Page 50

HALLIE

I bolt upright as my front door crashes open; it’s like a bomb has gone off. Bertie erupts into a fit of barking as I launch myself to my bedroom door and lock it.

Before I can even move away from the door, I hear deep voices getting closer. I suck in a breath, Bertie’s barks are bound to give me away.

“Shhh,” I warn Bertie.

As I sprint to the bathroom, my door is kicked wide open. Three armed, masked men barge in, blocking my exit.

Am I being arrested?

Is this for the racing? Or because I’m now seeing someone in the mafia?

I glance over at my phone. The tall one in the front clocks it and aims his pistol directly at me.

“You have been summoned to participate in a game. All of your questions will be answered on arrival. But we need you to come with us.”

I can’t place that deep accent. Maybe southern?

“I-I haven’t signed up for any games? Is this a joke?”

My hands tremble, and I push myself against the wall. Bertie stays protectively beside me, barking with all the aggression that big softie can muster.

“Miss, this isn’t a joke. If you don’t come willingly, we will have to use other measures, which we would rather avoid.”

I look at my phone again.

“Don’t make any stupid moves.” The one at the front steps forward.

I need Conan.

“Hands behind your back and turn around.”

“Am I being arrested?”

He chuckles as I do as he says. He clasps them together with cuffs and places some black material over my head. A mask of some sort?

As I blink, it all goes dark when he fastens some kind of blindfold over my eyes.

“We’re heading to a secure location. Time to go, Contestant Ten.”

My blood runs cold. Maybe this is a reality TV show of some kind that Lily has signed me up for.

But they looked so scary. And those guns were real.

“I need to tell my family.” My voice shakes as he turns me around and leads me abruptly through the house.

“No. You don’t. You belong to Decadence now.” His voice is lethal.

Silent tears roll down my cheeks. I think I’m going to die.

I’m escorted into a car and he presses on the top of my head to guide me inside.

And then it’s silent.

As the car comes to a slow stop, a door opens and slams shut. And then cold air whips over my skin as my door is opened.

It smells earthy. Like the woods. I’m bundled out of the vehicle and led down a gravel track.

A door creaks open and I’m escorted inside, the lock clicks behind.

My eyes are blurry as the blindfold is removed. All I can see is wooded walls and a single table and chairs in the middle.

“Sit,” he grunts.

I do as he says, my leg bouncing erratically. I’m cold and terrified.

“Your hunter will provide clear instructions shortly,” he tells me.

As I look into the left corner, I see the red dot of a camera flashing. Below it is a small round table with a black rucksack and a green underwear set.

What the hell is going on?

Pulling the paper up on the desk, it’s as if I’m looking at another language.

Congratulations, Contestant Ten. You have made it to the Decadence Chase.

Now that you have entered the woods, you have become both the hunter and the prey.

This is a game of survival with a twist. It’s survival of the kinkiest.

Are you prepared to give yourself to The Chase for the chance to earn the ultimate reward?

What would you give for two million dollars?

If you are inclined to play, you will find the contract on the next pages. Read it carefully. The rules must be followed in Decadence.

The stakes are high. Your life's on the line.

My hands tremble and I drop the papers on the desk.

“Let me go,” I beg the guard.

He ignores me.

“Please. I don’t want to play.”

My head starts to spin.

“If you don’t want to play, that is an option, but you’ll meet the same fate as you would if you lost The Chase. Read the contract and then make your decision.”

As I go to stand, I feel him shift. I glance up and find the gun pointed at me again.

So I sit firmly back on my ass, picking back up the contract. Trying to read the words through my burning eyes that threaten to spill.