Entangled (Vice Games)

by Cooper, Alice

  Love. Lust. Money. Games.

  When Phoebe Walters prevents a teenage girl from jumping off a bridge, she did not anticipate that it would also bring her into the path of Tristan Vice – the young girl’s handsome and incredibly rich brother. Despite being attracted to him, Phoebe finds him cold and unnerving. But she cannot stop thinking about him and its turning her into an insomniac.

  Despite rejecting his offer the first time, a turn of events forces Phoebe into his employment. But the job requires more than just keeping watch over his sister’s mental health and Phoebe quickly becomes entangled in his family game for control.

  DISCLAIMER: Entangled contains language, violence and explicit scenes. It is intended for a mature audience.

  Entangled (A Vice Game Novel)

  All rights reserved.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without prior written permission from the author; with the exception of promotional purposes and not exceeding two percent of the total page count.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarities to persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Trademarks: This book identifies product names and services known to be trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of their respective holders. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of all products referenced in this work of fiction. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Cover art by Alice Cooper

  Contents

  Chapter 1 – The Chance Meeting

  Chapter 2 – An unexpected visitor

  Chapter 3 – Housing a runaway

  Chapter 4 – A new employment

  Chapter 5 – The home of Tristan Vice

  Chapter 6 – The Silent Contract

  Chapter 7 – Meeting Elliot Vice

  Chapter 8 – A short lived celebration

  Chapter 9 – A clash of hearts and minds

  Chapter 10 – Awkward encounters

  Chapter 11 – A family dinner

  Chapter 12 – The talk

  Chapter 13 – Secrets and Truths

  Chapter 14 – A reluctant bride

  Chapter 15 – A heart-fuelled decision

  Chapter 16 – Passion

  Chapter 17 – Lauren

  Chapter 18 – A call from the Main House

  Chapter 19 – A flirt with death

  Chapter 20 – A union of broken souls

  Chapter 1 – The Chance Meeting

  It was a horrid day. The wind blew rain at my face and soaked my hair. My run down flat was not too far away and cutting through the park was closer than going through the street. As I walked towards the bridge, I saw a fellow soaked creature standing on top of the rails. She was brunette, sixteen and crying. She wore an oversized shirt and black male trousers.

  ‘Shit,’ I found myself saying. The girl was going to jump. Below was a swelling river. ‘Hey!’ I called out to her. She turned her head, black mascara lined her cheeks. There was a needle in her left hand.

  ‘Fuck off!’ she yelled at me.

  ‘Everything’s going to be alright,’ I told her.

  ‘No it’s not!’ she shook her head. Her face was filled with pain and grief. ‘No one fucking cares about me.’

  ‘Hey, I’m sure there’s someone…’I started, unsure about what to do. She was about to jump and I could not just simply stand here and let her.

  ‘You don’t know me!’ she cried. Her sobs mingled with the heavy rain. ‘Just fuck off!’

  ‘What’s your name?’ I asked, doing my best to stay calm. How do you convince a suicidal teen not to kill herself? A little voice inside my head told me to keep her talking.

  ‘Why does it matter?’

  ‘So when you’re dead, I can tell the police who it is,’ I said with a surprisingly calm tone. My brain was not working properly and perhaps it is not the best thing to say at this particular moment. It’s not like I deal with this sort of thing on a day to day basis. I’m not a social working or a nurse or anyone qualified to do this. I work in the fruit and vegetables aisle at the supermarket. But I was the only one on the bridge and there was no time to call anyone for help.

  The girl paused and hesitated for a moment. ‘Annabelle Vice.’

  ‘Alright Annabelle, what should I tell them? I mean, what was it that drove you here?’ There I go again. It sounded almost like an encouragement for her to kill herself. But it brought me some time. It allowed me to edge closer without her noticing.

  ‘Why should I tell you? You’re no one. And no one cares about me anyway.’

  ‘Alright, no one cares,’ I said. ‘Anyone in particular you’re thinking of? Is there anyone I should call and tell them this message? I mean, that’s what people do isn’t it? When they’re about to kill themselves, they always leave some sort of message.’

  Annabelle seemed confused. I should be telling her to stop, to get down from the railing and prevent herself from the plunge to death by drowning. I was only a step away.

  ‘Who the hell are you?’ she asked.

  ‘Phoebe Walters.’

  ‘And what is that supposed to mean?’

  I blinked, unsure what this distressed girl meant by her question.

  ‘I don’t know. I work at Grover’s, you know the grocery store next to mall? I just got off my shift and on my way home. How did you get here?’

  The girl whimpered. ‘That bitch,’ she uttered with a seething ferocity in her voice. ‘She’s bloody using me to get to Tristan. If I die, he’ll be free.’

  ‘Who’s Tristan?’ I asked, ‘your boyfriend?’

  The distressed teen threw me a confused look.

  ‘What? No. He’s my brother.’

  I blinked. Now that was unexpected.

  ‘And this bitch you’re talking about is who?’

  ‘Shut up. Why would you care? You don’t know me.’

