Page 73 of Psyop Kings

Calista is his vulnerability just as I thought.

Wife? Girlfriend? Sister? Daughter? Another victim like me? I’m dying to know who she is to him.

“Don’t mention—”

“I didn’t say her name,” I bite back. “You don’t have to shoot me.”

If looks could incinerate a person, Caius would have me melted down to a puddle of bloody goo. The pure hatred and fury in his eyes are straight nightmare stuff.

I should run.

How far away would I get before he grabbed me?

What sort of tricks would he have up his sleeve then?

His house has brought me the most clarity. I can’t mess this up now because I can’t keep my mouth shut.

And yet…

“You can only pretend to be me for so long,” I state, venom in my tone. “Dad wants me home for Christmas. We both know this. I’m sure you got to see his incessant reminder texts.” I cross my arms over my chest, trying to appear more fearsome than I am. “When I don’t show, he’ll find me.”

Caius scrubs a palm over his face and then looks at me again, this time with his obnoxiously impassive expression. “Who says you won’t show?”

I frown at his words. “You’re not going to let me out of my prison anytime soon.”

“You’re my girlfriend, Romy. Not a prisoner.”

The sure, almost arrogant way he says that is nearly convincing. Keeping up with his games is a full-time job.

“Ha. Hilarious.”

“I don’t know what’s so funny about that, little girl. We’ll visit your father at Christmas later this month just as we’ve made plans to do.”

My heart rate speeds up at the thought of seeing my father. I don’t like him most days, but he’s still my dad. The best part of seeing Dad, though, is I get to see Bastian too.

“Your whole house of lies will crumble around you,” I say with a taunting grin. “Game over. You lose.”

Why must I poke the bear?

The anger is long gone on my captor. Now amusement glitters in his dark eyes.

“You’ll play your part,” he rumbles, lips curling into a half grin. “Or people will get hurt.”

People will get hurt.

Not Dad or Bastian or Eva. They’re insulated. Protected. Untouchable.

“You forget I come from an influential, wealthy family too,” I say with a sneer. “AndIwas actually born into it.”

The adoption jab doesn’t hit the mark like I want. He doesn’t react, not even the tiniest bit.

“I didn’t forget,” Caius rumbles, slowly stalking my way. “You’re a complicated piece in a game I’ve learned to master. I do enjoy the challenge.”

Liar.

I make his life hell and we both know it.

He’s close again and I make no plans to retreat, which forces me to tilt my head back so I can see him.

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