Endgame (Playing For Keeps Duet Book 3), page 1
End Game
PLAYING FOR KEEPS
BOOK THREE
SAMANTHA BARRETT
Contents
This is your warning!
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Epilogue
Afterword
Also by Samantha Barrett
Acknowledgments
About the Author
For my dirty girls,
For all my girls that like to act like a queen in the street but fuck like a freak in the sheets.
Get a man that knows how to fuck you so hard you walk with a limp, if he doesn’t make you squirt then onto the next, boo.
This is your warning!
If domestic violence, bullying, drug use, stalking, date rape and degrading is a trigger for you then close the book and move on to another amazing read.
If you are into some dark shit and get off on possessive as fuck asshole alpha males, turn the page babe and wrap your heart in a condom because these boys are about to fuck your feelings, real hard!
Beckett
You can take the rat out of the sewer but you can’t take the sewer out of the rat.
Most people hate rats. They call them rodents, a menace but what they don’t realize about us rats, is that we are fucking resilient. You lay traps to catch us, bait us with the food we crave, tempt us to come out of the shadows, you think we’re just dumb rodents. I’m here to fucking tell you that we are anything but dumb. We are smart, cunning, and fearsome because we know what it’s like to have nothing, so when we fight for what we want, we don’t give up.
I may be the rat but Valance Karver is the cat. She’s the one who tried to lure me out of the shadows. She thought she was the predator and I was the prey, she was so fucking wrong, I showed her what happens when a rat is backed into a corner with nowhere to go. We will fight to the death, and claw our way out of any situation.
I showed her what happens when you back me into a corner that night I killed her father. What I didn’t expect when I left her behind that night was for her to show up years later with my four-year-old son, threatening to take him from me. She thinks she knows me. Nah, she knew the old me who had nothing—no home, no parents, and nothing else to care for except her.
She’s about to meet the new Beckett Dawson. The one who is cutthroat and willing to play dirty to get what he wants. I’ll ruin everything she holds near and dear to her black heart for keeping my son from me.
Beckett
Four years ago
I jump through her open bedroom window and immediately the sound of shouting hits my ears. I fucking hate her piece of shit father. Her mother is just as bad, she allows this shit to happen to her own daughter. I grind my teeth and clench my fists at my sides, trying with all my might to keep my composure and not go out there and beat the fat piece of shit myself.
“You best get that shit fixed up fast, little girl, or else.” I close my eyes, trying to block out the sound of his voice, I’ve told her time and time again to run away with me. I can’t keep staying in this town, I’m bound to get caught soon and I ain’t going into the fucking system. I’d rather take my chances on the streets. I had to drop out of school this week because social services called them about me. Mrs. Patterson—my homeroom teacher—gave me a heads up, she even gave me fifty bucks to get me some food. I’ve kept that money close to me for four days, it’s going to pay for mine and Valance’s bus ticket outta this fucking place.
“Yes, sir. I’ll fix it up now.” The tremble in her voice cuts me deep, she is fucking petrified of her father. He’s nothing but a fucking useless piece of shit. He lost his job a few years ago when the old mill on Johnson Road shut down. He’s been on a pension ever since and drinks away their money. If he isn’t drinking it, then he sure as fuck is chewing it. The cunt makes Val scrub out the spit stains on the carpet from his tobacco. He is a poor ass excuse for a father and a man. He constantly lays hands on Valance and her mother does nothing. She just sits there and watches as her daughter gets beaten. She’d rather say nothing and allow this to continue than risk his anger turning on her and receiving the same punishment.
“You fucking idiot! I said over there,” he shouts. I hear something shatter then a scream tears from Val. I try to block it out, but every time I bring up her father and what he does, she gets pissed off. She hates him but won’t allow me to share in that hate.
“I’m sorry,” she cries out, and the sound of glass shattering has me taking a step toward the door. I war within myself on whether I should stay out of it as she has always told me to or do the right thing and give him a taste of his own medicine.
“No, but you will be.” The icy tone of his voice fills me with dread. I hear her begin to sob and my chest aches.
“Mama, please,” Val begs. Her father’s laughter is dark and dreary, sending a cold tingle down my spine.
“She won’t help you. She learned the hard way and now so will you.” A crack sounds out followed by a pained scream from Val.
Stay out of it, she has warned you to never step in!
I try to repeat that over and over in my head but when I register what is making that cracking sound, my whole-body thrums with the need to inflict pain. I grip her door handle still trying to talk myself out of it, then she screams again, but this time she calls for help and I’m powerless to stop myself from tearing her bedroom door open. I storm down the tiny hallway that opens into the filthy living room. The sight that greets me is gruesome. Valance is on the floor, hands over her face and tucked into a fetal position as her father stands over her trembling body striking her with his belt. I dart my gaze to the couch in the corner where her mother sits, puffing on a cigarette while staring at the TV.
