Page 74 of Psyop Kings

“You’ll do as I say.” He brushes a hair from my face. “If you truly care for Megan, then you’ll be a good little actress.”

I freeze at his words.

Idiot.

Of course he knows how to hit me. He’s been doing it all along.

“She’s probably dead anyway,” I say, voice cracking as tears form. “You and your perverted friends and family murdered her.”

He snorts in amusement. “Megan is very much alive. If you behave, I’ll let you speak with her.”

Hope hammers inside my chest.

She’s alive. Despite his taunting, I can see it in his eyes. He’s telling the truth. Megan hasn’t been killed. There’s still a chance I can find her and get out of here.

He pulls something out of his pocket. Then he lifts up both my shirts above my belly button before sliding something flat and cool between my skin and jeans. My body quivers at his touch.

“I have work to do. Get on your phone and do some shopping.”

As soon as he steps away, waving a hand dismissively in the air, a cold chill settles in my bones. Happy to have his intoxicating closeness gone from me, I reach beneath my shirts to see what he gave me.

Black, metal AmEx.

His credit card.

“I’m not your real girlfriend, remember? You can’t make me go away by letting me go on a shopping spree with your credit card.”

He settles in his chair and then bends to pick up the candle. After he sets it on the edge of his desk, he looks my way.

“Order some dresses, shoes, accessories. You’ll need them.” He turns his wrist over to check his watch. “Hurry. We only have a couple of days until our trip. My address is saved under my contact in your phone.”

Trip?

What trip?

“Lake Erie is cold this time of year.” He flips his laptop open again. “Buy a nice coat, too. Our plane leaves Friday.”

We’re going to Lake Erie?

On Friday?

“Cai—”

“Enough,” he barks out. “I said I have work to do. Go on and do as you’re told, little girl, or I’ll punish you.”

The sinister expression on his face tells of something I want no part of.

I shoot him the bird because he’s a dick but then hightail it out of his office without waiting for a response.

I’m not sure what awaits us on our trip, but I hope it brings me a step closer to getting Megan.

Keep your eye on the prize, Romy.

This is a game, and you have to think several moves ahead.

Romy

I’m going stir-crazy in this house. With no one other than my nemesis to talk to, I feel like I’m spending too much time thinking and rethinking. Everything is beginning to jumble together, making me wonder if I’m going insane.

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