Fear Me

by B. B. Reid

  “Thank God. I thought you abandoned me,” she sniffled.

  “Do you have a cold?”

  “No. My mom is home.” Willow and her mom didn’t usually get along well. She hated how independent and free Willow was. It only got worse when she found out about Dash. Now all they did was argue. Her mom was always pushing her past hang-ups on her. “Are you home? I want to come over.”

  “I’m at Keiran’s but I’ll come now.”

  She let out a dry laugh. “We both know that isn’t about to happen. When was the last time you slept in your own bed?”

  “His uncle is home.”

  “Oh snap. You met him? What’s he like?”

  “Intense.”

  “Maybe it runs in the family.”

  “Yeah, maybe. Anyway I don’t think I’ll be staying over tonight. That would be too weird.” We talked for a few more minutes before I passed the phone to Sheldon who wanted to talk to her. I left the bedroom and went back to the basement. Their low voices instantly put me on alert and I paused on the stairs.

  “Arizona, Kentucky, and Wisconsin are battling right now. They’re at the top of my list. I haven’t made a decision.”

  “Because of Lake, right? Where is she going?”

  “I don’t know. She hasn’t said.”

  “So ask her.”

  “I’m getting to it, moron. I had to take care of those other two.”

  “What did Mario do with them?”

  “He’s keeping them on ice for me.”

  “He’s a scary motherfucker. How do you know that guy?”

  “He used to be a partner with the people who owned me.”

  “Shit.”

  “Fuck.”

  Owned him? Someone owned him? Oh hell no. I needed him to talk. “Who owned you?” I asked, walking the rest of the way down the stairs.

  “Lake…”

  “No, Keiran. You just said someone owned you.”

  “Let it go,” he said through clenched teeth.

  “I can’t just let it go. I have a right to know.”

  He stomped over to me and pushed me against the wall by the staircase. “You don’t have the right to shit but what I tell you. My past is my own.”

  “But you said –”

  “I know what I said. It’s none of your business.”

  “Why do Dash and Keenan get to know?”

  “For fuck sake, girl—“

  “Um, guys? As much as this turns me on to watch you fight, we need to go.” Keenan deadpanned.

  “Go? Where are you going?”

  “We are going to play laser tag,” Keiran emphasized.

  “Yeah, it’s Monday Madness. All the food you can eat and my boy Teddy is working tonight so we get drinks too. Let’s roll!” He and Dash ran up the stairs tripping and shoving each other to get to the top first.

  “I’ve never played laser tag.”

  “No? Well then you can’t be on my team. I don’t lose,” he gloated. I hit him on the shoulder and his eyes danced with mischief.

  “Can I see your tat?”

  “It’s not finished.”

  “Oh…later then?” As he stared down at me I could see the turmoil behind his eyes. He stepped away from me and jammed his fingers in his hair. Did he already regret getting the tattoo?

  “We need to go,” he said, taking my hand and pulling me up the stairs. I heard Keenan creating a ruckus as soon as we reached the first floor.

  “What are you pigs doing here? This isn’t the time we scheduled.”

  “We’d just thought we’d come ask a few questions and maybe have a look around. We hope you don’t mind,” one of the suits said but his tone suggested he didn’t care otherwise.

  “You can ask your questions from the doorstep because you aren’t stepping foot inside this house without a warrant.”

  “Do we need one Mr. Masters?” the second detective asked in a gruff tone. “Is your father home by any chance? We’d really like to speak with him as well.”

  “Don’t you guys have some donuts you need to suck back or was that just my cock?”

  “Keenan, let those officers in and stop being a pain in my ass,” his father ordered from somewhere in the house. Keenan sucked his teeth but didn’t budge. Keiran went straight to the door and I followed behind. I don’t know why but I felt the need to stand between Keiran and trouble. Someone had to be the voice of reason.

  “We aren’t interested in whatever the fuck you think you know,” he said without preamble.

