Watch Me Win, Alpha

But now, lit by the moon and backlit by the ocean mist, his expression twisted into something grotesque. His eyes glimmered, his face split into a grin that made my stomach curl.

“Well, well,” Jimson said, slowly stepping closer. “You’re prettier up close.”

I froze as he crouched beside me, lifting a hand to stroke my

cheek. His fingers were cold and greasy. I turned my head away, gagging under the tape. He laughed and sniffed the tips of his

fingers, like a man savoring a meal.

“I don’t think you are hoping that someone’s gonna save you,

are you?” he whispered. “Nobody knows where you are.“”

I could hear my pulse pounding in my ears. Yve stirred inside

me, frantic. I told her silently–break the chair, do something,

anything.

But she was weak. My body was already aching from being

bound for hours, maybe more. I didn’t know how long I’d been

here.

Then the chair creaked under me. I shifted just enough to make

one leg wobble. Jimson turned his back briefly, laughing at his

own joke. I leaned my weight hard against the weak leg.

Chapter 30

Crack.

The old wooden leg snapped, and I fell hard onto the ground,

coughing from the dust that rose around me. My arm burned

from the angle, but I didn’t care.

turned, excited. He dropped to his knees beside

my ankle. “Trying to run?

low and shaking. “You’re not

right here, nice and quiet. My

stroked my

My skin crawled. I tried to move,

ankles

mind screamed. But my face stayed

I struggled, he’d

something else. I nodded.

up. “Oh? You want to behave

pretending to be afraid—no,

stairs behind him,

floor and made a face like I

down too.

he said, mocking. “Too dirty for

I forced another nod.

Chapter 40

something almost pleased. “Fine.

But don’t try

around my neck like

ever find you.”

his back pocket. It had rung twice now–short buzzes. I recognized the distinct hum of

calling him. Not because he was my captor. But maybe because they’d figured it out.They must have checked the factory records. They must

for during

narrower. Jimson’s phone kept

fumbled with it, using the dim glow

for a light

when I

window. Its jagged edge

hallway. Beyond it–nothing

black and endless.

That was it. My

ય

Yve in

“Are you with me?”

to fight than let scum like