Page 27 of The Girl and the Cobra

“You brought her here for me.” As I say it, Wolf’s smirk widens, and I know without a doubt it’s true. “She’s some sort of… test or something. You’re not helping her—you’re testingme.”

He doesn’t deny it. “I was wondering how long it would take for you to figure it out. Of course, it really depended on Mabel and how quickly she opened up to you, but I knew it would come to you sooner or later.”

“Why?” One of my hands curls into a fist at my sides, which he instantly notices. “Why bring her here? She’s a person, not a toy.”

“I’m not the one who needs reminded of that, you are. She is in no danger from me… but you?” Wolf hums, leaving me to put it together again. “Her fate is in your hands in every way. I will admit, I didn’t think things would happen this fast, but I am pleased so far.”

I let out a chuckle full of disbelief. This guy really is nuts. “You’re crazy.”

“I’m not the one with a shock collar on my neck and scars littered all over my body,” he shoots back. “You are a doer. You put plans into action, and you put your all into those plans even if they blow up in your face.”

“Is that what you are? A doer, but better than me?”

Wolf chuckles, but it’s a dark sound. “I learned a long time ago that I am a fixer. I am uniquely equipped to fix problems most people can’t or aren’t willing to. You and your… let’s call them destructive habits, are certainly a problem worthy of my time. When I was contacted by Mike Altier about Mabel, I knew she’d be perfect. Her issues complement yours quite well, don’t you think?”

I shake my head once and mutter, “You should not toy with her life like this.”

“And I’m not. You are. I did not bring her here for me. As you said, I brought her here for you. What you end up doing will be your choice entirely. Will she come out of this house unscathed, or will you break her, like you have the bad habit of doing to those you love?”

“You are so fucked up.”

Wolf chuckles softly at that. “It’s not a contest. This is your story, not mine. Will you learn to accept the darker parts of you while learning to move on and be better, or will you fall into old habits again? Will the Cobra make an appearance here?”

The Cobra would’ve already killed Wolf. The fucking Cobra wouldn’t be trapped in this goddamned house with a collararound his neck, stuck in a liminal space while the rest of the world moves on outside and the only person he ever truly loved forgets about him.

There was a time, not too long ago, when I couldn’t separate myself from the Cobra. I was the Cobra. That mask became my new identity after everything went to hell all those years ago. But now…

Who is Tristan Arrowwood? Is he a man worthy of saving, of fixing? I don’t think so. Many nights I spent wondering why Shay didn’t aim the gun a little bit higher and to the left; she was a good shot. She could have easily put a bullet in my head and put me down for good.

“If Mabel finds out,” I start.

“I don’t plan on telling her. Do you?” When I don’t answer him, Wolf continues, “I wouldn’t, if I were you. Though I do wonder how she would react to learning the truth about your past. She knows you’re violent, that you’ve killed—but she doesn’t know the full truth of it. Will you tell her? Will you lay yourself bare before her, or will you lie, as you grew accustomed to doing ever since the night you killed your parents?”

The only thing I do is shake my head and mutter, “You’re fucking insane.”

That earns me an actual smile—but it doesn’t look like a smile. No, it’s an expression that mimics a smile. There is no true happiness behind it, only a cold, icy emptiness that Wolf is adept at hiding from most people.

But not me. I know the emptiness inside because I felt the same for five years. Those five years, after I killed my parents and became the Cobra, were the worst years of my life. I wouldn’t want to relive them for anything. Pain was the only thing that reminded me I was alive, hence all the scars on my body.

I thought I was still empty. Empty and angry. I thought that’s all I would ever be until death finally took me in its embrace… but I was wrong—and the reason I was wrong, ultimately, is because of Wolf and his calculations.

All the more reason I should not entertain anything with Mabel, why I shouldn’t let her in, why I shouldn’t spend any time thinking about her.

As I leave Wolf’s office, I already know that’ll be impossible. There’s no way in hell I’m strong enough to stay away from that girl.

Still, I need to try, for both our sakes.

Chapter Twelve – Mabel

Dad visits me after a few days, and he brings two boxes of pizza with him. It’s already getting dark out, and way too chilly to eat outside, so we eat in the dining room. He invites Dr. Wolf to eat with us, but Dr. Wolf declines and makes himself scarce.

And Tristan, the other man in the house? We haven’t really spoken since the day he abruptly left to go talk to Dr. Wolf right after I told him about Jordan. I want to say it doesn’t hurt my feelings, but that’d make me a liar.

A slice of cheesy pizza sits in front of me. I have to force it down; it’s good, but I’m not really hungry. Eating is just a chore lately. I wish I didn’t have to do it.

My dad, on the other hand, chows down as he talks about his new job. Normally, if we were home, he’d be showering and hitting the sack, but he’s purposefully making time to visit me. I can appreciate it, but at the same time, I don’t need him to check up on me.

I’m okay. Mostly.

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