  “You know why we are here son. We just want to ask some questions about Ms. Risdell and Officer Reynolds’s son’s disappearance. “

  “So ask them.” He crossed his arm over his chest and stood next to Keenan who now wore a cocky expression on his face.

  “This is hardly the way to conduct an interview.” The officer appeared flustered and angry and I tried to stifle my laugh but they must have heard when their gazes landed on me.

  “Ah, Ms. Monroe. How convenient. We were planning to pay you a visit next. Do invite us in.”

  “Not my house,” I said and walked up to Keiran, molding myself against his back. My touch seemed to relax him as I felt the tension in his back fade.

  “How cute,” the officer mocked, noticing our embrace.

  “We’ll be back,” his partner warned as they retreated to their car.

  “Dude, you sound like a Terminator reject.”

  “I loved that movie,” Keiran commented.

  Ha! A fact about Keiran. I was getting somewhere. “Me three,” I piped. They turned to grin at me.

  “Thanks for sending those pigs squealing,” Keenan grinned. “One for all…”

  “And all for one.” I bumped fists with him when he held his out.

  “I hated that movie,” Keiran added.

  “Only because it had a happy ending.”

  “I hated that movie too, actually.”

  “You two lovebirds make me sick.”

  “Jealous?”

  He snorted. “No. Dating Sheldon is like dating a guy and a girl at the same time. It’s awesome. Although I do wonder sometimes…”

  “Where is Sheldon,” I asked, looking around.

  “She and Dash went ahead. I hung back for you guys. Took long enough.”

  “Shut up.” Keiran cuffed Keenan on the back of his head. Just then their uncle came out of the living room.

  “Where are you boys going?”

  “Laser tag,” Keenan answered shortly. Keiran barely spared him a glance.

  “Well stay out of trouble and get this girl home at a decent hour. Don’t make me come looking for you,” he warned.

  “Sure thing pops,” Keenan agreed, halfheartedly. John grunted and went back into the living room.

  Keiran pulled me by the hand and we left out of the house. “Oh, wait. My phone.” I turned to go back inside for it when Keenan stopped me.

  “Shelly gave it to me to give to you.” Keenan handed me my phone.

  “Hey, do you think Willow could come?”

  “I don’t mind, but you do know Dash will be there right?”

  “Yes I know. It won’t hurt to ask.” Once we got into Keiran’s car I dialed Willow who answered on the first ring.

  “Please tell me you’re home,” she breathed into the phone.

  “No but I have something better. Come play laser tag with us.”

  “Us?”

  “Yeah. Keiran, Keenan, Sheldon, and…”

  “And Dash?” she guessed.

  “Yeah, but –”

  “I’ll come,” she cut in. “But I’m bringing Buddy as reinforcement.”

  * * *

  “You can’t wear bright colors to laser tag! Dude,” Keenan looked at Dash, “tell her she can’t wear bright clothes to laser tag.” Willow had just met us outside of the arena appearing as flamboyant as usual despite her earlier mood. She’d dressed in only jeans and T-shirt that showed off her figure but her jeans were pink and shirt was purple.


  “I tried to tell her,” Buddy said walking up to slap hands with the guys.

  “Suck it, morons. I’ll wear what I want.”

  “She’s on your team,” Keenan whined to Dash.

  Dash ignored him and continued to stare at Willow while Willow looked everywhere but at him. After a few moments of tense silence he smirked and walked over to Keiran and began whispering low to him. I knew they were up to something.

  “Alright,” Keiran spoke up. “We aren’t pairing up. This is a free for all.”

  Willow then flipped off Keenan who smiled and blew kisses at her. Sheldon caught them and hit his arm, growling, “she’s mine.” I laughed at the little competition they seemed to have over her. Sometimes I think Sheldon really did have a crush on Willow.

  “Thank fuck! I love you sis but you’ll get me killed.” Buddy had his war face on as if this was real. Boys.

  “You guys are ridiculous.” She snatched the gear he offered to her and huffed.

