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)
“Alex,” I call out, trying to keep my voice steady, but the edge in my tone betrays me. He turns slowly, his expression unreadable, but there’s a flicker of something in his eyes—interest, maybe, or a challenge.
I close the distance between us, feeling the tension coil tighter with each step. “We need to talk,” I say, and it comes out more commanding than I intended. I’m not used to this—being on the back foot, needing help. It grates against every instinct I have.
Alex doesn’t react immediately. He just watches me, that cool, composed exterior giving nothing away. “I’m all ears,” he says finally, his voice low, calm. Too calm.
The weight of everything unsaid between us presses down on me. This is the first time I’ve approached him directly, and it feels like stepping onto a tightrope with no net below. I can sense him reading me, taking in the tension in my posture, the way I’m trying to hold myself together. He’s too observant, and I hate that it makes me feel exposed.
“Rajah’s gone,” I say, getting straight to the point. I force the words out, trying to keep it professional, detached, but there’s no hiding the anxiety in my voice. “If they can take him, they can come for Zeus. I need to make sure he’s safe.”
Alex nods, his gaze steady on mine, but there’s something in his eyes—an understanding that goes deeper than the situation at hand. “You think this is more than just a theft.”
It’s not a question, and it pisses me off that he’s so quick to get there. But he’s right. “Yes,” I admit, my voice tight. “I don’t know who’s behind it or why, but I’m not taking any chances with Zeus.”
“Smart,” he says, and the way he says it, so calm, so confident, it almost makes me want to punch him. Or kiss him. Damn it. “I’ll help,” he continues, and there’s an underlying current to his words that I can’t ignore. He’s not just doing this out of duty. There’s something more, something that makes my skin prickle with awareness.
I bristle at the implication, at the suggestion that he’s doing this because of whatever this thing is between us. “I don’t need your help,” I snap, but it’s a lie, and we both know it. “But I’ll take it.”
A slow smile curves his lips, and it’s infuriatingly smug. “Glad to be of service,” he says, but his eyes tell a different story. They’re probing, searching for the cracks I’m trying so hard to keep sealed. He sees too much, and it sets my nerves on edge.
I turn away, needing to put some distance between us before I say or do something I’ll regret. My thoughts are a tangled mess of anger, fear, and something else I’m not ready to name. I’m frustrated with myself for needing his help, but even more so for the way he affects me. He’s too calm, too controlled, and it throws me off balance in a way I’m not used to.
As I walk away, I can feel his gaze on my back, heavy and unyielding. It should bother me, but instead, it leaves me feeling unsettled, like I’ve already let him too close. I don’t like this feeling—this vulnerability. It’s foreign and dangerous, and I want no part of it.
But I can’t shake the sense that the more I try to push him away, the more I’m drawn to him. It’s like being caught in a current, one that’s slowly pulling me under, and I’m not sure I have the strength to fight it.
This isn’t just about protecting Zeus anymore. It’s about protecting myself, and for the first time in a long time, I’m not sure I can do it alone. The realization leaves me raw, exposed in a way that makes my chest tighten with a mix of fear and something else—something that feels a lot like longing.
As I disappear into the shadows, the turmoil inside me deepens. I know this conversation was a turning point, a moment that will set the course for whatever comes next. But whether that’s a path to safety or destruction, I can’t yet say. All I know is that the tightrope I’m walking just got a lot narrower, and the fall feels a hell of a lot steeper.
Chapter Four
Alex
The shadows stretch long across the circus grounds as I settle into a quiet corner, away from the chaos and prying eyes. The air is thick with the scent of damp earth and the lingering sweetness of sawdust. It’s a secluded spot, perfect for the kind of work I need to do—work that requires focus, precision, and absolute secrecy. My notebook is open on my lap, a few cryptic notes scrawled across the pages, each one representing a piece of the puzzle that is Rajah’s disappearance. But no matter how I arrange them, the picture remains incomplete.