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)
The tension between us isn’t something that can be easily dismissed. It’s there, simmering beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to boil over. And when it does, I’m not sure either of us will be ready for what comes next.
Chapter Five
Sophia
I try to keep my focus on Zeus as I make my rounds by the animal enclosures. His familiar golden eyes follow my movements, calm and steady, as if to remind me that everything is under control. But nothing feels in control today. The air feels too thick, every sound too sharp, as if something dangerous is just out of sight, waiting to strike.
The whole circus is buzzing with rumors about Rajah’s disappearance, and it’s getting harder to ignore the unease that’s settled deep in my gut. More than ever, I need to know Zeus is safe. He’s my constant, my anchor in this chaos. The thought of someone targeting him, of him being the next to disappear—it sends a chill crawling up my spine. I grip the metal bars of his cage tighter, my pulse quickening.
“Don’t worry, big guy,” I whisper, reaching through the bars to brush my fingers against his thick mane. He lets out a low rumble, his version of reassurance. “No one’s getting close to you. Not while I’m here.”
I try to believe it, but something is eating at me, and I know exactly what it is: Alex.
He’s been on my mind more than I’d like to admit. The moments we’ve shared, the quiet conversations, the way his eyes seem to burn with something I can’t quite name—it’s been chipping away at the walls I’ve built for so long. And that’s dangerous. I’ve let him in, more than I’ve ever let anyone in. I hate that I’ve done it, but I also crave it. His presence feels like a reprieve, a tether to something real amidst all the uncertainty.
But trust… that’s something I don’t give easily. Not after everything.
I glance toward the trailers where Alex is supposed to be prepping for his next act, and just the thought of him sends a pulse of heat through me. He’s intoxicating, in a way I’ve never experienced before—like he sees through all my defenses, even the ones I’m not aware of. That pull between us is dangerous, and I know it, but I can’t seem to resist.
With a final glance at Zeus, I start making my way back to the main tent, trying to shake the distraction Alex has become. As I walk, the noise of the circus fades into the background, and I hear something—a low murmur of voices nearby. I slow my steps, instinctively quieting my movements as I move closer.
And then I hear it—Alex’s voice.
I duck behind a curtain, heart suddenly pounding in my chest. I shouldn’t eavesdrop. I know that. But there’s something in his tone, something serious and cold, that sends warning signals through me. This isn’t the Alex I know.
I edge closer, pressing myself against the fabric, listening.
“...I’m getting closer,” he says, his voice low but clear. “Whoever’s behind these thefts knows what they’re doing. But it’s not just Rajah. This is organized.”
A chill runs through me. What thefts? I catch a glimpse of Dante, nodding, his arms crossed as if he’s in on something. My pulse quickens, confusion mixing with the unease.
“Once we have the final pieces, we can shut this down,” Alex continues. “I’m just not sure how long we can keep this quiet.”
I freeze.
Shut this down? Keep it quiet?
Dante leans closer to Alex, his voice quieter, but I can still hear the words that make my stomach drop: “You sure you can handle it on your own, Detective?”
Detective.
The world tilts under my feet. I press a hand against the side of the tent, trying to steady myself, but nothing feels steady. Detective? My mind scrambles to piece it together, but it doesn’t make sense. Alex—Alex isn’t just a performer? He’s… undercover?
I stumble backward, my breath coming faster, harder, as reality crashes down on me. Everything—everything between us—was a lie. I’ve been played. The moments I thought were real, the vulnerability I let slip, the connection I thought was there… it was all a game. A strategy. I was nothing more than a pawn in his investigation, something to get closer to the truth.
I feel sick. My chest tightens, and I press a hand to my ribs, trying to catch my breath, but it’s no use. The betrayal hits hard, sharper than any wound. How could I have let him in? How could I have been so stupid?
I push away from the curtain, forcing my feet to move, trying to get as far from that conversation as possible. But the words keep playing over and over in my head.
Detective.
He was lying the whole time.
I break into a run, my vision blurring as rage and hurt collide in a storm inside me. I can’t believe it. I won’t believe it. But the truth is staring me in the face, undeniable. The man I was starting to trust, the man I thought might actually care about me—he’s been lying to me since the moment we met.