  Dash explained the rules and we activated our sensors. Just before we started, I noticed Dash lean in behind Willow and whisper something in her ear with an evil look on his face. Her face paled and her eyes widened and suddenly she took off in the darkness of the arena. He chuckled and followed after her but it didn’t seem as if he was in a hurry. Sheldon, Buddy, and Keenan all ran into the arena and I could immediately hear the sound of lasers firing.

  “Standing there is a good way to lose,” Keiran said. “It’s okay. I always save the best for last.” He disappeared inside the arena, the dark swallowing him up.

  I clutched my weapon and slowly walked in. As soon as I did, my sensor beeped and I looked over to see Keenan bouncing up and down in victory. On his second bounce he was tagged in mid-air by Keiran who turned and winked in at me. Another series of shots were fired so I ducked for cover behind a low wall near the entrance. My blood was already pumping with excitement. Keeping low I moved cautiously around the arena, which had grown quiet so I knew the guys were on the hunt. I wondered how Sheldon and Willow were fairing.

  “Ah babe, you got me! How could you?” I heard Keenan yell somewhere in the distance.

  I looked over the wall and saw a flash of blonde hair a few feet in front of me. It was Buddy with his back turned but he looked like he was concentrating on something and that’s when I noticed Keiran. He was about to catch him unaware. I knew we technically weren’t on the same team but he fierce need to protect him even in a silly game overrode my common sense. I shot up and tagged Buddy from behind just as Keiran turned and tagged Buddy from the front. He knew he was there all along!

  Buddy spun around and looked at us both in shock before running off, leaving Keiran and me to face off. He stared at me and I stared back while he seemed to be praising and challenging me with his eyes. I quickly fired a shot but missed and as I ran off I could hear him say, “I’m hurt baby but still you have to actually aim the gun at me.”

  Cocky bastard. As I maneuvered throughout the arena I realized it was built like a maze with a few good hiding spots but I was now too in to the game to hide as I searched for my next target.

  I quickly rounded the corner and bumped into a hard chest that knocked me down on my ass. “Well, well, well. Look who I have here. Tell you what sweetheart. Say you’ll leave my cousin for me and I might consider letting you live.”

  I plastered a thoughtful look on my face while he stared down at me. “Not a chance,” I said and fired off two shots to his chest. I rolled away like they did in the movies and ducked behind another wall, escaping his return fire.

  I stalked around the arena looking for my next victim. Jeez, Lake you’re having way too much fun with this. “Pssst.” I looked around for the source of the sound but didn’t see anyone. “Up here, girl.” I looked up and saw Sheldon sitting on one the walls.

  “How did you get up there?”

  “Being a cheerleader has its perks.” She jumped down in front of me with a wily grin on her face. “Want to form a secret alliance and take these douche bags down?”

  I didn’t even have to think about it. “Sure.”

  “Sweet.”

  “Wait, where is Willow?”

  She shrugged and said, “Don’t know—haven’t seen her.” Dash probably got his paws on her.

  “Where is your brother?”

  “I don’t know that either.” She smirked and I knew she was thinking the same thing I was. “We got to move. I’ll take right, you take left.” She was gone again before I could respond.

  “Consorting with the enemy?” I whirled around and found Keiran lounging against the wall.

  “Are you following me?”

  “Yes,” he answered shamelessly.

  “Why?”

  “It’s laser tag, babe.”

  “Well stop it anyway.” He didn’t respond but continued to watch me. “Are you going to shoot me?”

  “You mean like you tried to shoot me?”

  “Well do it already.”

  He shook his head and stood up straight. “I told you I was saving the best for last.”

  “I could shoot you.”

  “You could. But you won’t.”

  I aimed the laser gun at him. “I won’t?” Oh shit, will I? Keiran was watching me intensely so he didn’t see the dot on his chest until it was too late. He’d been tagged.

  “Score for the Dream Team, yeah baby!” Sheldon burst around the corner and shuffled her feet around. “I got the big bad Keiran!” She blew imaginary smoke from her weapon.

  Keiran watched me with a small smile on his face. “You’re going to pay for that later,” he promised me even though Sheldon had been the one to tag him. A shiver of anticipation ran through me.