  ‘You know I can’t do both at the same time, I mean shutting up and answer your question. You’re right about one thing though, I don’t know you but whatever your problem is with the bitch, do you really think that killing yourself is going to work? I mean, achieve whatever it is you want to achieve.’

  I spoke without thought. In this sort of situation, I should really be trying to coax her down from the edge of the bridge. But then I didn’t really have much time to pause, contemplate and chose my words carefully.

  Something I said must have installed some sensibility back into her confused mind. I saw a wave of emotions moved through her body and giant globs of tears could be seen dripping from her eyes.

  ‘I don’t know,’ she cried. ‘What would you do?’

  ‘Stay alive,’ I said. Here was my chance but a gust of wind caught her body and pushed her over the edge. I lunged after her and caught her hand. She screamed and gripped my arm tightly. There is something about being dangled ten feet over death that makes you think things over very quickly.

  ‘Hey, I’ve got you,’ I told her.

  Annabelle didn’t really want to die after all. It was clear when she exhorted all her strength against it. I braced myself against the slippery railing. I don’t know how but I managed to haul her up. Or perhaps the peril of falling in with her gave me the burst of strength I needed.

  It felt much longer than it actually took and I soon found her seated next to be on the bridge. She cried and I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. We were both drenc
hed.

  ‘Everything’s going to be alright,’ I told her.

  She shook her head and cried. I could feel her warm tears and saw on her wrists the marks of a drug user. The rain refused to ease up. Annabelle produced a phone from her pocket and handed it to me.

  ‘Please call Tristan,’ she begged, her voice quivered as she spoke. We were both shivering from the cold rain. ‘He’s my brother.’

  I already knew that but didn’t say anything. She curled up in my lap like a puppy and closed her eyes. My thumb fumbled over the touch screen and I did my best to shield the device from the rain. I managed to hold up so far in her pocket but I doubted it could last that long to prolonged exposure to the buckets of water that fell from the sky. There wasn’t many names and numbers on her contact list; three to be exact. I quickly pressed my fingers to call Tristan.

  ‘Anna,’ answered a cracked voice. I could hear the reception going and decided to act fast.

  ‘Not Anna,’ I told him. ‘I’m at West Spring Park. Your sister just tried to kill herself. My flat isn’t too far away, number 32B Locks Street. How fast can you get here?’

  ‘Fifteen minutes,’ said the voice. ‘Is she alright?’

  ‘Alive, yes. Alright? You can be the judge. It’s raining and we’re soaked. I’ll take her to my place. Meet you there.’

  Just as I finished my sentence, the phone connection died. The rain had gotten in and fried the circuits. Electronics and water was never made to be together.

  ‘Is he coming?’ Anna asked.

  ‘Fifteen minutes. I told him to meet me at my flat. Come on, we’ll be dry there.’

  She staggered as she walked and I made sure to keep her supported at all times. The building was only just through the park and I took her up the dank stairs. There was hardly any light and Anna struggled with her legs. I wondered if I should call an ambulance, but her brother is on his way. He can sort her out.

  I fumbled with my keys. When we were finally inside, Anna plotted herself down in the hallway and curled up again.

  ‘Come on, you can’t lie there like that,’ I urged as I pulled her to her feet again. She cried and sobbed wildly. But in her messed up state, Anna was complacent enough to move into the living room. I went into my bedroom, pulled back the wardrobe doors and took out all the clean towels I had; which wasn’t many. Living on ten bucks an hour doesn’t let you have too many possessions. I dried the distressed girl’s hair and wrapped a clean dry towel around her shoulders. She hugged it like a blanket.

  It was about roughly three minutes later that a loud urgent knock came at the door. I went to answer it and was surprised by the sight. A man in his late twenties stood on the other side. He wore a tailored dark grey suit, his hair slicked back in a professional and yet dangerously attractive fashion and his face – clean shaven, high cheekbones and strong jawline – it took me by surprise. He was a professional, an office worker of some sort. But the quality of his suit and the way he presented himself told me that he was more than just a mere office boy. The attraction was instant and I felt frumpy in my soaked state.

  ‘Where is she?’ His voice was low and strong; his deep blue eyes alluringly beautiful and dangerous. It was clear that he was not in the mood for any sort of conversation.

  ‘Inside,’ I said. ‘You’re Tristan?’

  ‘Yes. Tristan Vice.’

  There was a sense of embarrassment to lead a living god into my derelict ‘home’. There was a puddle on the kitchen floor where the roof leaked. Anna remained exactly as I had left her – curled up, crying and wrapped in a towel. Tristan Vice went and knelt down next to her. He took a look at her wrists and there was nothing to be said. Along with needle wounds, there were cuts and slashes and bruises from some sort of struggle or fight. Anna opened her eyes and at the sight of her brother, she threw her arms around him.

  ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,’ she sobbed.

  Tristan whispered something in her ear and then picked her up. He carried her out of my apartment without a word to me. And just like that, they were both gone and I was left standing alone at my door.

  ‘That went well,’ I said to myself. ‘But a thank you would have been nice.’

