Endgame (The Power Games Part 5)

By Brynley Blake

She'll do anything to win the games.
He'll do anything to win her.

Roman

The Power Games was my idea to promote my new hotel in Las Vegas, where guests can indulge their darkest fantasies. I never intended to be a contestant.

Then I saw her. Now all bets are off.

Enigmatic and impossibly beautiful, her feistiness intrigues me as much as her innocence. Ava's a girl with infinite layers, and I'm determined to peel away each one until she's bared to me.  Until she's mine.

I want her. And I'll do anything to possess her—body and soul.

 

Ava

When my best friend Emmett suggested I compete on The Power Games with him, I thought he was crazy. Until I realized the BDSM-themed reality show was the perfect opportunity to ruin my stepfather's political career like he ruined my life.

All I have to do is pretend to be a submissive.

Then I'm paired with Roman Castile. Gorgeous as sin with a sadistic streak, he's as intimidating as he is dangerous, yet my body is drawn to his like there's a physical force pulling me in.

He says he can help me win…if I'm willing to give him everything.

The Power Games is a multi-part novel published in five installments:  Pregame, Mind Game, Game Plan, Game Point, and Endgame.

 

* For mature audiences only.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kairos Publishing
• Release date: Oct 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215142356

Book preview

Chapter One

Ava

I wake up to someone pounding on my door. My world remains intact for a split second before the memories of last night come rushing back to me in that way devastating events do, obliterating you in an instant—made all the worse because for a moment, for the tiniest second, you’d forgotten your world has imploded. And then it’s destroyed all over again. Another knock, and my heartrate gallops as hope takes root. Maybe it’s Roman… Maybe he didn’t leave last night after all and he’s come to say it’s all been a big misunderstanding, that he wants more than just a submissive, that he wants me—

Ava, open up.

Emmett.

For the first time since we met, he’s the last person I want to see. I had barely made it back to my room last night after the show wrapped before losing it. He, on the other hand, was bubbling with enthusiasm over winning—and winning with me. It’s like the last six weeks were just a blip on the screen and now we’re exactly where we dreamed we’d be that day when we plotted this all out in our kitchen, he’d enthused. It’s destiny!

I tried to smile, but I had to get out of there before he realized the truth: my dreams had changed, and his dream come true was the end of mine. Not that he’d see it that way. He’d hated Roman and thought he was bad for me all along.

C’mon. Let’s celebrate, he said. And—he leaned in closer—you can tell me why the hell you backed off of exposing Anthony at the eleventh hour. The rooftop bar in thirty minutes? Drinks are on me. Or you. He laughed. It doesn’t matter. We’re both fucking millionaires!

I’ve never seen him so excited about anything before. And I wanted to be excited for him. With him. But I couldn’t fake it. Not even for Emmett. I feigned a headache and escaped to my suite, promising him we’d celebrate later. It was only there, in the darkness and the safe cocoon of my bed, that I finally allowed myself to cry—deep shattering sobs I vowed I’d never allow myself to experience again. But Roman had broken the barrier I’d built to insulate me from feeling pain, or sadness, or anything really. He’d put my heart back together, only to destroy it again. And this time, I doubt it will ever heal again.

Ava! Emmett’s pounding on the door now. I’d have to be deaf not to hear it—if anyone else were on our floor they’d probably be calling security right now—but I’m silent, hoping he’ll think I’m asleep and go away. Instead, he says, C’mon, Ava. I know you’re awake. We can talk now, or we can talk later, but we’ve got to talk about …everything.

Everything.

In one night, that’s exactly what I lost. Everything. My mother, the one chance I had to expose my stepfather and take back the life he took from me, and, most importantly, the man I’d fall completely and unequivocally in love with. The one who didn’t love me back. The game is over. And even though I won, I lost.

I bury my face in my pillow to stifle my sobs until finally, I hear Emmitt’s footsteps fade, and I’m left blissfully alone again.

* * *

When I wake up again, the sunlight filtering through the gap in the drapes has mellowed to a soft gold, indicating it must be late afternoon. My eyes feel puffy, and my nose is stuffy. I don’t care. Nothing matters except that Roman is gone. My heart literally aches. I feel empty, as if my soul has been dragged from my body. I stare at the ceiling until the shadows slowly creep in and overtake the room, and the welcome oblivion of sleep envelops me again.

* * *

Once again, I wake up to the sound of knocking. Once again, I ignore it. I’m still not ready to face the world. Or Emmett. Or anyone. I wonder if I ever will be. I jam a pillow over my head to block out the noise. Maybe I’ll just stay in this hotel room until…

I hear the click of the lock and the door opening. What the hell?

Room service.

I didn’t order… My voice trails off as Emmett comes into view, dressed in his standard uniform of ripped jeans and a T-shirt that enhances his sculpted muscles and pushing a room service cart loaded with several stainless steel covered plates from which the intoxicating scent of bacon is wafting. My stomach growls.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat, as my grandmother used to say. Since you seem determined to never leave your suite, I decided to come to you. Bearing gifts of course. His cheeriness is downright annoying. My stomach growls again, louder this time, and he fixes me with a pointed stare. How long has it been since you’ve eaten?

Umm…

He rolls his eyes. God, woman. He rolls the cart closer and removes the lid of one plate, revealing fluffy scrambled eggs, toast, fruit, and bacon. Eat. I’ll make coffee.

I don’t want to get out of bed, don’t want to talk, don’t want to do anything except be left alone. I’m not hungry.

Emmett grabs a piece of bacon under my nose. Liar. Bacon is your Achilles heel.

Leave me alone. Please.

His face grows serious as he sits down on the edge of the bed. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m here, Ava. I’ll always be here. Please. Tell me what’s wrong. Whatever happened with Anthony, we’ll figure it out like we always do.

