A Month Of Wild Games

004: Heat of the Moment

Cara’s breath caught in her throat as she stood before the door of The Viper Lounge. The same door she’d passed through countless times when she and Michael had been tangled in a forbidden dance of love and betrayal. But tonight felt different. This was no reunion—it was something far more dangerous.

The weight of the past pressed against her chest as she pushed open the door. The dimly lit interior hit her like a wave. The Viper Lounge was designed to seduce all the senses—flickering candlelight reflected off polished mahogany, and the scent of expensive whiskey and smoke filled the air. Music pulsed in the background, and every corner seemed to harbor a secret.

And then, there he was.

Michael Stevens. The man who had broken her heart, who had ripped away her sense of security and trust, was seated at the bar, his back to her. He hadn’t moved an inch since she entered, but somehow, it felt as though he knew she was there.

Cara’s pulse quickened, and she took a step forward, her heels clicking on the marble floor. Every muscle in her body screamed to turn around and walk away. But she couldn’t. Not when the game had already begun.

“Cara,” his voice cut through the tension, deep and smooth, like the finest whiskey. He didn’t turn around, but she could feel his eyes on her. It was as if he was holding her in place with nothing but the power of his presence.

“You’re late,” he added casually.

Her jaw tightened, but she didn’t let her emotions betray her. “Did you really expect me to show up at your beck and call?” Her voice was steady, but her heart was pounding. “What do you want, Michael?”

Slowly, Michael turned to face her. His eyes—those dark, penetrating eyes—locked onto hers. There was something dangerous in his gaze, something she couldn’t quite place, but it sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.

“It’s not what I want,” he replied softly, his lips curving into a slight, knowing smile. “It’s what you need.”

A flicker of confusion passed through Cara. “What are you talking about?”

Michael leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper, one that only she could hear amidst the noise of the lounge. “I don’t think you’re here by choice. You came because you crave this—the power, the control, the connection. You’re still the same woman who wanted me, Cara. Still the same woman who was mine.”

The words hit her like a slap, but she didn’t flinch. Instead, she forced a smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “You have some nerve.”

“You’re still angry. I get it,” Michael murmured, his hand brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. His touch was electric, making her skin burn under the subtle pressure of his fingers. “But don’t fool yourself. You’re here for a reason. You want something from me. We both know it.”

Cara’s breath hitched, and for a moment, she almost believed him. But there was something unsettling about his words, something that didn’t quite sit right. The game had changed, and she was no longer the same woman who had once fallen for his lies.

As if on cue, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, her gaze never leaving Michael’s intense stare.

It was a message from Z.

“Don’t trust him. I’m watching. – Z”

Her heart skipped a beat.

Michael’s eyes narrowed as he watched her read the message, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he took a slow sip from his glass, waiting for her to react.

Her mind raced. Who the hell was Z, and why were they suddenly so involved in this twisted game?

But just as she opened her mouth to ask Michael about it, the lights in the lounge flickered. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. Then, a loud crash echoed from the back of the club.

All eyes turned toward the commotion, and Michael stood up, his expression shifting from calm to something more dangerous.

“I think it’s time we get out of here,” he said, his voice low but commanding.

Before she could protest, Michael grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the back door, urgency in his movements.

“What’s going on?” Cara demanded, her heart racing.

Michael didn’t answer, but the look in his eyes told her that things were about to get even more complicated—and more dangerous.

Just as they reached the door, Michael turned to her with a grim expression. “I didn’t bring you here just to talk, Cara. There’s something bigger at play here. Something you don’t know about.”

Before she could respond, a figure stepped out from the shadows, blocking their path.

Cara’s breath caught in her throat. It was Z.

Cara’s heart hammered in her chest as the figure stepped into the dim light, revealing nothing but a silhouette at first. She could barely make out the features, but something about the way they moved—the smooth, confident stride—sent a chill down her spine.

Michael’s grip on her arm tightened as he pulled her closer, his body positioned protectively in front of hers. The tension between them was electric, but there was no time for it to build.

