Page 450 of Dark Love

Don’t punch him while you’re asking for a favor in his home. Don Vincenti wouldn’t appreciate that.

Temperance sets the plate down on the table. “Imogene called me earlier.”

Finally, we’re getting down to business. But why did Imogene call and not Payne?

“Her case is very complex.”

Ya think?

“But I do believe she would benefit from some female companionship. Someone around her own age that she could talk to and lean on for support upon occasion.”

Dahlia needs peace and beauty, not evil and pain.

“Vex, I’m not going to beat around the bush. Everyone here knows what happened to Imogene, and what almost happened to Dahlia. In my professional opinion, Dahlia would be the perfect person to fill that role.”

“And what about Dahlia? I’m not going to sacrifice her to help someone else.” That’s not an option.

The doctor, who doesn’t seem to be on my side, leans forward. “You sacrifice your soul all the time to help others, but you can’t see another person wanting to do it.”

My soul shriveled and died too many years ago to matter. I’m a monster. “We aren’t talking about me. Dahlia is a good person.”

“She is. And good people step up to help others.”

“But—”

Temperance holds a hand up. “Before you dig your heels in and refuse to even consider it like some men I know—” Her eyes move between her husband andson. “—ask yourself if Dahlia might need a friend who understands what she’s going through?”

The long, poignant pause irritates me even more than Max’s smirk. What if she’s right? What if Dahlia needs a friend? “How would I tell?” That question hurts down to my bones. I should be the one to give her everything she needs.

“They might be subtle signs like trembling hands, momentary unexplained pauses, a hard time sleeping on occasion.”

“Dahlia sleeps well.”

Max raises an eyebrow at me.

One shot. All it would take is one second for me to knock him to the ground.

“But the best way to know would be to ask her what she wants to do.”

Ask Dahlia. No. Absolutely not. “Thank you for your time.” I push up out of the chair. “I need to go.”

“Vex—”

Temperance’s kind voice gives me pause.

“—think about what I said.”

I turn back to her and reluctantly nod.

This day just gets worse and worse.

***

An empty park at night makes for a good spot for a clandestine meeting. The city didn’t bother to properly light the paths, so anything could be lurking in the shadows.

Which shouldn’t give me a burst of excitement and hope, but it does. Thrashing someone might give me a bit of relief from all the pent-up frustration of the day.

Rats that scurry in the dark run from me.

---