Page 16 of Rattle the Cage

“Don’t get too cocky,” I muttered, taking the lead as we headed down the stairs. “We’re rusty.”

“Speak for yourself,” Nash grumbled. “I’ve waited far too long to fuck up this time.”

As we ran off toward the main gate, the conversation died. My racing thoughts had nowhere to go except in circles.

Tess coming back was a miracle — we wouldn’t get another chance like this, and Nash was right; we couldn’t afford to let her slip away again.

I’d give the hunt my all: the thrumming in my chest wouldn’t accept anything less. But there were still so many questions to answer.

What the fuck am I going to do if I catch her?

10

TESS

What now?

I stood with my arms crossed, hovering by the entrance to the park. I’d come here with all these grand plans — to tell them off, to win Fright Night richer than ever, to leave and never look back. But now that I was here, standing at Feverpoint’s mouth, doubt teased at the dark corners of my mind.

Are they even coming?

The sun was dropping low over the horizon, painting the cracked cobblestone path in warm light. Mist swirled from the dark shadows of the rides, reaching out to caress me like the fingers of a tender lover: as if the park itself had missed me.

Before long, the sun would set, and the time would be past.

Good luck getting a cab out here again. Last guy probably thinks I’m a demon.

My lips turned down. If they weren’t going to show, I should start walking back now — catch as much of the fading light as I could. But before I could talk myself off the edge, three shadows appeared against the golden light, weapons in hand.

The sight of the Freaks made my chest unexpectedly tight. Their broad frames cut through the golden glow like abysses, eating up more of the setting sun with each step they took in my direction.

Their masks were already in place, but I had learned to read their bodies well. I could see exactly the type of energy they brimmed with: a lethal mix of vindication and desperation.

They aren’t fucking around.

A mix of dread and misguided excitement swirled at the pit of my stomach. In truth, I was relieved that they’d shown. But they didn’t need to know that.

“You shouldn’t keep a woman waiting,” I grumbled, crossing my arms over my chest.

But for once, there was no quippy comeback, no threats to chase me down through the woods. Just quiet tension and uncertainty about how to continue.

Clearing my throat, I took the reins. “Same rules as before. I hide until dawn, I win $80k. You find me, I’m… yours.”

My throat tightened around that last word. The consequences of losing weren’t just one night of torture: if I was caught, I would be stuck with the Freaks for another month. And then another, and another, until I could squeeze out a win.

I’d done it before, but given how often they caught me, my last victory felt like a lucky shot. Was I willing to trap myself in this purgatory forever?

I’d take a thousand nights of torture over spending a month stuck with these assholes.

It was the only way they’d play, though. The stalking was proof enough that they were desperate to have me, to pull me back under their spell.

But if those were the rules, I could still negotiate better terms. “I want $20k for every month I stay, win or lose. I think we can all agree that my time is worth that much.”

Cyrus stayed quiet, fingers tight around her machete. But Blade nodded fervently, joined in her agreement by Nash.

“Deal.” Nash twirled Trixie on her shoulder, not even looking to Cyrus for approval. “But you have to stay at Feverpoint if you lose. No more fast-ones.”

My head dipped, a warmth creeping up my neck. I’d gotten away with cheating once — sneaking past Cyrus after she’d caught me, taking her money and running. But I knew deep in my bones that I wouldn’t get away with that trick twice.