  “Don’t make promises you probably shouldn’t keep.” His smile spread wider at my challenge.

  “Will you two stop eye fucking each other? We have a war to finish!” Sheldon dragged me off and Keiran once again disappeared from sight but I knew he was still stalking me around the arena.

  We played non-stop after that. Buddy, Keenan, and Sheldon were tagged out, ending our secret alliance. That left Keiran and me. Oh and Dash and Willow – if anyone could find them.

  The arena was silent as I moved through it. Keiran and I seemed to be evading each other pretty well…unless he already knew where I was. I quickly looked behind me but didn’t see any sign of him. I was hunting him just as much as he was hunting me but that didn’t stop me from feeling like the prey. I stopped by one of the high walls and took out the map the officials gave us. Where the hell was he?

  “You never were good at hiding from me.” I heard him behind me, and spun around to find him moving out the shadows. I tried to run but he was too fast as he hit me twice in the chest. I was tagged out. “I win.”

  * * *

  We left the arena with my hand swallowed up by his larger one. I lost but it wasn’t surprising. Buddy, Sheldon, and Keenan were waiting nearby, their gear already shed.

  “Where is Dash and Willow?” They all shrugged and I immediately looked up at the Keiran. When he quickly averted his gaze, I narrowed my eyes.

  “Buddy could you please go see where you sister is?” Keiran’s hand squeezed mine in warning but I ignored him.

  “Why?” he asked and stayed seated.

  “Remember that time in the fifth grade…”

  “I’m going.” He shot up from his seat and disappeared back inside the arena.

  “What happened in the fifth grade?” Keenan asked.

  “A lady never tells.” Sheldon answered for me.

  He looked at her with his eyebrows raised. “You’re a lady?” She slapped his arm and he stole a deep kiss from her. In no time she was in his lap and they were making out.

  Keiran and I were shedding our gear when Buddy came out of the arena with a disturbed look on his face. “Buddy?” I asked concerned.

  “There are just some things a brother should never see.” He shook his head and walked past us and into the main lobby
.

  “Come on. I want to feed you,” Keiran said and took my hand.

  “But we have to wait for Dash and Willow.” He ignored me and continued pulling me into the dining area. Buddy was already seated at a large booth so we slid in with him.

  “Buddy, what did you see?” Instead of answering me he looked at Keiran and then back at me and shook his head.

  “I’d rather not relive that thank you very much.”

  “Hey, did you order already?” Dash asked as he sat down and pulled Willow in after him. I stared at Willow, willing her to look at me but she avoided my gaze and looked down at her hands so I kicked her under the table.

  “Oww!” She finally looked at me and I gave her a pointed look, which she ignored.

  “Dude, what the fuck?” Buddy asked Dash.

  He grinned at him. “You’ll thank me later, youngin.”

  “But that’s my sister! Besides…I’ve been dancing that dance since I was thirteen.”

  “Ewww, Buddy!”

  He cut his eye at her. “Do you really want to go there after what I just saw?” Her cheeks colored and she looked back down.

  “Keiran let me out. I have to pee,” I huffed when he didn’t budge. When he finally moved I raced to the bathroom. I didn’t realize I’d been holding it but when the excitement of the game died I felt the need to pee. I used the bathroom and looked in the mirror. For some reason, I found myself freeing my hair from the band and letting it fall around my shoulders and down my back.

  For fuck sake! When did I start caring about how my hair looked? I left the bathroom, annoyed with myself. Next I would be wearing five-inch pumps to school. I once again thought about Anya and Trevor’s disappearance. I have to get Keiran to talk.

  “You should be more careful of the company you keep.”

  “Mr. Martin?” He was standing near the back exit. What was he doing here?

  “Yes, dear.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t think this would be your type of place.”

  “There is a lot you don’t know about me, young lady.”

  Whoa. Because that didn’t sound creepy… “Well, it was nice seeing you,” I replied feeling awkward and creeped out.