Page 381 of Double or Nothing

Our beautiful Soul Girl is standing there in the corridor with a case at her side. The one she borrowed from Jack. The one she packed with a dark cloud of pain hanging over the whole apartment.

For one suspended second, neither of us moves, just staring. The sight of her takes my breath away.

Her face is wet with tears, her hair ravaged by the wind. She has no coat on, only a sleeveless floral dress that looks the part for a Parker dinner table.

A round of sobs starts up as she launches herself at me, leaping straight into my arms. The force sends me back a step as I catch her, but I hold firm, her legs around my waist like she was born to be here. Her arms lock around my neck, and she buries her face against my shoulder, shuddering, crying.

I can’t believe she’s here. Alice is back.

The thought strikes with such emotion that everything else disappears.

A fresh cry tears out of her.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Bryce. I’m sorry I cost you your job. I fucked it up for you.”

Her words knock me sideways.

“Jesus Christ, Alice. It’s ok. You have nothing to be sorry for. My job is the last thing I give a fuck about right now. What I care about is you.”

The pain rips through me. Regret piled on top of regret.

I should’ve stayed in the cupboard with her. Told her to take off the fucking ring. Reached for her instead of making her stand alone, forced into the position of taking another man’s hand.

I drag the suitcase across the threshold and kick the door closed.

Alice flinches as the lock slides into place. The reaction moves through her whole body.

“It’s all right.” I hold her more firmly. “You’re safe. You’re safe now.”

The words nearly undo me.

William Parker is no longer standing between us. No Christopher fucking Otley waiting beyond a dining-room door. Only Alice, alone, trembling in my arms.

She’s fucking freezing.

“Where’s your coat?” I ask her.

“I didn’t bring one. I didn’t want one.”

Her words arrive between short, uneven breaths.

“I managed to get a cab, just about. I only had a twenty and it ran out three streets back. Then I walked. I remembered the code for downstairs, but I don’t have a key for this door.” Her voice hitches. “I’m just so glad you were here.”

She pulls away enough to look around.

“Where’s Jack?”

“At the casino. He’s been back at work for a while now.”

“Back at work?”

I nod. “Yep. Responsibility got the better of him. He’s been turning up like a good boy.”

That brings a hint of a smile to her face.

“A good boy? Jack?! Wow, you must have rubbed off on him.”

I carry her through to the living room.