It can’t be true, can it? There’s no way it’s a coincidence that she’s here now. I look at Josh, and my breathing quickens.
What did he do to her?
What is he going to do with me?
I don’t know why, or how, but somehow Josh is involved in all of this. He shows up without an invite. He ends up being the Axeman who chased us through the woods and tormented me. He’s killed people—hemightkill me.
I have to get out of here. I need to find Teagan and tell her the truth about him. I’m such an idiot. Here I was moments away from falling for his lies again.
My eyes dart from the door Ashley exited through to Josh as a plan forms in my head.
I flash Josh what I hope is a sultry smile and trail my fingers up his arm. He’s rolled his sleeves to his forearms, and his muscles flex under my fingertips. I have to hold back a gag the minute my skin touches his.
“What do you say we get Ashley to bring our meals back so we can eat?” I run my tongue along my lower lip, knowing it’ll drive him wild. It always does. “Then maybe we can head back upstairs. I should thank you for doing everything you did to keep me safe.”
Josh’s eyes flare, and his mouth drops open as he stares at my lips. I lean forward, one hand trailing up his bicep as my other hand searches underneath my chair for the knife Ashley told me was hidden there.
He leans in, his lips only a breath from mine.“Oh, you foolish, foolish tease,” he whispers, his hand gripping my chin and squeezing it hard. “Looking for this?” His other hand moves in my peripheral vision. I gasp when I see the knife he’s holding. “I can always tell when that little brain of yours is ticking. You’re not just a pretty face, are you?” He slides a finger across my jaw before gripping my chin again. “Tell me? When did you figure it out?”
I furrow my brows. “Figure what out?” I say through clenched teeth.
His eyes narrow. “Don’t act dumb now. Who told you about Atlas and me?”
His fingers dig into my skin, making me cry out in pain. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
He brings his face closer, his breath mixing with my own. Usually, this would have me begging for him, but I’ve never been less attracted to him than I am now.
“You know that Atlas is my brother. How do you think I ended up here? It’s my job to procure the players in our family’s favorite tradition. I don’t know how you managed to figure it out, but kudos to you. You’re not just a dumb blonde after all. My mother would have loved you. She always told me I needed to find a woman who had guts enough to kill for what she wanted. That’s what made my father choose her. Obviously, they weren’t in it for the long haul, but they’ve both helped shape me into the man I am today. A man who takes what he wants. That’s why I brought you here, after all.”
His lips crush into mine, and I jerk out of his grasp and slap him hard across the face. “Youbrought us here? Why?” I hear a door open from somewhere behind me, but I’m too enraged to give it any attention.
Josh rubs at the red mark on his cheek. “Contrary to what you think, I’m not my father’s favorite son. Atlas is smart and cunning like him, his pride and joy,” he grunts out. “Quinn is a solemn, melancholy child who was brought into this world by raping the help.” He spits at the floor. “But me? Like most middle children, I’ve always been overlooked by ourfather. Until I threatened to ruin the family name by partaking in one of my father’s favorite pastimes.” He smirks up at me. “When he found out that I left behind some evidence…” He trails off, his eyes unfocused and wild. He looks lost in thought. A wistful, reminiscent smirk plays on his lips.
For a moment, I see a glimmer of danger hiding behind the face I once trusted.
Josh’s gaze darts back to me, that danger still lurking behind those blue eyes. “Well, my father couldn’t ignore me any longer, now could he? He finally had to bring me into the fold and gave me one job: bring him new toys to play with.”
He stands and approaches me slowly. “It was just a bonus that you and your stupid friends dedicated an entire podcast to bashing Atlas’s books. It was easy to convince them to let me choose you all for the next round of games once I made him listen to your episodes about him.” Josh runs a finger up my thigh as he sucks in a breath. “You, though, Lexi, you were one of my favorite toys.”
I jump to my feet before he can touch me again, just as Ashley is dragged into the dining room by Henry, the butler who picked us up at the airport. His hand is fisted tightly in her red hair. Her lip’s busted, and she’s bleeding down her chin.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she cries out, looking at me as Henry throws her into the room before us.
Henry gives Josh a look of pure loathing. “Fix this. Now!” he snaps before leaving the room and slamming the double doors behind him.
Josh lets out a long sigh. “But, you’ve always brought me more trouble than you’re worth.” He stands and cracks his neck. “Teagan was always meant to be mine. Watching her fight tooth and nail to survive was something special to behold. She takes what she wants and gives no apologies. I was a fool to not see that fire in her.” He sneers at me beforecontinuing. “You and Capri both were just disappointing distractions. Though I guess I should thank Capri for her part in all this.” His expression turns dark.
My jaw drops. Capri…and Josh? Did they have an affair as well? How could she have been so judgmental about Josh and me when she was doing the same thing, only worse, because she had Lee waiting for her back home?
Josh steps behind Ashley and yanks on her hair, causing her to yelp in pain, forcing me to stay in the present.
“Leave her alone,” I threaten, my eyes never leaving Ashley. “Ashley didn’t do anything. Clearly, this is a case of daddy issues.”
The fire in Josh’s eyes makes me take a step back. “You don’t want to piss me off right now.” He places the knife at Ashley’s throat. Blood trickles down her pale skin.
“No! Stop! I’m sorry, please don’t hurt her! She hasn’t done anything!”
“Oh? And you just so happened to have this waiting for you under your chair after being alone with her for a few moments? Thank goodness I decided to switch the chairs,” he boasts, tugging on her harder and making her cry out again. “The walls have eyes! Did you think that didn’t apply to you?” he screams into her ear.
