Chapter 8

Sonja

That was it. I had to talk to Sergio. Wrapping my fingers around the soap bottle I grabbed it and took it with me as I made my way down the stairs.

“Sergio,” I called before I made it down.

“What is it, Pet?”

I opened my mouth to answer but froze again. Now what was he doing? He’d set up an entire chessboard with intricate jeweled pieces that glittered blood red and a cool ice blue. A seat fit for royalty with its velvet plush sat waiting for me.

“We’re playing chess?” I blurted.

He chuckled, setting another piece in place. “We are. I find there’s no better way to get to know someone than to play a game of strategy with them. Now, would you like to play a normal game, Pet? Or would you prefer that I set up some chess puzzles and you solve them?”

Wait, he was throwing me off entirely. I set the soap bottle down, a little rougher than needed.

“Explain this, Sergio.”

Glittering green eyes inspected first the bottle,