Page 36 of Rawest Venom

Thank God.

Now, I can focus on my primary mission. The problem is, Cal can and will kill me when he finds out about it. He likely has no idea. It’s the only way I’m still alive. Deep, burning desire to confess everything spins in my guts. My people will end me if I don’t succeed with the plan. I’m trapped.

Damnation. Was I only raised to die? Like some useless sacrifice?

And it would all be for nothing unless I can justconvince him, get him to understand my feelings… There may be a way out.

Communication with my team is too dangerous now, so I have to use any resource available. Wandering through my apartment, I snag my phone and text myfriend.

Me

Hey! Wanna meet for coffee? I just met a new guy and have to tell you all about him!

Sherry

Good for you, Jane! Sure. When and where?

Me

How about an hour where u r?

Sherry

That sounds great! See you at Joe’s!

Going through my routine, I slide on a pair of jeans and a sweater, though it’s getting warmer outside. Afterforgettingmy phone on the dresser, I head out to my car, then all the way into Drussville. It’s about an hour away. But the entire time, I listen to Beethoven, switch it to some rock station, then back to Bach. Classical Cal, right?

I step toward the little coffee shop along Main Street, hiking my purse up higher on my shoulder. Local advertisements cover the glass front window, offering a one-way view from the inside out. Entering the cozy shop, my boots creak on the hardwood as I find our littlebooth in the back corner. The seat puffs out a dying breath of air when I plop onto it.

Dot nods at Callie, the owner, who wipes some cups and meanders to the front door to lock it. The place is empty, except for us now.

“Jane, so good to see you. It’s been too long. Maybe not long enough, though.”

Taking a deep inhale, I try to avoid the sneer of her upper lip. It’s slight, but there. She cleanses her facial expression with a wave of her fingers through her short, silver bob, then takes a sip of coffee. Callie approaches us, tying her apron.

“Hey, Jane. Want anything?”

“Yeah, I’ll take a…” Glancing at the chalkboard menus and all the choices, my throat closes up. Swallowing against a giant lump, I glance up at her helplessly.

“Want me to pick again?”

Nodding quickly, I drop my gaze to the table.

“No problem. I’ll make something sweet for you.”

Both Dot and I watch her walk away before Dot glares at me with her gray eyes. “Tell me about this boy.”

“He’s, um. He’sveryinto me. I think things are progressing quickly. But, uh. I’m not sure I want them to.”

Popping her jaw muscle, she takes a deep breath and slowly lets it out through her nose. “And why is that? If everything isgoing so well…why would you give that up, Jane?”

“Well—” I stop short as Callie places a large cup with caramel-colored liquid and a heart made of foam in front of me. The sight turns my stomach. “Thank you,” I say politely and take a sip. It’s too sweet, and I probably don’t need the sugar. Not when I’m about to lose my mind.

“Well? Tell me,” Dot presses, sitting back in her chair. Her tailored business suit is a nice touch to the backstory of us meeting while I was volunteering at the Gnarled Pine juvenile detention center. Really, it’s where they go to look up potentials.

“I think he would find out that I’m… I’m not as nice or funny as I seem. There’re bad habits I have he wouldn’t like. So if he learned about them, then that would be it for me, us.”

She clears her throat. “I see. Well, Jane, I will tell you that this happens inevery relationship, much likeevery single oneyou’ve ever been in, right? This is no different from that.”

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