Page 6 of Rawest Venom

“Son, there’s only three things to remember: just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you. And everyone lies.”

Turning my head, his stern face appears out of the darkness. Remembering the young boy’s answer, I sluggishly say the words aloud in time with young Cal. “But what’s the third thing, Father?”

“There is no third. I just told you. Everyone lies.” My mouth forms the same way his did as I hear the sound echo throughout the empty room. Rapidly shaking the demons from my head, I flip on the light.

It’s not madness.

It’s math.

Alpha

Where u at?

Fuck. How long have I been in the colors? I’m never late. Throwing up the hood of my sweatshirt, I snag two vials and head out.

Teslas make no sound even when I floor the pedal. Turning off autopilot, I motor to the Wednesday spot for my meeting with Alpha.

By the time I park and make it to the metal fire escape of West Tech, the sleet has covered most surfaces, causing everything to sparkle like stars in the moonlight. Momentarily distracted by snowflakes vibrating in astreetlamp’s path, I blink, then continue my journey to the roof of the building.

With the sleek weather and in her leather regalia, Alpha looks like she’s in a wetsuit about to dive into the black ocean of the night. She’s only missing a snorkel.

“It’s not like you to be late. Did you take too much?” Throwing her hands on her narrow hips, she sighs heavily, casting cumulus clouds from her crowded mouth. Then she pulls up her woolen black mask as I approach. Her blue eyes thin with disappointment.

“I took an extra dose, if that’s what you’re asking,Mom.”

She scowls. Alpha tries so hard to be what I need, she overlooks that she’s not what I want.

With a slight tilt of her head, like she’s a doting caretaker, she asks, “Did you get distracted by the Franklin memories again?”

“He was there, yes.” Leaning over the short brick wall, I study the empty street below. The wind is likely cold, but I don’t feel it. Spotting a homeless man shiver after he takes a piss on a parking meter, I empathetically cross my arms to keep them warm.

Shuffling her boots toward me, Alpha places her gloved hand on my arm. “Hey, sorry. Was it the sunken face one again?”

“Nah,” I say, shaking off her desire to romanticize my follies. “So, hey. I need a meeting. See what you can do about it.” Dangling some spit from my mouth, I observe how far it can stretch before it freezes. Twenty-eight Fahrenheit, that’s my guess.

“Cal…” My ears tingle at the buzz in her alto voice. Flipping her long brunette braid over her shoulder, her body heats mine as she leans on her bent arms next to me.

Without a glance her way, I ask, “Alpha, whose name is tattooed on your hip?”

Whipping her face to me, her dark blue eyes grow icy as she swallows. “Von Dovish.”

Taking a long inhale of the chilled air, I stick my tongue out to catch a flake. It doesn’t taste like anything. “Who do you belong to?”

She clears her throat and stands. “The Von Dovish clan… To you.”

“And to which service did you pledge your life?”

“The foxes.Sir.”

Turning on an elbow, I let my eyes wander down her tight frame. Slowly, her hands crawl up to her forehead and lower her mask. “So. I would like a meeting. Look into Herodius?—”

“Cal, please. I’ve told you. We’ve all looked into this before. There’sno such thingas?—”

In one step, my fingers grip her neck before she knows what’s happened. As my top spy, I’d expect better of her reflexes, even around me. “Don’t say it.”

Behind the slits of her mask, tears form in her eyes as she stills under my grasp. Maybe she should go for a dive. Ugh, then I’d have to deal with Delta, and no one can stand that guy. Foxtrot? She’s too green. If he were here, Franklin would help Alpha swim in the thick fogs of the ether tonight.

I’d bet she’d float.

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