I don’t have the heart to make him leave. I can shut out everyone in the world but him. Also, I think with an internal groan, I know Emmett, and when he wants something, he won’t be deterred. Trying to summon a smile, I take a deep breath and resolve myself to getting out of bed. Okay. Can you, um, step outside for a minute?

He lifts an eyebrow. Why? So you can lock the deadbolt this time?

No, I retort, but I can’t help my lips from twitching up at the corners. Although that’s not a bad idea. I glance down at the covers pulled up over my bare breasts. I, uh, need to get dressed.

In the beginning, after Roman had so memorably thrown away my sleep shirt and forbidden me to wear clothes to bed, it had been hard to get used to sleeping naked. But after the finale, without thinking, I’d stripped off my clothes before sliding between the cool sheets. Whether by habit or because I’ve truly become the sensual being Roman brought out in me that relishes the hedonistic pleasure of cool sheets against my bare skin, I don’t know.

I’m the Helix Dom and you’re the sub. You better get used to being naked around me. Emmett’s warm brown eyes are twinkling, but it’s a valid point, and one I’m not ready to think about yet. It was one thing when it was Roman turning me on and demanding that I open myself to things I never imagined I would consider, much less enjoy, but Emmett is, well, Emmett.

I swallow past the lump in my throat at the thought of Roman and grab the closest thing within reach—an empty water bottle—and throw it at Emmett. Out.

Fine. But if you don’t open the door again within three minutes, you’ll be sorry.

He’s giving me his fiercest Dom look, eyes narrowed and face stern, but it doesn’t faze me. I know his soft side. Nonetheless, after throwing on an over-sized T-shirt and Nike shorts, I open the door for him. Emmett is nothing if not persistent.

He goes straight to the coffee maker, making a cup of coffee to which he adds two sugars and a splash of milk—just the way I like it. He hands it to me.

Okay, spill it, he says. And eat, goddamn it.

I take the cup and sink down into one of the wingback chairs, where I push the eggs around the plate.

I take a deep breath. Roman… I begin, but the tears I thought were spent threaten again and I stop.

What does he have to do with anything? Emmett says curtly. When I don’t respond, he sets his coffee cup down, sits on the coffee table next to me and, with a finger under my chin, forces my gaze to his. His eyes narrow at the misery he no doubt sees on my face. Aw, hell. Tell me you didn’t fall for him. I’m silent, and after a few seconds, he curses under his breath. Then, in a gentler tone, he adds, "Look, Ava. It’s science. Not love. When you do a scene, your cortisol levels increase, which in turn releases dopamine. Like when after you go for a long, punishing run and you feel like you can conquer the world.

"Don’t get that dopamine rush mixed up with feelings for him. It’s not uncommon. Subs experience that high with their Dom and become addicted to him, like a drug. But it’s not him she’s addicted to. It’s the feeling, which can be replicated with anyone else you do a scene with. I promise. There’s nothing special about Roman Castile, other than the fact he’s a millionaire and took advantage of someone with no experience."

That wasn’t his—

He cuts me off before I can finish. Ava, seriously. Forget about him. You’re better off without him. Whatever you think you felt for him was nothing but a physical response to an intense experience.

Without waiting for my response, he moves on to a different subject. Tell me why you backed off of exposing Anthony.

I sigh, trying to push thoughts of Roman out of my mind. It’s clear Emmett doesn’t want to talk about him, and he’s right; the sooner I stop thinking about Roman, the better. Whatever we had is over, or more accurately, never existed in the first place.

Anthony was here yesterday, I say.

He’s glowering, but all he says is, Go on.

He threatened to hurt Tessa and Rose if I exposed him.

Son of a bitch. He slams his fist on the table and gets to his feet, pacing back and forth several times before stopping in front of me. You think he actually would?

You know he would. And he has the connections and money to do it.

Why didn’t you tell me?

I didn’t have time. He cornered me in the garden maze right before the finale. Besides, what could you have done?

I could’ve killed the bastard so he can never hurt you again. Emmett’s expression is harsh, and his lips are pressed into a firm line.

I stand and grip his muscular forearms, forcing him to stop pacing. And then you’d be in jail for life, and I’d truly be alone, I say softly. "It’s not worth it. He’s not worth it. Besides, it’s over. I don’t think he’ll bother me again."

Emmett shoots me an incredulous look.

Really. We made a deal.

His eyes narrow. What kind of deal?

Even though he made sure I wouldn’t ruin his career by exposing him like I originally planned, he knows me just being on the show…not to mention winning…would hurt his political aspirations if my name is linked with his. So—I take a deep breath—we came to an agreement. We’ve cut all ties with each other. Which means I can never contact my mother again. My voice hitches at the thought. If our relationship ever comes up, which it probably will, he or I will tell the public we’ve been estranged for years . . . ever since I—I make air quotes—’spread lies about him because I was jealous and didn’t want to share my mother with anyone.’ Knowing Emmett is going to explode at the next part, I mumble, And I agreed to backup whatever lies he comes up to explain that.

Why the hell did you agree to that bullshit?

He’s already taken everything he can from me. If I don’t do what he says, then he will hurt the people I love, since he can no longer hurt me. But if I severe all ties with him and my mother, he’ll leave them, and me, alone.

Christ, Ava. Emmett rakes a hand across his face. Has he addressed your relationship with him with the press?

I shrug. How would I know? We’ve been isolated from the outside world for weeks.

Not anymore. He tilts his head toward the desk, where I notice for the first time my cell phone is sitting.

I jump up and race over to it, but it’s dead. After rummaging through my suitcase that was emptied weeks ago, I finally find the long-forgotten charger at the bottom of an inside pocket. I plug it in while I read the note from Logan that was left next to my phone.

Congratulations, and welcome back to the outside world.

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