A Harmless Little Game (Harmless #1)

 

“I’ll be fine, Daddy. Just fine. I need a few days to adjust,” I say in an even tone. I’ve practiced this for four years, and fooled the staff at the island, so Daddy’s no match for me.

 

His shoulders relax, tension pouring out.

 

Right answer.

 

“That’s my girl,” he says, already thinking about the next major item on his daily To Do list. Anya, his long-time executive administrator, walks in the room, head bent over a clipboard and a stack of files, a wireless phone earpiece in her ear like something out of a Star Trek movie.

 

“Senator Bosworth, the foreign relations committee is holding an emergency session on...” Her voice trails down as she realizes Drew and I are in the room.

 

“Lindsay!” Anya’s steel-blue eyes light up with genuine warmth. Her ash-blonde hair is coiffed perfectly, cut in an easy, layered style befitting a fifty-something woman, and she’s wearing a pearl-grey suit. For fun, she runs triathlons.

 

Daddy wouldn’t know when to go to the bathroom without Anya. She runs his life. Daddy thinks he’s the big, powerful senator with all the connections, but if Anya ever quits he’d be as helpless as an infant.

 

“Hi,” I say, waving awkwardly from my bed. I sit up on my elbows. Thankfully, I chose to wear pants for this homecoming trip. I tuck my feet under me and sit up, grabbing a pillow for support. Suddenly, vulnerable, I feel like I’m naked even though I’m fully dressed.

 

Anya gives my dad a questioning look. “You didn’t mention Lindsay was coming home.” She’s smiling and friendly, but there’s a tone under those words. I feel instantly vindicated. Anya’s clearly been on my side this entire time.

 

Unlike Daddy and my mom.

 

And Drew.

 

“We weren’t sure until the last minute that she was,” Daddy says, matching her tone. His message is clear: Don’t cross me on this.

 

The only hint that Anya’s disturbed by all this comes from the slight widening of her eyeliner-heavy eyes. Tight cheeks rise up in a smile.

 

“What a wonderful surprise!” Anya turns away from Daddy, drops her armload of papers on my desk, and reaches for a hug. I stand, my legs more sure than they were just a couple of minutes ago. Drew reaches for my elbow, as if to steady me, but I pretend I don’t notice.

 

He doesn’t actually touch me. I’m not sure how I feel about that, but in the balance, I think I’m more disappointed than relieved.

 

Knowing that makes me panic.

 

And flush.

 

Anya’s hug is warm and sincere, the first true welcome I’ve felt since I escaped from the island and walked into my own house. It occurs to me that my mother isn’t here. I haven’t seen her. Is she even home?

 

I open my mouth to ask, then stop myself. Daddy, Drew and Anya are all giving me covert side glances. I’m under a microscope. Now isn’t the time to ask about Mom.

 

Besides, I pretty much know the answer. Why would she be here today, of all days, when she could only make the time to visit me once a year on the island?

 

A raw feeling pulses in my chest. It rises up, threatening to strangle me. Like hands on my collarbone, wrapping around the soft skin of my neck, it seeks to cut me off from my life source. I can’t breathe. My skin hums. I’m being watched in my own home. This is supposed to be my safe place. My sanctuary.

 

Maybe I’ve traded one prison for another.

 

And the worst part?

 

Now there really is nowhere safe in the world for me.

 

“I’m so glad you’re home, Lindsay,” Anya whispers in my ear. “It’s been far too long. You’re welcome at my house any time. Let’s have dinner one night next week. And Jane would love to see you, too.”

 

Jane. I jolt, shivering like a spider runs up my spine. I haven’t seen Jane since the night she found me.

 

Broken, battered, bruised, bloodied...and still tied up with those three bright scarves.

 

“I’d like that,” I say evenly. “How is Jane?”

 

“Oh, she’s working for this new tech start-up,” Anya says brightly. “Got her degree in computer science. You know how she always had such an analytical mind? Now she’s using it.”

 

I give her one of those socially-appropriate smiles. It’s pure instinct, the corners of my mouth moving up in response to her facial expression and tone.

 

“That’s great.”

 

Daddy and Drew are conferring, heads together, voices low and monotonic. They’re like sonar in human form.

 

I’m on their radar, and they’re always tracking my mood.

 

“Senator Bosworth,” Anya says, all business suddenly, reaching for her stack of papers and whatnot, “we need to get to the lawn for the helicopter trip.”

 

Daddy looks like he’s just been handed a brand new shiny red bike for Christmas. His relief at being able to leave me makes those invisible hands on my throat tighten just enough to make me cough.