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CONAN

T his is the first year I have entered my Decadence Chase with no fire in my veins.

I caught the first girl easily. I know just from how my body reacts that this isn’t Hallie.

“Please! No!” she screams as I grip her shoulders.

We’ve got drones going and the twins out on foot to track her down.

I pull off this girl's mask, and her blonde hair bounces, her green eyes pleading with me.

“Shh.” I hold my finger up to my lip. “Don’t fight me.”

She pales, her body going limp like she’s about to pass out.

Jesus Christ.

Holding her up with one hand, I let the flare go off in the other, the loud bang hopefully enough to scare the other contestants.

Although I do have some blanks with me in my pistol.

“Be quiet,” I whisper and lead her through the hedgerow back to the holding cabin, armed by Declan.

I walk her in and close the door, locking it too.

“One down, seven more to go.”

“Yeah, I can count,” I snap back to Dec.

“Movement near checkpoint three. Two of them confirmed in this area,” Rowan says through my earpiece.

“On my way.”

“Still searching for Hallie. It’s going to be a task. The masks aren’t helping.” Drago’s serious voice cuts in through my ear.

“I hunt for sport. I’ll find her.”

And I’ve got a taste for her, which works even better in my favor.

Making my way over to the checkpoint, I keep my footsteps light and listen out for movement.

I’m still having an internal debate between my head and my heart.

When I catch Hallie, do I reveal the truth and pray she forgives me? Or do I just set her free, no words exchanged?

I shake away the anxiety this gives me.

I know what she deserves—the damn truth. I can’t let her live her life in fear, thinking whoever took her and brought her here is coming back for her.

I can’t lie there with her in my arms at night, knowing what I’ve done.

I’m going to have to find my balls and tell her everything and deal with the consequences.

It’s shit. It’s going to hurt.

I’m just praying that she at least hears me out. I don’t want to lose her. I can’t lose her.