These Vicious Games (Seattle Undeground)

Chapter 34

This is some serious Saprano’s shit.

In the damn therapist office like Tony Soprano.

I glower at the small tiny woman who stares at me expectantly. I can’t even remember what the hell she asked.

“Atticus, I asked why you’re here?”

“Because my future wife deserves a somewhat sane husband.”

Jullia adjusts her glasses, “You should want to get better for yourself, not someone else.”

I scoff, “Not in this lifetime.”

“Fine. Let’s get into your childhood.”

“Damn, Jullia. At least give me some lube before you fuck me. I just sat down.”

Her eyes widen comically and I have to hide my smirk.

“Chill, Jullia, let's dive into why I am the way I am, yeah? You know parts of it, but not all of it.”

By the time our hour is up, Jullia has little to say, if anything. She wasn't there for very long before I took care of Ma’am. Julia never saw the worst side of everything.

“Well, Julia, what do you have to say now?”

She clears her throat, “I’d say we have lots of work to do. More than I originally thought.”

Yeah, I fucking figured.

“I just want to be good enough for her, and with everything, especially with Ma’am, as you know,” I look pointedly at her.

“It’s not about you being good enough for her. It’s about you being good to her .”

I watch from my car as Francis and Constance walk peacefully downtown, pointing out things to each other. I envy the old man. Getting to spend all his time with my Little Bird.

Her sundress blows in the fall breeze and I swear her scent carries through the vents of my car. I’m delusional, I know this.

I’ve never missed a soul on this Earth for one second of my life, but the last couple of weeks have been worse than my recurring nightmares. Makes me want to kidnap her back to our home, but then I remember why and who I’m doing this for.

After facing down my father again, I realized I killed him too quickly. I had questions to ask. Like, why? Why he did this and why he made me like this. And now I’ll never get the answers. Jullia is helping me through this process. That old woman sure knows how to piss me off. But she’s good for me.

My phone vibrates and I look down.

Don’t change completely. I fell in love with the Beast, not the prince.

I look up in time to capture her eyes before she disappears around a building. My chest does the whole warming thing that makes me feel slightly uncomfortable, but in a good way.

I don't respond, I smile and click my phone screen off.

Jameson watches me over his glass. His predatory gaze and aloof lawyer attitude really pisses me off. “As your lawyer, it’s my job to tell you this is stupid.”

“Actually, it’s your job to get the paperwork for me and shut up.”

He smiles, “You’re a delight, has anyone ever told you that?”

I bare my teeth at him. “Plenty.”

He sighs, setting his glass down. “Listen, I understand making sure she’s taken care of, but leaving everything you own to her is unnecessary.”

“Is it?” I volley back. “I could walk out of this club and be shot in the dome.”

“The chances of that happening are-”

I cut him off. “High. We both know that.”

“Fine, but no prenup is insane. You’re one of the richest men in Seattle, you own a goddamned island for christ sakes.”

“It’s my decision, now hand the damn paperwork over.”

With a sign, Jameson slides it over and watches with true horror as I sign it.

“I’m still advising against this,” he mumbles.

“I’ll pay you fifty percent extra to keep your opinions to yourself.”

“Always a pleasure, Atticus.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I mumble into my drink.

I look down at my watch, slumping in my chair as Jameson leaves and my mark enters. Hanson Cummings. Owner of a dark web page who exploits children. I’m in the process of getting the website down, but the dark web is a whole other ball game.

Once he’s dead, there is another in line, willing and ready to take his place. But see, Hanson and I have some unfinished business. He employed my father. And it’s about time all the skeletons are let out of the closet and running through my forest.

He thinks he’s meeting an investor. But the only thing I’m invested in is taking his last breath.