Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
“Jasper...” Her voice is breathless, barely a whisper.
“You’re safe,” I murmur, my voice rough with emotion. “I’ve got you.”
For a moment, we just stay there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the world around us fading into the background. Then, the reality of what happened sinks in, and I reluctantly help her to her feet, making sure she’s steady.
Performers and crew gather around us backstage, their faces filled with concern and confusion. Dante storms over, demanding answers.
“What the hell happened?” His voice is sharp, eyes blazing with anger.
I examine the broken rope, my expression darkening as I find signs of deliberate tampering. “Someone did this on purpose,” I say, my voice low but firm.
Dante’s face hardens. “We need to find out who.”
I meet Lila’s gaze, a silent understanding passing between us. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot.
Lila sits on a crate, her breathing heavy but steady, her eyes wide with lingering fear. I can’t shake the feeling of her body against mine, the way she clung to me after I caught her. My gaze drifts to the broken rope, the frayed ends accusing in their silence.
I kneel by the rope, examining the damage. It’s clear this wasn’t an accident. The rope’s been tampered with, and whoever did it knew exactly what they were doing. My expression darkens as the implications sink in.
Dante turns to the assembled performers and crew, his presence commanding and intense. Ava stands beside him, her expression equally serious. “We’re launching a thorough investigation,” Dante announces, his authoritative tone leaving no room for argument. “Jasper, you’re in charge. Find out who’s responsible.”
I nod, the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders. “I’ll need to question everyone, inspect all the equipment.”
Lila steps forward, her voice steady despite the lingering tremor. “I want to help. This is my life on the line.”
Dante looks at her, then back at me. “Fine. You two work together. I want answers, and I want them yesterday.”
The agreement murmurs among the performers as they disperse, leaving Lila and me standing apart from the others.
“We need to start with the trapeze,” I say, my tone all business despite the way my pulse quickens at the sight of her.
“Agreed.” Lila’s voice is firm, but there’s a glint in her eyes that tells me she’s not just in this for answers. She’s got her own reasons, her own stakes.
We head over to the equipment, the subdued buzz of the circus winding down around us. The purposeful footsteps and low-voiced discussions create a backdrop of focused activity. I run my fingers along the ropes, feeling for any irregularities, any signs of tampering.
“This wasn’t an amateur job,” I say, more to myself than to Lila. “Whoever did this knew what they were doing.”
Lila watches me, her gaze intense. “Do you have any suspects?”
“Too early to tell,” I reply, straightening up and meeting her eyes. “But we’ll find them. And when we do…”
“We make sure they can’t hurt anyone else,” she finishes, her voice hardening with resolve.
We move through the backstage area, interviewing the crew and performers. Each conversation adds a piece to the puzzle, but it’s clear this won’t be an easy mystery to solve. The tension between Lila and me shifts.
As we work, I can’t help but notice the way she moves, the way her eyes flash with determination. There’s a fire in her, a passion that draws me in even as I try to keep my focus on the task at hand.
“Jasper,” she says, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Look at this.”
I step closer, following her gaze to a set of tools that seem out of place. There’s a small, almost invisible notch in the blade of a cutting tool, a mark that could easily be overlooked. But not by Lila. She’s sharp, observant, and damn if that isn’t part of what’s drawing me to her.
“This could be our lead,” I say, my voice low. “Good eye.”
She smiles, a hint of playfulness in her eyes. “I told you I’d be helpful.”
“You’re more than that,” I reply, before I can stop myself. The words hang between us, charged with more than just professional admiration.
Our eyes lock, and for a moment, the world around us fades. There’s just Lila and me, the weight of the investigation, and the unmistakable pull of something more, something deeper that neither of us can ignore. And hell if I’d even want to.
Chapter Three
Lila
The dim light of the lantern flickers, casting dancing shadows across the tent. Jasper and I sit across from each other, papers and photographs of past accidents strewn between us. The air is thick with concentration and the faint scent of sawdust. I adjust my position, my legs brushing against his under the table, a spark of electricity passing between us.
Jasper points to a photo, his brow furrowed in thought. “This one happened two months ago. The support beam for the high wire snapped, just like the trapeze rope. Look at the cut—it’s clean, precise.”