Page 24 of The Auction
I fire off the screenshots I’ve been collecting like trading cards.
One of him mid-bite—mouth wide fucking open. Eyes rolled back into his head.
JAXON: It’s giving “I identify as a Sea Bass” energy.
Cassidy lifts her napkin to her mouth, trying—failing—to hide her smile.
Gotcha.
She quickly sobers, glancing around at more cameras. Guilty. Slightly paranoid.
JAXON: Yes, Cricket.
Every camera in the place is watching you right now.
I tug on a pair of dark jeans, black tee hugging my chest, cologne spritzed at my neck.
CASSIDY: This is quite concerning.
I’m sure the police would be interested in this information.
I think I’ll give them a call.
As I lace my boots, I chuckle low in my throat.
“Oh, Crick. You’re playing into this too perfectly.”
You just don’t even know.
JAXON: You should.
In fact, I’ll do it for you.
CASSIDY: Why are you really texting me?
Well… she’d figure it out sooner or later so might as well let the cat out of the bag now.
JAXON: Jonathan asked me to keep an eye on you.
The house.
Whatever. Same thing.
There’s that eye roll again. I feel honored I can evoke it from her so easily.
CASSIDY: Good night Jaxon.
She clicks the side button, and the screen goes black.
She turned it off. She actually turned the fucking phone off.
Oh.
Hell.
No.
You wanna play games, little Cricket?
