Page 180 of Rather: The Therapist

Rugger wasn’t for the weak. She always meant well but she always meant business. My torture tactics were almost equivalent to playdates in comparison to Rugger’s. She didn’t have a heart. I did.

“I can’t,” Kleigh whispered. “She said she’d, you know, kill me.”

She will. I avoided the outburst and ignored my intrusive thoughts.

“Yes you can and stop whispering. She’s a world away from us.”

She shook her head, adamant about her stance. “She feels near.”

“Trust me, she’s not. Hang up. You have my permis–”

Rugger ended the call so Kleigh wouldn’t have to. A sigh fell from her lips as her spine rounded and her mouth slacked.

“God, I thought today was my last day on earth.”

I pulled her in for a hug. She was theatrical. Her body was trembling and her heart was racing. I could feel it against my skin.

“Dear God, honey, calm down. We’ll have to give you a crash course on sisterhood before Rugger makes good on those promises.”

“Thank you. I’d really appreciate it.”

“I’m not serious,” I chuckled, “She wouldn’t. Most people don’t even know the damn girl can talk. The fact she’s talking to you says alot. Chaos– Quiet chaos is her language. Trust me. She’s just passionate about the people she loves. If she didn’t care for you, she wouldn’t be on your phone. She’d be at your door.”

EPILOGUE

“Meeting adjourned.”

Chemistry’s words sounded throughout the room. I got up from my seat and headed for the exit. Honor was right behind me. But, as we neared the exit, he started in the other direction. The Triad of Ara meeting had concluded and it was likely I wouldn’t see either of the men I’d spent the last two hours with for another six months.

Because of The Chemist’s legal hardships, we’d lowered the frequency. The change proved to be beneficial. There hadn’t been any hiccups in our operations. All was well.

Six months ago, my position as the head of and spokesman for the Valentine family had been compromised. Per my father’s order, I was to step down and allow the second in command to take my position. Killian wasn’t willing. He rejected the promotion and doubled down on his admission to keep me as head of the syndicate.

Kofi co-signed, leaving my father without a choice but to reinstate me. Six months later and the boardroom had never felt so welcoming. I was exactly where I belonged. Kofi knew it. Killian knew it. My father knew it. And, the two men I’d been in fellowship with for years knew it, too.

9:38pm.

When I slid into my whip, it was nearing the ten o’clock hour. I had twenty minutes to get from one end of Mount Clarke to the other. I fastened my seatbelt and hiked the volume on my stereo. Like clockwork, my wife’s anthem began.

“I need a gangsta… to love me better… than all the others do,” Kehlani sang, sending chills up my spine.

9:56pm.

I pulled into the garage and hopped out of my car. With a push of a button, it lowered behind me as I scanned the wall for my mask of choice. I slid the red one over my face and started for the door. Just as I twisted the knob, a familiar voice came over the speaker.

“Welcome back, Mr. Valentine. It’s been a while.” Ursula’s voice was as intoxicating as I remembered. But, I was too drunk off the woman of my dreams to care.

“It has been. I’ve been a bit busy.”

“I hear congratulations are in order.”

“They are. Turns out, I didn’t need you to find her for me. She was within my grasp all along.”

“It’s crazy how things just work themselves out, huh?”

“It’s not crazy, Ursula. It’s fate.”

“Well, goodbyes are usually easy, but this one feels like a breakup. I will miss the two of you.”

---