  Chapter 2 – An unexpected visitor

  I didn’t see or hear from Anna again and I couldn’t help but wonder if she’s alright. Then there is the matter concerning her brother. He just appeared and swept her away. I could not sleep and when I did, I would have dreams about him. I would wake up in sweat, the ghostly touch of his hand lingering upon my skin. They were nice dreams that left me thrilled with an electric current but also disturbing to think about and I did my best to forget them.

  A month slowly dragged by and as I worked at my crummy ten bucks an hour job; I shook my head and refocused my thoughts. There were other things to worry about. The girl is safe with that godly brother of hers.

  Alison, my roommate, had just moved out to be with her boyfriend and I was left to pay the rent alone. The leaky roof also had a hand in her departure. I’ve complained to the landlord several times about it but he didn’t care. Besides, I’ve been late to pay these past few weeks and he’ll most likely kick me out.

  As I walked up the pathway that led to my flat, I noticed a silver sports BMW parked outside the building. It was out of place and everyone seemed to notice. I caught eyes peering curiously through the windows. Passing kids and teenagers pointed it out to each other as they passed and was as perplexed as I was about it being in this part of town.

  I walked up the steps. No one had replaced the lights let and the dinky building was still moist from the week’s rain. As I slipped my key into the door, a tall dark figure emerged and I gave a little scream of fright.

  ‘Miss Walters,’ he said. I immediately recognized the man. It was Tristan Vice – he was not someone I could forget that easily; especially when I’ve been dreaming about him. My face grew red with embarrassment and heat.

  ‘Oh, hi,’ I said weakly. ‘Hello.’ There. That sounded much better. ‘How’s Anna? I mean your sister.’ Of course I meant his sister. Who else could it be? Just shut up Phoebe.

  ‘She is under observation. May I come in?’

  ‘Sure.’

  I didn’t know why I said that. He was a stranger. I opened the door and he followed me in. ‘Um, tea or coffee?’

  ‘Neither.’

  There was an awkward paused between us as I stood in the leaky kitchen. The bucket was half filled with water and I was sure that the roof would collapse soon if something was not done about it. In the silence, I felt as if he was observing me in the dim kitchen light. In his presence, I became conscious of my frizzy brown hair, my averagely plain face and ill fitted uniform.

  ‘How can I help you?’ I asked finally.

  ‘Anna, my sister, she needs someone to supervise her, that is, to be with her while she recovers from her issues. I’m offering you a job.’

  ‘Me?’ Holy motherland what? ‘Your sister needs proper help. I’m just a grocery store worker.’

  ‘Yes and I’ve been assured that she is receiving all the help she needs. But there are some things that doctors and their pills cannot heal. She needs someone who she can talk to.’

  ‘I’m not a shrink, if that’s what you’re looking for.’

  ‘No. Psychiatrics would only make things worse. She needs a friend.’

  ‘Doesn’t she have anyone her own age?’

  ‘That is difficult to discern as she is currently being home schooled. Your task will include keeping her company and helping her through her emotional difficulties. I’ll pay you five times the amount you are getting now. Accept and I’ll have a car pick you up tomorrow morning at six.’

  ‘And what if I reject?’

  ‘You cannot reject this.’

  ‘I’m doing it now.’

  ‘You’ll have to return to your grocery job.’

  I looked at Tristan and could not read him. I was not quite sure what to make of the situation ei
ther. Here was a man I did not know offering me a job that did not seem to suit me at all. In fact, he was asking me to be a nurse to his mentally unstable sister. But oh my goodness, that face, Tristan Vice is definitely in the wrong place.

  ‘Why me? I’m sure that there are heaps of other people more qualified than I am at this job you’re offering,’ I found myself saying rapidly and despite stumbling over some of the words, it sounded sensible.

  ‘While on the bridge, she listened to you,’ Tristan Vice explained. He lowered his chin slightly and looked at me with eyes that only belonged to those who are born gods. ‘Not many people can make her do that when she attempts. In fact, it drives her to do it again. But something you said changed her and I believe it in her best interest that you accept my offer.’

  ‘You mean that it wasn’t her first time?’

  ‘No. It was her fifth.’

  I was shocked by the report.

  ‘She needs a serious amount of help,’ I found myself saying. There I go again. I watched Tristan’s face and it did not move. He stood there stoic and I felt a lack of empathy towards Alice from him. Tristan controlled himself well and did not let any of his thoughts slip.

  ‘Your will receive a bonus for every month you keep her from attempting.’

  I couldn’t bring myself to accept the offer. It was too much responsibility and I did not feel at all up to the task. I’m just a grocery worker and what I just got lucky on the bridge. If I hadn’t grabbed her in time, she would have succeeded. I didn’t know what Tristan saw in me to offer this job. Or perhaps he was getting desperate. I didn’t know. His face didn’t let anything slip and I could not read him like a normal person. He was something else – an enigma with a troubled family member.

  ‘I can’t do it,’ I told him. It was too much responsibility. Besides, I didn’t know anything about Anna or how I could help her.

  Sharp shadows on his face created by the dim light made me hold my breath. There was something indescribably handsome about Tristan Vice. His skin was pale and smooth like marble and his strong broad shoulders made me wonder how often he went to the gym. Tristan Vice was most likely made from money too, judging by the car parked outside. It can’t belong anyone else that lives around here.