Read Online Until We End by Frankie Brown - Free Book Online Page B

my skills, but I was also more than a little rusty. Thinking back, it’d been almost year since I’d played at all. I’d caught a glance at the board earlier, and Jackson was good, but I didn’t have any idea about Lu. Was it worth the risk?
    Did I even have a choice?
    â€œWhat if I don’t want to play?” I asked.
    â€œThen you’re free to leave,” Lu said smoothly. “But good luck getting someone else to help you find your brother.”
    I took a deep breath.
    â€œMake it dinner, too,” I said, forcing myself to smile
.
    â€œDone,” she said.
    Lonnie jumped up and offered me his chair with a gallant flourish and a bow. “Madame,” he said, his mouth curving in a Cheshire cat smile. I laughed nervously, thanked him and took the seat. He walked around the coffee table and sat on Jackson’s other side.
    Lu reset the board and graciously offered to be black. Which meant, as white, I’d get to go first. I declined. Damned if I’d fall for that. She raised her brows but didn’t argue.
    Chess is psychological warfare. Objective: beat the brains out of your opponent without laying a finger on them. My strategy: attack is everything. Stay on the offensive. My dad’s was the total opposite. Our chess matches could go on for days.
    It only took a few minutes to realize Lu was better than me. Every time I thought I had her cornered,
bam!
She’d turn it around on me with a move I’d never seen coming. I needed to rethink my strategy. Lu wasn’t an offensive or defensive player. She was a trapper.
    Ten minutes into the game, I’d taken a few of her pawns and both of her bishops and she’d taken way too many of my pawns and a knight. That’s when Brooks started speaking.
    â€œIf you want to know a person,” he said, “watch them play chess.”
    â€œOh come on, Brooks,” Jackson said. “Not this shit again.”
    Damn. Lu’s queen took my other knight. A little unconventional to be so loose with the queen, but I could adapt. I looked up at Brooks. “What do you mean?”
    Jackson walked outside, muttering about wasted time.
    Brooks ignored him. “Symbolism,” he said, gesturing to the board. “Take your knights, for example. In medieval times, knights errant would wander kingdoms, never settling in one place. They represent freedom. Your independence. But stop paying attention for even a second and they’ll be taken by a pawn.”
    My cheeks flushed. That was what happened to my first knight. Not my fault! I was rusty. In my head, farmers with pitchforks knocked two grand knights on black horses from their saddles.
    I looked up at Brooks with a scowl, but he just shrugged. “Your knights were lost to overconfidence.” My blush deepened.
    Lu nabbed another one of my pawns. I only had two left. I puffed out my cheeks in frustration and looked up to Brooks. “What do the pawns stand for?” Brooks smiled, happy with the attention.
    â€œThink about the pieces in terms of their literal meaning,” Brooks said, picking up one of the pawns Lu had taken from me. “The pawns were peasants or slaves, possessions of the king and queen. So they’re your possessions. Like your food, Cora Jane.”
    I decided not to respond to that. He was clearly wrong, and I needed to focus.
    â€œRooks are castle walls surrounding you.” Brooks continued. “They represent your family.”
    Jesus. I pictured Coby, screaming, trapped inside a castle wall, and wished Brooks would shut up. I was trying to concentrate. And anyways, I still had both of my rooks. So did Lu.
    â€œLook. Both of your knights and most of your pawns have been taken, but neither of your rooks. What does that mean?” Brooks asked. He didn’t wait for me to answer. “You’re sacrificing them for your family.”
    â€œWhat it
means
is that I’m rusty,” I said, glaring at