand eventually. Her baby is important to her.

Pulling out the barbed spider web, I carefully begin to hook it into the branches, so it’ll be difficult to avoid for someone running. The barbs are tipped in hallucinogenic substances that will quickly spread through the person’s system once it pierces the skin.

We have lots of other surprises that’ll work well with this.

“Please don’t prick yourself,” Frankie says, amused. “I don’t want to babysit you today.”

“Are you saying you’d do it if I did?” I tease her.

I don’t know when it happened, but I’m finding myself enjoying my time with her more and more. She’s funny in a stabby way, and her mind fascinates me. I’m in a very committed relationship with Kiernan, yet she’s even in my dreams lately.

While I’m bisexual, it’s been a long time since a woman has gotten my attention.

“It would depend on the hallucinations,” she says. “If you want cuddles and suddenly decide you think I’m Kiernan, then yes. However, if you’re going to see clowns everywhere and make me chase you through these woods, I’m going to be fucking pissed. My boots aren’t meant for running.”

Glancing at her combat boots, I smirk.

“I have a feeling you can run just fine,” I tell her, stepping back to admire my handiwork.

“Very cute,” she says. “I still don’t like to run. Ready to hit the next area?”

Picking up the bag, I nod.

“I’m glad the fences will be electrified by then,” I say as I move around the webbing. “Ohhh. Can we set up a few pits?”

“As long as you’re digging the holes, I’ll carve out the wooden spikes,” she says with a smirk.

Fuck, that shouldn’t be as sexy as it sounds.

My cock twitches, and I bite my lip. I’m going to have to talk to Kiernan soon. Michael and I have drifted away from each other since Brian died. It’s sad, but the way that he’s acting now isn’t attractive. He’s a different person than I thought he was, and sometimes it almost feels as if he’s happy Brian is dead.

It’s disconcerting and sad. Michael is even pushing Kiernan away and upsetting him. We both just want to offer comfort, but he doesn’t want it. We may not be together at all by the end of this hunt.

“Your mood just shifted,” Frankie says, putting her hand on my arm. “Are you okay? We’re so busy now with murder night, it’s easy to get lost in this.”

“Everything feels broken,” I whisper, shaking my head. “I’m sad all of the time, but sometimes I have these moments of happiness. It should be a good thing that I’m able to find any, except I remember Brian won’t feel anything ever again. It could have been any of us that night. They picked him because it was easy, and he was alone.”

“Women go to the bathroom together because there’s safety in numbers, but why would men think it’s necessary? You can’t let yourself be pulled in by the what-ifs, Tray,” she reminds me. “This night is a reminder for weak-minded, bigoted people that God doesn’t like ugly, and neither do we. Be sad, but remember how lucky you are to have people who care.”

Nodding, I let my hand move to hers, squeezing it before we move on.