“Fucking cunt, you’ll learn to do as you’re told you good for nothing bitch!” That’s it, his words hurl me into action. I charge forward tackling him from the side, a scream tears from her poor ass excuse of a mother. Ronald grunts as he hits the floor, fueled by my anger and blinded by the need to teach him a lesson of my own, I flip him onto his back and straddle his legs. His eyes widen in shock at the sight of me. Before a single word can be uttered from his mouth, I clock his jaw with a right hook, followed up by a left.
I keep this up until my arms feel like lead, his face is busted and bloody but anger still courses through my veins. I look to my left to find his discarded belt. I push off him and grip the belt before wrapping it around my hand, leaving the buckle end dangling. I hear muffled sobs from behind me but don’t dare look. Valance can be pissed all she likes but I’m doing this for her, if she chooses not to come with me at least I’ll know she is safe.
I rear my arm back, ready to strike him but falter at the sound of Valance’s plea. “Beckett, don’t.” I peer over my shoulder, the sight of her bloody face, the split skin on her arms and the welts on her legs has a rage like I have never felt before tearing through me. I swing my gaze back to the unconscious piece of shit on the floor, a groan tumbles from his busted lips and that simple sound snaps me back to the task at hand. This time when I ready to strike, I ignore her pleas and I whip him as hard as I can with the belt buckle. Everything becomes white noise, the sounds of her pleas, the cries of her mother fade to nothing, I don’t even see clearly anymore. It’s like I’ve retreated so far inside myself that I am no longer in control and my body is acting upon its desires. I feel no pain, no anger just… nothingness and it’s fucking euphoric.
Pain explodes in the back of my head, ripping me from my blissed-out state, I stumble forward and catch myself on the edge of the old worn-out recliner Val’s father normally sits in. I reach up and press my hand against the back of my head hissing as pain explodes. I pull my hand away and frown when blood coats my fingers. I slowly turn around to see Valance standing there with tears rolling down her cheeks, glass littering the place I was just standing—she hit me over the head with a vase!
“What the fuck have you done?” Val screams so loud I almost shrink back. Her mother leaps off her perch on the couch and crawls toward her husband's unconscious body sobbing. Lynette grips his shoulders and begins to shake him. I cringe at the ungodly sight of him. His face looks like it has been shredded, his arms are coated in blood, the white singlet he wears now torn and stained red.
“Ron!” Lynette cries as she continues to shake him. “Wake up, you have to wake up!” Valance darts her piercing sky blue eyes at me, they’re filled with pain and fear. She drops to her knees beside her mother and reaches out to place two fingers against his neck, feeling for a pulse. I want to roll my eyes, th
“He’s dead.” Two words, that’s all it took to shift my whole world upside down and set me on a path I never saw coming.
Beckett
Now
The sight of the cabin we purchased nearly three years ago has a sense of belonging flowing through me. This is the only place I can truly call mine–ours—but same thing. I’ve never had a place to call my own, with this cabin I know I will never have to sleep under another bridge or feel the bite of the cold snow against my skin as I struggle to find warmth.
Darius rides his Ducati in front of Corvin’s car with me taking up the rear in my car. I’m so fucking ready to hang out over the Christmas break and just chill with my brothers and the girls. Leah, Cody, Katie, and one of Leah’s other friends will be coming up tomorrow after they finish their final assignments. Parking my car in front of the garage, I step out and breathe in the fresh scent of pine. The wind has a bite to it as I blow out a breath and smirk at the cloud of smoke that lingers in front of my face.
“It’s fucking freezing!” Saint bites out as he rubs his hands together, and heads to the trunk of Corv’s car to grab the bags. I meet Nathan at the back of mine and help him and Crue grab the bags out. We packed most of the food in my car and stuffed the bags in Corv’s. I love being here at the cabin, but when it’s winter it always pays to go overboard with the food shopping in case we get snowed in, which happens more often than not. Nathan nudges his way past me as I shake my head. Leah seems to think he has slotted in with us easily but it's not that simple. Yeah, he seems cool and we all get along with him for Leah’s sake, but trust and loyalty are earned and he has a long was to go. The dude has the best of both worlds. He can hang with the girls and the guys. I know Darius still eyes him whenever he’s near Leah, which is fucking stupid. Nathan has admitted more than a dozen times he would rather fuck Darius or Saint, the man prefers sausage to bun. He isn’t unashamed of his sexuality and embraces who is without reservation. I envy him. His green eyes shine with life, and his multi-colored brown and blond hair is always a mess but he makes it work. He’s a big guy and should be on the team. When we offered him a tryout spot, he looked Darius right in the eyes and said ‘the only balls I want to catch from you are in your pants’, we haven’t tried again.
