Page 146 of Roulette Rodeo
Red makes a happy sound, practically glowing with joy, and turns to show me Rafe's response like it's a precious gift.
"He said you're welcome!"
"Progress," I agree, unable to stop smiling at her enthusiasm.
She goes back to exploring her phone, occasionally showing me things she discovers, asking questions about features, taking more photos of Duke who's hamming it up for the camera now.
Her excitement is infectious, her joy at such a simple thing making me reconsider what we take for granted.
She giggles in excitement as she discovers filters on the camera, immediately taking a selfie with dog ears that she sends to Poppy.
The sound fills the cooling evening air, bright and genuine, and I find myself thinking this is it—this is what contentment feels like. Having an omega who listens to him, who values his knowledge, who makes even the simple act of learning to use a phone feel like an adventure worth having.
I think we’re truly making progress.
OBSERVATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS
~RED~
The rain patters against the window in a steady rhythm that should be soothing but instead makes me grip the book tighter.
I'm curled up in what's become my favorite reading spot—the window seat in the library, surrounded by pillows that smell like cedar and old paper, wearing my most ridiculous comfort outfit:puppy-themed plushie slippers that Talon bought me as a joke and an oversized fuzzy t-shirt that reaches mid-thigh.
The book in my hands is calledHearts Divided, and I'm almost at the ending.
It's been holding my attention for the past three hours, though not necessarily for good reasons. The omega protagonist, Celeste, has been stringing along two alphas for the entire story—Marcus, the wealthy businessman who showers her with diamonds and promises of power, and Gabriel, the struggling artist who offers her passion and authenticity.
I flip the page, brow furrowing as I read.
"I cannot choose," Celeste whispered, tears streaming down her porcelain cheeks. "To choose one is to lose the other, and I would rather die than live with half a heart."
Marcus gripped her shoulders, his ice-blue eyes blazing.
"Then we'll share you. Create a pack. Anything to keep you."
But Gabriel pulled away, disgust written across his features.
"Share? Like you're some prize to be divided? I'd rather lose you than degrade what we have into some business arrangement."
I roll my eyes so hard it actually hurts.
The omega's been playing them both for two hundred pages, accepting Marcus's money while secretly meeting Gabriel for passionate rendezvous, and now she's acting like she's the victim?
The next chapter reveals her plan—fake her own death, let them both mourn her, then start fresh in a new city with a new identity.
Free from the burden of choosing.
I pause, placing my bookmark—a photo strip from the town's ancient photo booth that Poppy and I crammed into last week—between the pages.
Did Sophia ever think of that?
The thought comes unbidden, and I immediately feel guilty for it.
But I can't help wondering if she'd been influenced by books like this.
The dramatic gesture, the ultimate escape, the way to hurt everyone equally so no one wins...
It's been four weeks since I arrived in Jackknife Ridge, and in that time, I've devoured more books than I read in three years at the casino. The library here is extensive, clearly cultivated by someone who actually reads rather than just collecting for show. I've found everything from classic literature to contemporary romance, medical journals that Corwin bookmarks, and military thrillers with Shiloh's notes in the margins.
