Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 31355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 157(@200wpm)___ 125(@250wpm)___ 105(@300wpm)
We worked side by side, the quiet broken only by the rustle of paper and our occasional whispered exclamations as we uncovered more evidence of the conspiracy. Contracts were falsified, payments siphoned off to shadowy entities. Each discovery tightened the knot of tension in my stomach. The deeper we delved, the more intricate the web of deceit became. Night had fully fallen by the time we emerged from the archives, the circus back lot cloaked in darkness. We moved with purpose, the weight of our findings heavy on our minds. Suddenly, a shadow detached itself from the deeper darkness, moving toward us with menacing intent.
“Who’s there?” I called out, my voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through my veins. The figure didn’t answer, instead advancing with a low growl of warning. I stepped back, my heart racing, but Dante moved forward, placing himself between me and the threat.
“What do you want?” Dante demanded, his tone rough with warning. The aggressor lunged, and chaos erupted. In the dim light, I saw Dante grappling with the shadowy figure, the sounds of their struggle sharp and terrifying. I moved to help, but another figure darted out of the darkness, knocking me to the ground.
Pain flared as I hit the rough earth, but I scrambled to my feet, my vision blurring momentarily. Dante managed to fend off the assailant, who finally retreated into the night, leaving us both panting and bruised.
“Are you okay?” Dante’s voice was rough with concern as he helped me up, his hands lingering on my arms longer than necessary. The touch, despite the pain, was grounding.
“I’m fine,” I replied, wincing as I touched a tender spot on my shoulder. “Let’s get out of here.”
Back in my caravan, the small space felt even more confined as we tended to our minor injuries. The close quarters and the adrenaline from the confrontation made the air between us feel charged. Dante’s fingers brushed over my skin as he applied a bandage, his touch both soothing and electrifying.
“Thank you,” I whispered, meeting his gaze. “For protecting me.”
He gave a small, rueful smile. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I can’t let anything happen to you, Ava.”
His words, filled with raw honesty, pierced through the lingering mistrust. “Dante,” I began, my voice trembling with unspoken emotions, “I’m scared. Not just of what we’re uncovering, but of failing.”
He cupped my cheek, his thumb tracing my jawline. “We’re in this together. Failure isn’t an option.”
The moment hung heavy between us, our breaths mingling. The vulnerability in his eyes mirrored my own fears, creating an intimacy that went beyond physical attraction.
Later, under the cover of night, we slipped back into the shadows of the circus grounds, our mission clear. We decoded encrypted messages intercepted from the circus’s secure network, revealing a planned shipment that could break the case wide open. Our partnership, forged in the heat of danger and the fires of undeniable attraction, was now a force to be reckoned with. The conspiracy wouldn’t stand a chance against us.
The cold, predawn air filled the food storage area, the dim light barely illuminating the rows of shelves and large containers stacked against the walls. My breath fogged in the chilly air as Dante and I moved silently, our flashlights casting eerie shadows on the walls. The place smelled of musty grains and the faint, lingering scent of sawdust. Dante moved a crate, revealing a hidden compartment behind the larger containers.
“Here,” he whispered, crouching to pry open a panel. My heart thudded as we uncovered a stash of knives and sharp weapons—items that had no place in a legitimate circus. And among them, papers and ledgers detailing illicit transactions and illegal activities dealing in the trade of exotic animals. I’d done my research and knew that the circus could only keep rehabilitated and rescued animals listed as unable to live in the wild due to disease, age, or other factors. But some of the animals had been bought and paid for to the tune of thousands of dollars—something that was not supposed to happen.
Dante’s hand brushed mine as he reached for the papers, the touch electric despite the gravity of the moment.
“We can’t let them get away with this,” he growled. “Larry does all the purchase orders and supply chain stuff. He’s the only one that has access to order shit like this.”
“I need to talk to him.”
“No, I will,” Dante replied.
“You can’t. I need to ask him a few questions, I just need to get him on the record.”
“What if he threatens you?”
“Then you’ll be there and I’ll be recording everything.” I think of my phone in my pocket.
Dante nodded, but his eyes were etched with concern. We made our way across the dressing room, the early morning light filtering in as performers began to stir. The room buzzed with the pre-show chaos, but my focus was on the key suspect we’d identified. Larry. I squared my shoulders, approaching his office with a blend of confidence and feigned ignorance.