Page 390 of Double or Nothing

“I don’t care what you believe.”

“Reid, get serious here, you foolhardy asshole.”

I can’t resist giving him the middle finger. “You can’t buy me, you dumb sonofabitch. I don’t have a price tag.”

His face darkens. Really darkens. Like a volcano burning in the ashes of Hell.

I smile.

The great William Parker, confronted by the possibility that his money has no function in the room.

He turns towards Bryce.

“What do you want, Maddocks? A new job? Name the country and company. I can arrange an introduction anywhere in the world. London, New York, Singapore. A salary beyond anything Reid’s vanity project can offer.” He fakes a smile. “You can have real independence, Bryce. Leave Alice alone and stop indulging this godawful fantasy.”

Bryce looks at the man he worshipped for years, and there’s a flash of humility. A flash of loyalty. A flash of respect. The instinct to explain himself until Parker grants him permission to exist.

Then it disappears.

Boom. Gone.

Dead and buried in an instant.

I see the outrage in BT’s eyes.

I have to resist the urge to laugh when Bryce mirrors my actions with a middle finger of his own.

“Fuck right off,” Bryce tells him.

My chest fills with pride. Hell yes. I could kiss him so bad right now.

Parker glares at him but Bryce doesn’t look away.

“I mean it, Bill,” Bryce says. “You can’t buy me. Not anymore.”

Excellent.

Parker turns to Alice next, and gives the most ridiculous attempt at a smile.

“Ok, darling. Let’s think this through. What are you so hurt about and what do you want? Tell me, and we’ll sort it out for you. I’m sorry if you’ve been neglected. We’ll make sure we pursue your career. Put you on the world map. Make sure every art gallery in the country is vying for a piece of your work.”

“Don’t call me that,” she says. “I’m not your darling girl anymore, Dad. I’m just myself.”

“Come on, Alice Rose. You’re throwing away your family.”

“No. I’m refusing to throw myself away for it.”

Parker’s patience cracks. I see it in his eyes.

“You’re standing in a casino with two delinquent men, making decisions based on infatuation. This isn’t you, Alice. This isn’t the girl I raised.”

Christopher laughs.

“This is insane. Honestly, Bill. What the hell is going on here? You said that Alice would be ideal for motherhood, but it seems the opposite is true.”

Alice turns towards her ex-fiancé.

“What does that mean? The opposite is true?”