Page 34 of The Game

“But she wasn’t, and she was there to warn you.”

My stomach riots, but I know Teddy is going to give me the truth without sugar coating it. Taking a deep breath, I release it and nod for him to continue. He scratches at his jaw, averting his eyes for a moment, his temples flaring briefly before settling back down. When his eyes find mine again, they are unreadable. I hate how easily he can hide himself from everyone, and it makes goosebumps pimple my skin.

“She wanted me to pass along some information regarding a close friend of yours named Ellie. She’s with a man named Nick. He found her…in pretty bad shape.”

My stomach sinks as my heart races, palms going clammy.

“Bad shape…as in how?” I whisper. Dipping his chin, he levels me with a grave look.

“She was gang raped and almost trafficked. I guess Nick and your brothers found her the day before her shipment to Bangkok was scheduled. You never would’ve seen her again, Alice.”

Tears spring into my eyes, and I grind my teeth to keep them there despite the pain this causes my aching jaw. My twins helped find my best friend, and the news of what condition they found her in has my heart racing furiously. I feel like a piece of shit, hiding out here, enjoying free meals and a warm bed and hot showers, even if I have to play this game each and every day. I should’ve somehow been there for my friend, a girl who’d always been there for me.

Teddy’s hand settles over mine, stilling my nervousness. I cannot look him in the eye, but when he speaks, his voice is gentle.

“You didn’t know, Alice, but you do now, and we’ll just work that much harder to get you back to them, ok?”

Sniffling, I nod before I shake my head, brows drawing together in confusion.

“So…so Aria was looking for me and then left? Who did Daniel try to—”

The way his lips flatline when I glance up is confirmation enough, and my fingers fly to my mouth in horror as my eyes widen.

“No,” I gasp softly. “No, not Aria! Did he—”

He’s quick to shake his head.

“I told her to leave, showed her the way out, but I guess she stayed and Daniel must’ve found her snooping. And then that client found them both. He saved her.”

My brows pull together in confusion again, and Teddy slides the bagel I’ve been picking at to his side, eyes glinting in triumph. After the news I’m hearing, eating is the last thing on my mind.

“That’s…odd…isn’t it?”

He shrugs, mouth full.

“I mean, the dude carved the wordRapistacross Daniel’s forehead. I think we’re pastodd.”

My eyes bulge as I swirl my coffee, deep in thought, trying to connect the dots.

“This is the man I was supposedly sold to?”

He rips off another bite and nods. I tap my fingers to my bottom lip, enjoying the cool smoothness of the ebony polish.

“He took Aria instead. She told me she was fine, that he’d helped her and that she felt safe leaving with him.”

Now I’m angry.

“You ass—”

His eyes blaze as he sets aside his breakfast, and I shrink back in submission.

“I think he was there to find you, Alice.”

“And what makes you think that?” I retort with venom, crossing my arms. He’s quick to smirk and cock his brow at my bratty display, and the hunger in his eyes makes my insides clench. Something tells me he’d have no problem punishing me, and then I feel a flood of guilt as soon as that thought arouses me.

“One, he’s Russian. Two, he had a wolf tattooed on his neck. You told me that was like their symbol, right? Three, he rescued a girl he didn’t even know and helped to get her out. Four, I found a crushed microphone near Daniel afterwards. Sophisticated technology, for sure. Stuff that one hacker kid would have access to, right?”

Nodding as I peel at my bottom lip, I consider his insight, fire igniting my veins at the prospect they’d sent someone in to rescue me.

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