Page 40 of Darling Venom
Over the years, I’d come to terms with the fact that my brother had no friends at St. Paul. I’d been aware of his social issues, but he’d downplayed them, and I’d been too self-absorbed to read a parenting book or watch Dr. Phil to see the signs.
Kellan had made up people he hung out with—whom I later found out didn’t exist—so I would get off his case. It was only after his death that I learned how truly lonely he was in high school.
I’d thought he didn’t have any friends.
What if he had one?
What if he had her?
What if he confided in her? If she was my in, my opening, my connection to him?
I hunted Miss Richards after she stormed out. Sylvia called after me when she spotted me hitting the elevator buttons like I was trying to knock the lights out of them.
Allison was nowhere to be seen. Not surprised. She knew the drill.
“She took the stairs,” Sylvia cried out. “Did she steal something?”
Yeah. My goddamn mind.
I tailed Richards’ ass, taking the steps two at a time.
I almost got to her.
Almost.
I even caught the wisp of her chocolate hair as she breezed through the automatic glass doors of the building. She wore a long, black-and-white striped dress and army boots.
Like a fucking kid.
She is a kid, and you just spent the last five minutes of your fuck pretending it was her you were inside.
Before I could reach her, she slid into a yellow cab and zipped away.
“Dammit,” I growled, stomping on the concrete and punching the building for good measure.
My knuckles bled, but the pain didn’t register. I fished my phone out and dialed Reagan Rothschild’s number.
She answered on the first ring.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Marchetti!
I assume you’ve met my assistant?”
Sure as hell did.
“Correct.”
“Great, so when is my appointment today?”
Her appointment. Right.
That was why Miss Richards had burst into my office, guns blazing.
Gotta hand it to her—it took ovaries to torpedo into a room uninvited and outstay your welcome while watching two people going at it.
I ran a palm through my hair, tugging at the roots. “How’s early tomorrow?”
“Not a problem.”
