Page 12 of Roulette: The Madam

God is quite generous, even for monsters.

Teddy.

Considerthe bills a contribution to your newfound success. There’s more to come.

I sighed,savoring the sound of his voice.

It was him. The man of little words who suddenly had so much to say.

The children.They’d softened him around the edges. They’d brought out a much more tolerable side of Chemistry that we never thought we’d experience.

It was him. He was the reason I swiped a single tear from the corner of my eye. I shook away the rest as I patted my eyes in an attempt to push them back into my body. Lonesomeness crept up my throat, threatening to choke me to death.

It didn’t matter that Rather was a mere fifteen minutes away or that Range was approximately six minutes away. Neither did it matter that Rugger would be returning soon. Royce’s proximity hardly mattered either. My heart and head were at war. Because, no matter how many of us were here, he wasn’t. Our father wasn’t. Our mother wasn’t.

“Ugh. Get it together you crying ass bitch,” I chastised with a groan. “Fucking crybaby.”

I folded the note and pressed it against my chest.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

I allowed five seconds to pass, giving me a chance to get myself together.

“That’s your one,” I warned, sliding the note in my purse and replacing it with the champagne bottle.

I twisted the muselet and tossed it on the counter. My fingers surrounded the cork before pulling.

Pop.

The familiar sound brought a sense of exultation. I’d made my way back to Clarke and the visit wasn’t temporary. I was back home.

“I know that’s the fuck right,” I shrieked, excitedly.

I placed the bottle at my lips, preparing to drink before my intrusive thoughts began poking fun at me.

Now, you’re too excited, big throat. Get a glass. Don’t let your excitement for Clarke conceal your class. A glass, babe.

With a roll of my eyes, I lowered the bottle onto the counter. I began to stalk the cabinets one after the other until I located the extensive glassware section. Chemistry knew me well.

I removed a champagne flute and ran it under warm water. With a paper towel from the roll near the stove, I dried the glass and rejoined the champagne and start-up funds on the other end of the kitchen.

“There,” I whispered, watching in pure delight as the bubbly filled the flute.

I retrieved my gun, keeping it near my side as I made my way through my new home. There was the foyer that led to the study that was just around the corner that invited me into the kitchen with an open floor plan.

Click.

Clack.

Off the kitchen was the dining room. It was fitting for a family the size of mine. The open concept continued into the dining room and led me around another corner where a living room covered at least twelve hundred square footage. In addition, there was a full-sized laundry room, four-car garage, two bedrooms, and a family room on the first level. I climbed the glass stairs one at a time. My heels collided with the clear matter.

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