Page 116 of Inside the Wicked

Rhett nods. “We don’t need you to do this. There are other ways to catch them.”

“I’m part of this network now, let me work too.”

He’s torn between admiration and fear, but I want to show him I can handle myself and prove useful even at the front lines of what he does. There are monsters lurking in the playground, and I’m going to take pleasure in watching them capture the prey that turns to the hunter.

Rhett sighs as he plucks out a second earpiece from his pocket and passes it to me. I focus on keeping my hands from trembling as I fit it in place.

“I’ll be with you the whole time,” he says, lips coming torturously close to mine I’m regretting painting his now. “You’re so fucking brave.”

He makes me feel like I can conquer the world so long as he’s right by my side.

“Let’s get this over with,” I murmur, running a hand down his chest. “We still have a game to play.”

He tenses when my palm drags over his cock. Then I step back, turning I squeal when he slaps my ass as I walk away.

I weave through the throng of people and decide to stop to buy a lollipop. The sugar keeps me calm and gives me something to fidget with.

“Coming up on your left, little bird,” Rhett says in my ear.

My tongue swirls around the lollipop while I casually glance around.

“Did you really need to buy that?” he asks thickly.

Okay, maybe I’m being subtly provocative with it because I know Rhett won’t take his eyes off me for a second, and he’d sparked a challenge between us since the carousel I’m determined to win.

I smile coyly, not knowing where he is exactly but he’ll see it.

To my left is a dark passage between two tall containers, and I only make out the figure against one because I was expecting him. Wandering over to the carnival game right in front of that ominous slither of darkness, I suck on the lollipop and pretend to engross myself in the spinning wheels some are throwing darts at.

It doesn’t take long before I’m approached.

“You don’t want to waste your money on rigged games with cheap prizes,” he says smoothly. I glance at him, keeping my repulsion down even though he’s fairly young and quite handsome.

“Are you saying you have a fairer game with better prizes?” I play along.

He grins with such a gleam in his eye that believes he’s won me far too easily.

“You could say I’m known for it.”

Known for being a vile piece of shit.

I smile sweetly. “Alright then, show me.”

He thinks I’m flirting and that he’s caught me easily tonight. What sinks in my gut is how he doesn’t seem surprised or like he expected the resistance, which makes me wonder how many he’s lured away and kidnapped under the guise of being a harmless young man to enjoy some attention from for a night. The world is cruel and full of nightmares with pretty faces.

When I feel his hand graze mine I refrain from a violent reaction. Instead I grit my teeth, allowing his palm to slip across mine as he leads me down the dark passage.

“Seems we’re going the opposite way from all the fun,” I remark.

“The most thrilling things are found in the dark. You’ll see,” he says smugly.

Two more figures appear at the end and my heartbeat picks up. Subconsciously I squeeze the guy’s hand and he chuckles.

“Relax, sweetheart. It’s not a party without friends.”

“Is it just the four of us?” I ask, only to try gain any information.

“You sound like you’re hoping for more,” he says, and my skin crawls to the suggestion that thickens his voice.

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