Page 70 of House of Payne

It’s the real reason why I haven’t yet considered an alternate deal, and why all my conversations with Noah are brief and touch on random topics.

I can’t bear the thought of him hearing the uncertainty in my voice.

Miss Deveroux smiles. “Why don’t you consider participating in the hunt, then? You’re in good shape. I bet you could outrun at least half the guys here.”

My stomach dips. “The hunt?”

Miss Deveroux reaches under the bar and pulls out a screen. After pressing a few buttons, she slides it across the table and waits. When the dark screen lights up, my eyes widen. The woman in the video is wearing a white dress, and her dark hair is whipping behind her as she races through the forest.

A group of men are calling to her in the distance, their voices loud and taunting.

“I don’t understand.”

Miss Deveroux polishes a glass with a glint in her eyes. “The women who agree to participate in the hunt must outrun the men chasing them in the forest on the edge of the property. If they can avoid being caught for a certain time, they get to leave.”

I glance up sharply. “What do you mean they get to leave? Just like that?”

Miss Deveroux nods. “Their debt is forgiven, and they even get offered money.”

I hand her the screen and place a hand on my hip. “What’s the catch? That sounds too good to be true.”

Miss Deveroux’s smile turns mischievous. “I knew you were smarter than you looked. There’s no catch, but I’ve worked here for almost three decades, and I’ve only seen a handful of women win.”

My heart drops. “A handful? How many have tried?”

“Too many to count. It’s too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

Someone calls out to Miss Deveroux, bringing our conversation to an abrupt end. I spend the rest of the day floating from room to room and replaying her words in my head. I imagine racing through the forest, the cold nipping at my cheeks and neck, and debate whether or not it’s worth it.

I’ve never been a fast runner, and I’d be even worse under pressure.

But Miss Deveroux is right.

It’s too good of an offer to brush off.

After finishing my first round of cleaning, I duck into Miss Deveroux’s office and leave the door ajar. My hands are trembling as I sink into the couch in the corner of the room and stare at the screen.

I’m on my third rewatch of the clip, my mind racing to come up with solutions, when the door creaks open.

I hastily toss the screen next to me and look up.

Mason is in the doorway in his usual pressed suit. The first few buttons of it are undone, and his sandy, tousled hair is gleaming. He glances from the screen to my face and back again.

“It’s not what it looks like.” A flush creeps up my neck and onto my cheeks. “Miss Deveroux just told me about the hunt, and I was curious.”

“I knew you would be.”

I frown. “It’s barbaric, and it’s rigged.”

“It’s also exhilarating and fun,” Mason counters. “I’ve seen the women who participate, and even when they lose—most of them do—it ends up working out for them.”

I dig my nails into my palms. “Because they get passed around like a prize?”

A smile tugs at Mason’s lips. “Because they get to be fucked by multiple men. Sometimes, all at once. Sometimes, a few of them watch, but for one night, they’re at the men’s mercy.”

My throat is very dry. “How is that a good thing?”

Mason stops in front of me, and his eyes sweep over me. “Because they get to stop pretending, and they surrender control.”