“I didn’t expect you to show up so soon,” Michael said, his voice deceptively calm. His eyes, though, were locked on the figure, the familiar wariness in his expression betraying his cool demeanor.

The figure stepped into the light, and Cara froze.

It was a woman.

Tall, dark-haired, and wearing a sleek black leather jacket that clung to her curves. Her lips curved into a cold, almost predatory smile as she eyed them both, but it wasn’t just the smile that sent a shiver down Cara’s spine. It was the way she seemed to know them—like she’d been watching their every move.

“Cara Williams,” the woman’s voice was a low, husky purr. “We’ve heard so much about you.”

Cara’s breath caught in her throat. This wasn’t just some stranger. There was something about the way the woman said her name—it was personal. Too personal.

“Who the hell are you?” Cara demanded, her pulse racing.

The woman’s smile widened. “Let’s just say I’m someone with an interest in you. In your past. In your future.” Her gaze flicked over to Michael, a subtle, almost imperceptible flicker of recognition passing between them. “But it seems you’ve already got someone else interested in you, don’t you?”

Cara’s mind spun. What was going on? The woman had to know Michael—had to be tied to this web of secrets and lies that was tightening around her. But before she could ask more, the woman took a step forward, closing the distance between them with fluid grace.

“Z is watching,” the woman continued, her eyes flickering with some hidden emotion. “But that’s not the only game in play here, Cara.”

Michael shifted, a flash of unease crossing his face. “Enough,” he said sharply, his voice low but commanding. “You’re out of line, Alexa.”

Cara’s brows furrowed. Alexa? She had no idea who this woman was, but the way Michael spoke her name—it was clear they had a history. And whatever it was, it wasn’t a good one.

Before she could process it, Alexa’s gaze shifted back to Cara, her expression cool and calculating. “You’ve got a choice to make,” she said, her voice dropping to a whisper meant only for Cara’s ears. “Walk away now, or get pulled deeper into this mess. Either way, it’s going to cost you.”

Cara’s heart raced as she tried to process what Alexa was saying. What choice? Walk away? There was no walking away now—not when she was already so deep in it.

But then the woman smiled, a knowing, dangerous grin that made Cara’s blood run cold. “I’ll be seeing you, Cara. Don’t take too long to decide.”

Without another word, Alexa turned and disappeared into the shadows, vanishing as quickly as she had appeared. Cara stood frozen, trying to catch her breath, her body still trembling with adrenaline.

Michael’s grip on her arm loosened, and he took a step back, but the distance between them felt like miles. “Are you alright?” he asked, his voice softer now, almost… concerned?

Cara turned to him, her emotions a storm inside her. “What the hell was that?” she demanded. “Who was she? And what do you mean, ‘Z is watching’? Who is Z?!”

Michael’s jaw tightened, and his eyes flashed with something dark. He wasn’t ready to give her answers—not yet. “I can’t explain everything right now. But you need to trust me. You’re in danger. And the sooner you understand that, the sooner we can deal with it.”

Cara’s chest tightened. She didn’t know if she should trust him. She didn’t know if she could trust anyone. Everything was spinning out of control, and she was caught in the middle of something far more complicated—and far more dangerous—than she had ever imagined.

The weight of the past and the present pressed against her, and for the first time, she realized that she might not be strong enough to navigate this on her own.

But she wasn’t going to give up. Not now. Not when everything she’d worked for—everything she was—was on the line.

Before she could say anything more, Michael grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the back door of the club.

“We need to get out of here,” he said urgently.

The moment she stepped into the cool night air, a sense of relief washed over her—but it was fleeting. They were still in the game, and the rules were shifting.

As they walked toward the waiting car, Cara’s phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn’t a message from Michael or Alexa. It was from Z.

The text was short, direct.

“You’ve been warned. No turning back now.”

Cara’s breath hitched. She didn’t know who Z was, but she knew one thing for sure: whoever they were, they were watching her every move.

And with every passing moment, the game was getting more dangerous.