Page 10 of The Game

My initial suspect had been Nick. Ellie, before I disappeared, told me about his proposal the night of that dinner party, and how every so often afterward, she’d been unmistakably followed by someone. But that doesn’t quite add up, because some of the times she’d text me to say she thought someone was watching her, Nick would be at our house, or we’d be having dinner at his parents’. Unless he can somehow be in two places at once, I don’t think it is him. And other than Nick Fordson and his family, I don’t know anyone else from the Underworld.

Jameson and Tristan wanted me to stay as far away from their cousin Maks as possible for whatever reason, but I know they have other family over on the East Coast. It wouldn’t be family, right?

I snort to myself as I turn right-side up. Family can be even more evil than strangers. I should know that better than anyone. Blood means nothing in this world when depraved desires are allowed to run free.

The change in the tenor of the music makes my heart sink; my part is over. Mustering up the strength and fortitude to give a small finale, I twist and turn and unravel, the silk rubbing deliciously soft against my bare skin. When my heels hit the springboard, I am met with a small smattering of claps. I stalk off the stage without meeting anyone’s eyes, brushing past Teddy and the new girl, Rebecca. Shoving the collapsable handle, I am greeted by the black painted hallway, a safe haven of sorts, and tug my robe off its hook. This silk is cool now, making my skin burst into goosebumps.

Before I can clack off to the dressing rooms to change, the door opens behind me, and I whirl to find none other than Daniel, that beady glint in his eyes as he offers me a slow clap. Crossing my arms below my now-covered breasts, I rankle and back up a pace, only to find my shoulders hitting the wall as he pushes forward.

“Well done, little Alice. You’ve impressed quite a few prominent figures tonight.”

I fight back my snort. Prominent figures. Is it the governor again? The police chief? Or the district court judge? Because Dick and Daniel have them all wrapped around their gnarled fingers.

I never knew I had a grandfather, or an uncle; my mother kept me from them, and now I understand why. My stomach heaves at the thought of what I’ll be doing sooner rather than later. It’s then I remember the chess moves I’ve been attempting to teach myself over the last week and a half, but I always fall asleep, too exhausted to keep pace with school, this, and everything else going on.

“Joy,” I mutter, trying to keep it short. “Let me go change and then I’ll—”

He steps forward, cutting me off, his suited body hovering above mine. His hair is graying, less blond than my father’s had been, and there are wrinkles sprouting along his forehead and around his eyes. He hates me; he does this because my mother’s testimony imprisoned my father, and the year he was released, my step-brothers killed him in an act of righteous rage. I hadn’t even been mad, or frightened, when they’d sat me down and told me. They’ve always been honest, and my betrayal cuts me deeper than they will ever realize. That thought alone has my stomach aching as though it’s been pierced by a fiery sword.

The stench of booze hits me as he reaches up and plucks a strand of hair from my shoulder, my skin crawling as he twirls it around his fingers. His voice is low and husky when he speaks again, stepping closer, wedging his knee between my legs as I fight to close them.

“You’ve been requested for a private performance, but I denied them. See what a good uncle I can be to you, Alice? I can give you the world,” he whispers, leaning in with fervor as he speaks and I begin to tremble. He’s usually not this intoxicated, but tonight was special. Teddy didn’t lie about that, I suppose.

Pressing my shoulders as deeply into the unforgivable wall as I am able, I turn my face away from his, holding myself tighter and locking my jaw. It’s these exact moments, the ones I fear, the ones where I have to wonder if he’ll take it farther. I know why he hasn’t yet; Dick has demanded him not to. It makes me believe that even though they have the upper hand as well as my inheritance, they are still fucking terrified of what the Stefanov twins would do to them if word ever got out. I cling to that so tightly in my chest that my heart aches.

Just when I go to shove past with a biting remark, he presses the front of his body to mine, his pitiful erection digging into my stomach. My eyes slip closed as tears threaten.

“What did you let them do to your body, Alice? Why don’t you ever show me?”

Bile rises up my throat, hot and acidic. He only asks this when he’s plastered, and the stench of booze on his fetid breath is confirmation enough.

“Never—” I begin to hiss, but he strikes out, gripping my cheeks between his strong fingers and forcing my gaze to his. Veins like spiderwebs pave the way to his dull blue irises, the same shade that runs in my family, apparently, a shade I am learning to loathe.

“Tell me, or you can suck the mayor’s cock as well as mine when you lose your little game tonight.”

Tears fill my vision again. What I had with my twins is something I consider pure, sacred, a level of trust and love that I never thought existed in this fucked up world. I’ll never share with him what transpired between us. I’ll never give in, let him further torment my mind as well as my body.

My body will heal.

The mind is another matter altogether.

“No,” I growl, attempting to shove him, using the wall as leverage. He doubles down, pinning me with vigor, one hand fisting my hair, the other diving down into my robe. My muscles jump and contract as his fingers skim past my belly button and show no signs of stopping. Struggling anew in my panic, I twist and writhe and cry out, and just when the pads of his fingers brush against my bare mound, the metallic clang of the door saves me.

Daniel straightens and backs away, wavering in his drunkenness, and I quickly fold the flimsy robe back over my body, swiping the traitorous tears from my cheeks.

“What the fuck do you need, freak?” Daniel spits. My eyes jump to Teddy’s in alarm; I don’t want him of all people seeing this. It’s just one more thing he can torment me with. His jaw works as his eyes trace my face, his brows raised slightly, giving him a look I’ve not seen before, one of kindness, boyishness. After a moment, he glances at Daniel.

“Rebecca twisted her ankle, and the rest of the girls are busy. I need her,” he says, nodding to me, “to perform.”

Daniel snorts.

“She’s busy.”

Teddy shrugs, crossing his arms, acting like the cocky, nonchalant freak I’ve always known him to be.

“Fine. You explain to your patrons why you surcharged tonight and they only received a handful of performances.”

My eyes jump to Daniel’s wavering form, his thin lips twisted into a sneer before he drags his hand across his stubbled jaw.

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