Page 4 of Taming the Lion
Despite every instinct screaming at me to keep my distance, I find myself seeking out Alex. I spot him across the grounds, his presence like a beacon in the chaos. He’s calm, collected, the only one who doesn’t seem rattled by the morning’s events. And that calm draws me in, even as I fight against it.
My steps slow as I approach, uncertainty gnawing at me. This isn’t me. I don’t ask for help. I don’t let people in. But this is different. This is about Zeus.
As I get closer, he looks up, his gaze locking with mine. There’s something in his eyes that unsettles me, a knowing look that tells me he’s been expecting this. Expecting me. And it pisses me off, because it feels like he’s already got the upper hand.
“Alex,” I say, my voice betraying the tension I’m trying to suppress. “We need to talk.”
His expression is unreadable, but there’s a flicker of something in his eyes—interest, maybe even a hint of amusement. “I’m listening.”
And just like that, I’m caught in the pull of him, knowing full well that this is only going to complicate things. But with Zeus’s safety on the line, I don’t have a choice. I just hope I don’t regret it.
I find Alex near the training ring, his back to me as he packs away his gear. The air around him is still charged with the remnants of his earlier performance, the scent of smoke and sweat clinging to his skin. The intensity of the flames he commanded lingers in the space between us, but it's nothing compared to the heat that simmers when our eyes finally meet.
“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’tknow 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 notsure 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.
I sift through the clues again, my mind sharpening to the task. Rajah wasn’t just any tiger—he was the crown jewel of this circus, a creature of both beauty and terror, with a lineage that made him priceless. Whoever took him knew exactly what they were doing. This wasn’t an opportunistic grab; it was calculated, planned. And that’s what worries me the most.
My expression hardens as I consider the list of possible suspects. The circus is a close-knit community, but that doesn’t mean it’s immune to betrayal. I know better than most how secrets can fester beneath the surface, how the people closest toyou can harbor the darkest intentions. But as I work through the suspects, my thoughts keep drifting back to Sophia.
Damn her.
She’s a distraction I can’t afford, but one I can’t seem to shake. Her fierce protectiveness over Zeus, her guarded vulnerability—it all pulls me in, against my better judgment. The more I learn about her, the harder it is to keep my distance. And that’s dangerous. For both of us.
I’m here to solve this case, not get entangled in something that could compromise everything I’ve worked for. But the lines are blurring, and every time I think I’ve got a handle on it, she does something that throws me off balance. Like now—just the thought of her is enough to make my concentration waver, and I can’t afford that. Not when the stakes are this high.
