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.

excited. He dropped to his knees beside me

to run? No,

“You’re not

you right here, nice

down and stroked my thigh with

his hand. My skin crawled. I

my ankles held

my face stayed blank.

enjoy it. If I struggled,

else. I nodded.

eyes lit up. “Oh? You want

to be afraid—no, pretending

I gestured toward the stairs

face like I was disgusted. He

down too.

it here?” he said, mocking. “Too

I forced another nod.

Chapter 40

into something almost pleased.

But don’t try anything

ankles but kept the long end wrapped around my neck like a leash. “One wrong move,” he warned, “and I’ll throw

ever find you.”

back pocket. It had rung

he was my captor. But maybe because they’d figured it out.They must have

for during my

felt heavier, the walls narrower. Jimson’s phone kept buzzing

it, using the

a light switch

when I saw

jagged edge

dusty hallway. Beyond it–nothing

black and endless.

was it.

ય

in my head,

“Are you with me?”

to fight than let