Page 140 of Sweet Venom
“I’m being civil by talking to you here instead of dragging you to the house. Don’t make me lock you up, Jude.”
I grind my teeth and face him, wearing the poker face he engraved into me one whip at a time. “If you have free time to come to a college hockey game, maybe you should spend it on your golden child, Julian.”
He folds the book closed. “I choose to spend it watching my son play hockey. Is that an issue?”
“Not really, as long as I don’t have to see you.”
“Jude.” His voice betrays the slightest hint of impatience. “You’re pushing it.”
“I thought I did that a long time ago.”
He releases a long breath, his chest straining against his shirt. “How long will you be indulging in these self-destructive habits and cutting me out of your life?”
“Forever is a good start.”
“You wish to follow the path your mother took, is that it?”
I stride toward him, then stop because I won’t stoop as low as him. “Took?Are you wording it as if she had a choice? Is mental illness a fuckingchoice? You’re the one who ruined her!”
He doesn’t shift. Doesn’t budge, just stares at me with unfeeling eyes. “Apparently, she ruined you, too.”
“What—”
“Listen, Jude. I was ready to turn a blind eye to your impulsive, fruitless revenge as long as you kept yourself in check. I forbid Julian from interfering with your way of blowing off steam and even provided you with the manpower to do as you damn well pleased, but you need to stop being so obsessed with your mother and her disturbed mind.”
“Did you just…call it disturbed mind?”
“It was. Deep down, even with all the coping mechanisms and memory-filtering you seem to do, you know she wasn’t normal.” He squeezes my shoulder. “Join me and Julian for dinner sometime and we can talk about it if you wish.”
“No.”
“Do so while I’m asking nicely, Jude.”
He leaves, but I’m shaking with rage and the need to scream in his face.
Punch him.
Bash his fucking head in.
But I don’t, because that would mean he’s right, and he’s getting in my head, and that’s simply off the table.
Regis did manage to accomplish something tonight, though, agitate the fuck out of me.
I was in a good mood until he forced me to be in the same room with his repulsive presence.
So even when I make it to the club downtown that we usually go to after our wins, I’m feeling murderous.
The moment I pull into the parking lot, I see Violet.
But she’s not alone.
And my visionis red.
28
VIOLET
Ishouldn’t have let Dahlia talk me into joining her to celebrate.
