Chapter 30

Bethany ran out, not even stopping at the receptionist for an appointment, tears streaming down her face, huge sobs shaking her shoulders. She wailed the entire way down in the elevator, much to the discomfort of the people in the car with her. She didn’t care. Tam was just like the rest—

Once in the lobby, the car emptied. The other passengers hurried out, sliding around a dusky-skinned man with black eyes.

Those black eyes were staring at her. What, did he have X-ray vision, or something? Bethany hesitated, not wanting to go near him. But he was blocking the way, and it wasn’t like she could stay in the elevator forever. Eyes down, hand tugging up her collar, she thought about going back upstairs just to avoid him. But upstairs—she was up there.

“You poor dear.” His voice sounded oily. It got into her head somehow. “What is the matter?”

All she wanted to do was run. He had a creepy vibe to him. Out, just want to get out—

He spread his hands, not quite blocking her, but it didn’t matter.

A heaviness spread through her arms and legs. “I—I just want to leave. I hate this place.”

He stepped aside and she shuffled out, making a wide berth around him. He was strange looking, and had shifty suspicious eyes. And his shadow—it rolled around his feet, sliding across the glossy tiled floor. Who had a shadow inside? And why wasn’t she running away from him?

An odd calm stole over her, a peacefulness unlike something she’d ever known. Her anger and her disappointment had dwindled, but she never let anything go, not something like losing Tam—

The dark-eyed man smiled. “There. That feels better, doesn’t it?”

She nodded, forgetting all about the weird shadow. “I was pretty mad but I feel better. That’s weird.”

“Tam won’t be gone forever.” His voice was silky and dark, like expensive chocolate and cigarette smoke. “You cannot possible stay mad at her.”

“How did you know about—”

“You just told me, dear.” He peered intently into her eyes.

The peacefulness thickened, like a heavy fog, and settled in her chest, her head. God, she was so forgetful. Tam’s fault. “I…told you. Right. I forgot.”

“You regret what you said, don’t you?”

The fog thinned, allowing her anger to resurface. “Why should I? I’m not the one who made me trust her just so she could abandon me. She should regret it.”

He opened his mouth to reply but snapped it shut, seeming to reconsider.

Good. Nosy bastard shouldn’t be stopping strangers on the street like it’s his business. Probably one of Tam’s weirdos. That’s how he knew her. Good. She could keep him.

“Do you want revenge?” The question was so sudden, so odd that her mouth hung open. Did she want it?

After years of going to see Tam, she hadn’t gotten any better. She still had the same awful mood swings, still over-reacting and pushing people away and just sucking at everything. She was scared. Lonely. Over-whelmed. And years of counselling did nothing to help it. Seven different medications. Nothing worked. She was still useless and inferior and bored and Tam didn’t fix any of it.

Tam knew she was a hopeless case and just didn’t have the balls to tell her so. That’s why she was leaving. Years of pouring out her heart and doing everything Tam asked her to do and countless hospital stays.

Did she want revenge?

“Hell, yes, I do.” Bethany curled her hands into tight fists. “I’ll show her.”

He took her by the elbow, wearing a pleased smile, and steered her out the door, around the corner. “We can help you.”

“How?”

“All you have to do is cooperate with her.” He nodded, peering into her eyes again. “Cooperate with her and do exactly what I say.”

He tucked his hand into his pocket and pulled out a vial. Unscrewing the cap, he topped the mouth of the vial with a finger and shook the bottle.

“What’s that?”

The man rubbed his wet finger across her forehead, a quick swipe. “An insurance policy. You will do all that I ask.”

The peacefulness seeped into her again, thicker, oilier, drenching her from her head down. All she saw were his eyes, glittering like black diamonds.

“Yes.” Her voice was faint and she slipped a bit farther from herself. “I will.”

The man smiled and took her hand, leading her down the street. “Tell me about yourself dear, so that we can plot your perfect revenge.”

For the first time in her life, Beth felt blank inside. It was all too easy to tell him everything he wanted to know.

Everything.

And all of what she told him made him smile.