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

“Trying to run?

and shaking. “You’re not

right here, nice and quiet.

reached down and stroked my thigh with a slow,

hand. My skin crawled. I tried to move,

ankles held

mind screamed. But my face stayed blank. If I

If I struggled,

did something else. I nodded. Slowly.

eyes lit up. “Oh? You

nodded again, pretending to be

stairs behind him, then

face like

down too.

don’t want it here?” he said, mocking. “Too dirty

I forced another nod.

Chapter 40

face twisted into something almost pleased. “Fine.

don’t

kept the long end wrapped around my neck

ever find you.”

back pocket. It had rung twice now–short

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

for during my

the air felt heavier, the walls narrower. Jimson’s phone kept buzzing in his back

and fumbled with it, using the dim glow of his

a light switch on the

when I

jagged edge gaped

the dusty hallway.

black and endless.

surged. That was

ય

in my

“Are you with me?”

to fight than let