Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 151(@200wpm)___ 121(@250wpm)___ 101(@300wpm)
I finally step inside, though I stay near the door, keeping my arms crossed tight against my chest like a shield. The small space of the trailer is charged with tension, and I can feel Alex’s eyes on me, but I don’t meet his gaze. I can’t.
“You’ve been working on the investigation,” I say, focusing on anything other than the heat between us. “What do we know so far?”
Alex leans against the counter, giving me space, though I can sense the pull between us—electric, undeniable, and completely unwelcome. His voice is calm, methodical as he outlines the details of what he’s uncovered. The thefts are part of a larger operation, more organized than any of us realized. Whoever’s behind it isn’t just targeting us—they’re hitting other places too. The stakes are higher than I thought.
“We’re running out of time,” he says, his tone softening. “Sophia, if we don’t figure this out soon, more animals will disappear. And Zeus…”
My heart clenches at the mention of Zeus. I grit my teeth, willing myself not to show any weakness. I have to stay strong, keep my emotions in check. But the thought of losing him, of letting this circus—my home—fall apart... it’s too much.
“I know,” I whisper, my voice strained. “That’s why I’m here.”
For a moment, the weight of everything—Zeus, the missing animals, the crumbling circus—presses down on me, and I feel myself faltering. But I can’t let him see that. I can’t let Alex think for a second that I need him for anything more than this. I straighten my shoulders, forcing the vulnerability back behind my walls.
“This isn’t about us,” I say again, more firmly this time. “I don’t want to talk about what happened. I don’t want to hear any more excuses. We work together to solve this, and when it’s done, we go back to pretending the other doesn’t exist.”
Alex’s expression darkens, but he doesn’t argue. Instead, he steps closer, just enough that I can feel the heat of him, the pull I’ve been trying to ignore. “Sophia… I’m not asking for anything more. But you need to know that everything I’ve said—everything I’ve felt—it’s real. I never meant to hurt you.”
My throat tightens, but I refuse to let him in. Not again. I tilt my chin up, meeting his gaze with all the resolve I can muster. “It doesn’t matter.”
The silence stretches between us, thick with unspoken words, unresolved emotions, and the simmering tension that’s always there, no matter how much I try to push it away. But I won’t let myself fall into that trap again. Not with him.
“We need to focus,” I say, breaking the silence. “The animals. The investigation. That’s all this is about.”
He nods, though I can see the flicker of something—regret, longing—behind his eyes. But he doesn’t push, and for that, I’m grateful.
I turn away from him, taking a deep breath to steady myself. This is about survival. About saving the circus. About protecting Zeus. It’s not about Alex. And I won’t let myself forget that.
Chapter Eight
Alex
I stand just outside the main tent, watching the chaos unfold around me. The circus has always been a wild, untamable beast, but now, with every missing animal, the tension inside the tent thickens, tightening its grip on everyone like a vice. The performers, the crew, even the clowns—there’s a paranoia in their eyes that wasn’t there before. They’re looking at each other with suspicion, with fear. The air is thick, not just with the smell of sawdust and sweat, but with desperation. Everyone’s trying to figure out who’s next to disappear. And it’s only a matter of time before this place crumbles.
I keep my distance, leaning against a stack of crates, scanning the grounds. My mind isn’t on the circus itself—it’s on the animals, on who’s taking them, and why we’re always two steps behind. And it’s on Sophia. It always is.
She’s walking toward me now, her expression tight, her body language screaming tension. There’s a haunted look in her eyes, like she hasn’t slept in days. I know the feeling. I push off the crates as she approaches, my pulse quickening like it always does when she’s near.
“Another one’s gone,” she says, her voice clipped, her eyes avoiding mine. She’s barely holding it together, but Sophia’s never been one to show cracks easily. “It’s getting worse.”
I nod, though it’s not like she needs my confirmation. We both know the truth. It’s spiraling out of control. “The leopard?” I ask.
She swallows hard, and that’s all the confirmation I need. The knot in my gut tightens. It’s not just about the missing animals anymore—it’s about time. Every second we waste, every step we fall behind, means more loss. And we’re running out of both.
“I can’t—I can’t lose Zeus, Alex,” she says, and for the first time, her voice falters. “If he’s next…”