I follow after the others and the moment I step inside, a shiver runs down my spine. I didn’t realize how cold I was until I stepped inside the cabin. Corvin heads straight for the fireplace in the sunken living room. I help cart the groceries into the kitchen where Crue and Saint are already unloading the bags they brought in. We make quick work of stacking the butler’s pantry, fridge and cupboards. I leave the five of them to do whatever the hell they want while I grab my bags and head up to my room, which is next to Darius’s. I shoulder my door open and stand at the entrance for a minute as I take in the space that is mine. It took me over a year to add any personal touches to the room.
“Yo, you want in on pizza, Becky?” I grit my teeth and take a calming breath before I drop my bags in the doorway and move to the banister. Leaning over, I see Darius smirking up at me.
“You want to hear your girl screaming Becky when she comes?” The smirk drops off his face, I hear the other's laughter from the living room causing my lips to lift at the corner.
“You’re a fucking prick!” Darius growls, his words lack the burn and his coffee-colored eyes hold no anger. He is the epitome of a bad boy. Darius has the look nailed—dark eyes, black hair, and always sporting a glower. The girls flock to him because of the dark vibes he gives off. Except they are pushing shit uphill, Darius has only had eyes for one girl, the only one he has ever let in and loved completely. His love for Leah nearly destroyed our chosen family. The moment Corvin took a step back and realized his best friend wasn’t just fucking his little sister, but was madly in love with Leah and would do whatever it took to keep her, he let go of his anger and alas, here we are.
“We all know you have a prick and I got a bigger dick, just ask Goldie.” I throw the nickname he uses for Leah at him and smile wide. He grits his teeth and within a second he is racing up the stairs. I shift and brace for impact as he charges at me. The moment he tackles me to the ground we both burst out laughing. He rests back straddling my legs, and punches me in the gut, pulling a groan from me.
“One fucking time I let you play with us and you constantly use it against me.” He tries to keep his tone light but the regretful look in his eyes betrays him. He regrets ever letting me fuck her. I knew he wasn’t in the right frame of mind that night, I also knew he was trying to prove to himself that she didn’t mean shit to him. Except, the moment I slid inside her I saw the look in his eyes.
“I’m sorry.” He frowns down at me. “I knew you would regret that night, in my own way I was trying to push you so you would see that she is meant for you. I never should have let shit get that far but…”
“She pulled you out of the shadows as well,” he whispers. I nod, unable to lie to him. He sighs and drops to his ass leaning back against the banister and I slide into a sitting position and lean against the wall behind me. I bend my knee and rest my arm atop it.
“I’ll never mention it again,” I say, meaning it.
He shakes his head and lulls it to the side facing me. “I’m not mad about it, I just…” He cuts himself off sliding a hand down his face. He doesn’t need to put it into words, I get it.
“Hate the thought of me knowing what she likes and looks like without clothes, I get it.” He eyes me warily, we’ve never spoken like this before and it’s fucking weird but also… freeing in a sense. “That night brought us closer–”
“Do you still have feelings for her?” He cuts in. I see it in his eyes, this question has been burning in the back of his mind for months. When shit hit the fan with him and Leah, I put her ass on a plane and sent her to Alaska to one of our resorts. I spoke to her daily while she ignored all his and Corvin’s attempts to contact her. I was the one she leaned on when they abandoned her. I know that kills him but he needs to let it go or it will cause nothing but problems between her and him.
“I love her.” His eyes harden as his body turns ridged. “Not in the way you do but in the way a brother would love a sister. She is… important to me.” His brows pinch in the center of his face making his brows raise like Wolverines. “Darius, you have nothing to worry about. Leah only sees you, I knew from the second she came to CHU and saw the two of you together that there is a chemistry so strong, I don’t know how Corv missed it.” Leah means a lot to me because, like someone from my past, she was able to break down my walls and pull me out of the shadows.
“Really?” I smile and nod.
“Dude, the moment she walks into a room your eyes find her without a thought. Even in the dark, she is able to sense you and find you no matter where you hide. The both of you are linked, connected in a way I’ve never seen before.”
Liar. I quiet that fucking annoying voice in the back of my mind.
We’re all in the hot tub with a beer in each of our hands. Darius surprised us all tonight by having more than two, he’s currently on his fourth. The six of us have been laughing and talking shit most of the evening when the sound of Ella Mai’s “Whatchamacallit” breaks through the night. We smirk, while Corv rolls his eyes as D leaps over the side of the tub and races for his phone on the table.
