Game On

Chapter 19: Promise

*back to Alex's pov*

I watch in horror as Nick press the call button, his words ringing in my ear.

Sorry Alex, but maybe you have to learn too.

No, he can't bring Patricia here. She doesn't deserve it, no one does.

The time is ticking in slow motion, but my brain is working ten times faster than usual.

I have to do something, but what?

I can't just let him call her, can I?

Tears are now resting in the brim of my eyes and I've stopped fighting against Zeke's grip.

My eyes wander to Peter, and as I take in his appearance, widen and reddened eyes full of fear, my heart hurts a bit. I don't like Peter because of what he have done, but if I would have confessed and told the truth, I would've been in the exactly same position and state as him.

One look at him, and my walls of self-defense fell.

I bite Zeke's hand, a yelp of pain slipping out of his throat, at the same time the valuable seconds is ticking away.

Zeke reluctantly removes his hand from my mouth for a split second, and before I have time to stop myself, my voice is heard all over the room.

"Stop!"

Nick doesn't even give me a look.

"I'm the real liar, not Peter!" I blurt out, my voice shaking and my chin facing the ceiling as I try to avoid Zeke who is trying to replace his hand over my mouth.

Nick turns around and his dark eyes bore into mine, his grip around the phone tightening causing his knuckles to whiten.

"What?" he spits out with controlled anger and Zeke gives up in his attempt of shut me up. I gulp and look down in my clenched fists.

Was this a good idea? Not at all.

Necessary? Yes.

"Please hung up and I will exp-"

"Explain?", he cuts me off, "I don't think so. You've had your chance."

The clock is running, the seconds ticking away, my brain working at its full speed.

All the feelings I have is tearing me apart from the inside, and the panic is the biggest one.

Nick body suddenly stiffens and realization strikes me with yet another unwelcoming feeling accompanying. Horror.

Patricia picked up. I know she did because Nick's facial features suddenly changed from grimly to concentrated.

As he opens his mouth to answer the light voice which is on the other side of the line, I act, or in this case speak, before thinking.

"I'll do anything!"

I don't understand the power of those words once they are bonded together, let alone do I know that I'll soon find out.

All I know is that those words did catch Nick's attention as he once again turns to face me.

"Anything?" he asks and mutes the phone, his voice somewhat sounding different, "you promise you'll do anything?"

I understand by his tone that he take those words far more important than me, and I start thinking the words through.

Can I really promise him I'll do anything if he hangs up the call? No.

"Maybe not anything...", I trail off and he shakes his head at me.

"Wrong answer, gorgeous."

He turns his back to me and replaces the phone by his ear, unmuting it, and starts talking to the innocent girl on the other line.

"Hello, Patricia. As you hear, this isn't Peter, but one of his friends. Listen, I have something to tell you, but don't ask any questions, okay? It's really important. You know Pe-"

"I promise", I cry out and rush towards Nick to make sure he ends the phone call. As promised, or expected, he does, and I end up half a meter away from him, suddenly not knowing what to do.

"You", Nick says as he takes a step closer and decreases the distance between us, "just saved your friends skin, and turned yourself in."

"No", I say with a harsher tone than expected, "I told you I'll do anything, which isn't the same as turning yourself in. I owe you, nothing more. You better use the favor wisely, but I rather see it as you don't use it at all."

Nick smirks at me and his fingers start follow the outline of my jaw.

"Oh, gorgeous, you can bet I'll use it", he leans in closer, his lips brushing against my ear, "but I'm a patient man, and I will save it for later. And don't worry, I'm standing by my word of not being such a bad guy as you seem to believe."

His words send chillers down my spine, but I feel a minimal amount of relief at his last words.

I back away, and Peter caught my eyes. His lips silently form the words 'thank you' and his eyes are full of joy and relief and I give him a barely noticeable nod in response.

I didn't do it for him.

I did it for myself and my conscience, and for Patricia.

"C'mon, dinner's ready", Zeke sigh and gets up from the couch. I wonder if he had enjoyed the scene of what had just occurred. I certainly didn't because I just realized I've thrown myself head over heels into something I shouldn't have.

*Patricia's pov*

The phone call abruptly ends and I stare at my phone with furrowed eyebrows.

What had just happened?

Who was that guy I've just spoken to and was he going to tell me something about Peter?

And most important of all, why had I heard Alex's voice shouting in the background?

I can almost swear it was her voice, saying something that sounded like 'I'll do anything'. Her soft voice, and especially the high pitched tone she gets as she raises her voice, isn't something you'll forget in a hurry.

I know I have to tell someone about this, that I'm almost sure of that I've heard Alex, but how will I explain it was through Peter's phone?

Why is Peter's phone at the same place as Alex if he isn't there? What was the guy I talked to going to say? It sounded like he started saying Peter's name.

Does Peter have something to do with Alex's kidnapping?

*Nick's pov*

I know I just lied to Alex. She promised me she'll do anything if I hung up the phone call, and I did, so it's not actually a lie, but I know she will consider it as one.

I'm not sure, but there's a risk that Peter's girlfriend, Patricia I think, heard Alex as she shouted her little promise, and I don't like taking this kind of risks where I can get caught. Alex and Peter won't like it for sure, but they just have to accept it. It's not like they have any choice.

I'm going to give Patricia a little visit, and I can't promise I will come back empty handed.