Page 16 of The Game

“Damn. Next time, I’ll aim for your jugular.”

His humor is quick-witted, and though part of me rankles and wishes to bite back, I think I am beginning to understand him a little better.

“How did you know that would…deter him?” I choose my words carefully, not wishing to divulge exactly what happens up those steps and beyond that closed door. For whatever reason, he seems to already know, though. He drops his gaze and chuckles, walking away to the mouth of the alley. Annoyed, I follow, my tennis shoes slapping against the asphalt, holes where my big toes are. My jeans slip down, and I hike them up as best I can. Not having money for food is one thing, but that’s easier to bear when you have no desire to eat, anyways. Clothes that fall off are becoming a real pain in my ass, though.

“Dick’s afraid of blood. Surprised it took you so long to figure out,” he calls over his shoulder as I jog to keep pace with his long strides.

“Yeah, well, I was mostly focused on not failing his stupid fucking physics class—”

He whirls on me so quickly I stumble backwards, his brows hovering low over his piercing eyes.

“He was your teacher?” he hisses. Feeling cornered, I glare and cross my arms, refusing to answer. Teddy backs off, running his hand through his hair again before mumbling to himself, “What a fucking surprise.”

“Shouldn’t surprise you,” I growl. “He runs an empire where he exploits women for profit. And you work for him, too!” I say, throwing my hands up, allowing all of my pent-up anger to seep out.

His answering smile is sinister.

“You don’t fucking know me, little spoiled bunny.”

My mouth screws up in fury.

“I am the furthest thing from spoiled—”

“Yeah?” he hisses, stepping closer, towering over me in a way that makes my thighs clench. Stupid fucking fear response. I am so not normal. “You mean to tell me you know what it’s like to barely scrape by in life? What it’s like to dive through dumpsters for food when you’re eight? You may have it tough now, Alice, but you’ve had it pretty fucking cushy until this point.”

My fists shake with my sudden fury.

“Don’t pretend to know what I’ve been through.”

His glare deepens to rival mine.

“Then don’t pretend to know what I’ve been through, either, got it?”

The submissive in me bows immediately to his demand, and I know he sees it when his eyes flicker and soften. With a resigned sigh, he backs off and turns around to walk away again. The metro stop I need is in the opposite direction from here, but walking alone through the early morning streets feels somehow even more lonely now, even if the crunchy orange hued leaves tumbling down the sidewalk and collecting in drain grates make my soul happy.

“C’mon, bunny. Let’s make sure you won’t lose that finger.”

My eyes jump to his retreating form, and my feet shift across the pebble-strewn ground of their own accord, crunching over shards of glass as I follow without thought. We move silently side by side, and I have to admit, being next to him makes me feel safer—safer than I’ve felt since the day I left the men I love behind.

“Why do you call me bunny?” I mutter to make some form of conversation. He chuckles, shifting only his eyes to peek down at me.

“The day you came to the circus, you looked like a little lost bunny.”

“Gee, thanks,” I mutter with a roll of my eyes. He laughs, shaking his head.

“Better than what I call Meg.”

“Which would be what?” I hedge. His answering grin is mordacious.

“Megasorous Rex.”

I laugh so hard I snort, covering the sound with the back of my not-so-bloody hand. It’s silent for a few beats before I press a little more.

“So…everyone there seems to like you. The girls, I mean.”

I watch as the side of his face frowns.

“And?”

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