Page 86 of The Game

“Let’s get through a cycle, then we can worry about fertility.”

It was one of the first questions Alice had asked her upon waking from her coma, whether or not she’d be able to conceive and carry again. It had stunned us, but upon realizing all she’d lost, it made complete sense. Her maternal instincts shouldn’t surprise us, for her mother was a selfless, amazing woman, and I’ve no doubt Alice will be the same. No matter what it takes for her to bear a child, we will help her through it all.

Doctor Johnson packs up, snapping her black bag together, and I check my watch again as discreetly as I can. As they say their goodbyes and schedule another home visit, I make the excuse of needing to speak with James Fordson, Nick’s father, pecking Alice on the head before I leave. As exhausted and drained as she seems, I doubt she’ll question my absence.

As soon as I am in my car, my GPS set, my thumb hovers over his number, a contact I’ve refused to save out of pettiness. I am a fucking hypocrite for telling Tristan to get the fuck over it when I myself can barely stand to look the man in the eyes, but there are still loose ends, and I undeniably need his help. He knows certain facets of this world better than we ever will, and if we have any hope of finding Violet, helping Ellie, and eradicating anyone that seeks to begin another similar business, I’ll have to suck it the fuck up and work with him.

“How was therapy?” is his first question. Trees blur by as the sun descends, thankfully staying lighter later every day. This time of year is fucking depressing in the Pacific Northwest. It’s then I realize Valentine’s Day is drawing nearer. Perhaps I should plan something for Alice, but I pull up short on that thought; what would she even want? It seems everything we try to give her now is received politely but not with any ounce of excitement.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” I growl.

“Ooh, touchy,” he bites back. “I’ll assume it went well, judging by your attitude.”

“Fuck off and tell me what it is I am meeting you for.”

This man is all about veiled secrecy, and though it annoys the piss out of me, I can’t blame him; he doesn’t technically exist anymore. After everything crumbled, he all but erased him and his mother from the system, purchasing that abandoned asylum and the twenty acres surrounding it with cash, all under the table.

“Did you tell Alice?”

“No.”

“Good…she’s pretty feisty when it comes to this subject, but I think she deserves to know eventually.”

“How about I conduct my relationship the way I fucking choose, and you stay out of it?” I hiss. It is quiet on the other end for a beat, but when he speaks again, his voice is deadly calm.

“You need to understand I am not going anywhere. If you tear her from me, she will hate you forever. You will never comprehend what we went through. Be a fucking man and allow her that.”

Glaring out the windshield as a few raindrops patter the glass, I cannot formulate an appropriate enough answer, because I know he is correct. When I don’t respond, he speaks.

“And I thought the other one hated me,” he mutters, making a small smile twitch against my every wish.

“He cycles through emotions faster than socks. I do not.”

“Fair enough…” he trails off before clearing his throat. “How…how was the doctor?”

Sighing through my nose, my eyes shift from side to side across the empty, wet highway, my grip tightening on the steering wheel.

“She’s healing exceptionally well. We’ll know more once she has a cycle.”

“Good. How far out are you?” It is easy to hear he is driving as well, and as I check the map on my dash, I answer swiftly.

“Twenty. What is this about?” I press.

“I think it best you just…show up with an open mind.”

His words do not frighten me, but the trust I’ve extended to him for Alice’s benefit is wearing thin; I should’ve at least told Nick or Jonah where I was going. But as a dark chuckle reaches my ears before his phone crackles, it seems I’ve found someone as sinister as myself.

“I’m not luring you to kill you. If I really wanted to, you’d never see it coming. See you soon.”

And the line disconnects.

* * *

The abandoned warehouse looms into view against a purplish sky. Parking my car, I recheck my weapons in their various holsters, always over-prepared for anything, a trait our father instilled in us. Exiting with a sigh, Teddy stands at the entrance, for once not being flamboyant in his displays. Dressed in black from head to toe, hair slicked back and freshly shaved along the sides, I often find myself staring, attempting to see what it is about him that attracts Alice.

But I always settle on the same conclusion; he’s fucking powerful in his own way, his darkness utterly consuming, something about him pulling you in—like a black hole. There is no choice, no resisting his force. He is unlike anyone I’ve ever met before, and although I know the sick things I am capable of, although my very cousin Maks is about as psychotic as they come—Teddy overshadows us all. He could rule in Hell without batting an eye, could find solace amongst the brimstone and fire. There is nothing he is unwilling to do, and in the same breath, it is clear he fights for those who cannot fight for themselves.

That is why I believe Alice loves him, and I will not begrudge her that. Her choices are made carefully, thoughtfully, and at least she’s fond of someone who is selfless as well as lethal. I suppose Tristan and I are the same, or at least I hope she sees us that way.

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