Page 45 of Rat Race

Another long look. I couldn’t decipher their expression at all.

“Why do you care?”

Why do I care?

Do I… actually care?

It was a loaded question. If I was being honest, I hadn’t cared about much in my life other than if my mascara was running or if the viewers on my after-dark channel would continue to pay me.

But caring about this random Ranch Legacy?

A small voice whispered to me that I did. Shockingly, Ididcare.

“I just want you to reach your goal,” I said in a softer voice and closed the space between us. We were so close I could feel the heat from their skin. Their breath on my face.

“Then what about back there, huh?” Cam asked, their lips set into a thin line. “Is killing all those peoplehelpingme?”

Fury rose up in me, coming back with a renewed bite.

“Yes,” I hissed. “Not only were they insulting you, but killing those people means less competition foryou.Idon’t give two shits about winning this stupid ass game.”

“Really?” Cam asked, rage threading through their voice. “I don’t think you’re trying to help me at all. I think you were sent here as a test to distract me from my mission.”

This time it was them who took a step forward. I didn’t mean to back down, but they were so overwhelming it was an automatic reaction to them towering over me. My legs felt unsteady as I backed away.

A test?I had heard long ago about the specialreligionthat the Ranch used as a control tactic, and with Cam being in the family, there was no doubt they had grown up in that super cult-like belief system.

Had that been how they saw me the whole time?

Even through all the anger, a smile threatened to pull at my lips. Amusement and pride pricked my skin, causing an electrifying current to shoot up my spine.

I’m enough to distract them.

It meant they were watching me, but not just watching. I wasconsumingtheir thoughts to the point where I was hindering their performance.

“I am trying to help,” I huffed. “Getting all philosophical now? If you can’t see how I’ve been breaking my back to help you, that’s on you. Everything I did back there was foryou. You should be grateful.”

“You’re gonna use that as a way to blamemefor their deaths?” they asked, their tone turning dangerous. A vicious glint passed their eyes. Their entire body was on edge.

It had my heart racing, my palms sweating.

“I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t for you,” I admitted with just as harsh a tone.

The fire that lit their eyes was beautiful. The way their jaw twitched set my body alight. And fuck, all I wanted was for them to show me more of that fiery anger raging behind their warm brown eyes. It was all I could think about. It was so overpowering that it tickled my taste buds.

And everyone is watching.

The after-dark channel I ran was a good way to bring in some good income, but the main reason why I started it in the first place was because Ilovedbeing watched.

I got high off it. Every time I’d show up in my skimpy clothes and mask to put on a show for my thousands of fans, my heart raced. Feeling their eyes crawling all over me was better than any drug on the market.

They came for my body but stayed for my performance.

Just like with the Games, where people came and put on a show of their lives, I did the same on that channel.

And now they’re watching as I simp over a tall muscle mommy who refuses to kill anyone.

“I didn’t want to kill anyone,” they spat, taking another step forward until I was pushed against the wall. I was cornered. Nowhere to run. And even if I could, they would most likely catch me.

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