Page 373 of Double or Nothing

“Please don’t acknowledge me, Alice,” I say quietly, dropping the accent. “Just play along.”

Silence.

Then Alice breathes.

She recognises me. Her breath hitches, just a touch.

“I need you to know three things,” I continue. “The first is that Bryce has resigned from Parker Capital.”

Her silence changes.

Not gone.

Listening.

She clears her throat.

“Really. I had no idea… about the chairs. Is that a permanent feature?” she asks.

I look at Bryce.

“Yes. It means he’s free.”

His eyes close.

I move on before my voice can betray me.

“The second thing is that a whole collection of people are asking to see your work. Collectors. Galleries. Helena Mercer. You haven’t been forgotten, Soul Girl. Quite the opposite.”

A breath shudders through the speaker.

“Thank you for letting me know. And the third thing?” Alice asks.

My steel flame sharpens.

“The third thing is that your dad and Christopher are lying cunts, and it’s up to you what you do with that information.”

Bryce’s mouth twitches.

“Actually, scrap that,” I say. “There are four things you need to know. Bryce and I both love you, Alice. We both adore you. We both want you to come home. Home here, with us, wherever that may be. We’ll both be waiting if you want us, however long it takes.”

No orders. No demand that she packs a bag. No crazy rescue attempt she hasn’t asked for.

We’ll wait.

“I see.” Alice’s voice gains the faintest edge of life. “Thank you. I didn’t realise there were so many style options.”

“Do you have a preference?”

“Yes,” she says. “I’m a personal fan of red and purple. They have always been my favourites.”

My chest cracks.

I take hold of Bryce’s hand on the kitchen island.

Red and purple.

The Parker Otleys haven’t erased her soul entirely, thank fuck for that.