“Do you want me to slap you again?”
He chuckles and puts his hands up in surrender.
“I didn’t know I was whoring myself out. He brought me here. Told me there was a game he thought I’d enjoy, and I could feel in control. He said it would bring me enough wealth that I would never have to worry again.”
“Did he tell you what you were signing up for?”
“Yes and no. He asked how far I’d be willing to go to earn unlimited freedom. I said as far as it takes.”
I pause.
Langston’s body is hard as stone, and his eyes have rage spelled out in his pupils.
“I understood what he wasn’t saying. I could read between the lines. It was my choice to come here, to play the game.”
“And he demanded a cut?”
My eyes gloss over. Yes. No. I can’t think about that—about all of the fucking pain. I’d break more than I already have. I may not be able to get through tomorrow or tonight as it is.
“No, I took everything I won.” A sly smile spreads. “And I won everything.”
Langston’s lips turn up into not quite a smile, but I know he’s impressed by me.
“Where’s the lie?” he asks after a beat.
“That’s for you to figure out.”
Everything. Almost everything is a lie, yet not enough is.
We sit in uncomfortable silence for a while, both staring out at the ocean.
“So how much time are you taking off? Another month? Six months? You plan on killing me tomorrow?” I finally ask, not hiding the disdain in my voice.
He sighs, and there is an emotion on his face that I haven’t seen since we were kids—fear.
“What happens tomorrow, huntress? How do you survive if I don’t save you like I did tonight?” Langston asks, referring to him kicking Zeke out of the games.
I shake my head. “You don’t understand how different tomorrow’s games will be.”
“Tell me.”
“It’s not something I can tell. It’s only something you can experience.”
He frowns. “Huntress…”
“You can’t save me. No one can. And I don’t need you to. Only I can save myself.”
Langston gets up and walks to the sliding door.
“What happens when we both make it to the final round?” he asks as he pauses at the door.
I lose.
“I hope you make it to the final round with me. I’d love to see you go through hell,” I reply.
16
Langston