Page 30 of The Monsters Within

I led Ellie inside, and Ryder followed. I opened my mouth to speak, and he cut me off.

“Don’t even try it.”

We only waited a few minutes before Melissa joined us.

“I had a long talk with Kytten this morning. She would like to talk to someone else. I’m sorry, Melissa.”

“No, don’t be sorry. I already spoke to Cash about it. I called a colleague that specializes in children. However, he won’t see her because she is no longer a child. He’s pretty strict about who he sees.”

“Asshole,” I muttered.

“He’s not an asshole. He’s... eccentric. His specialty is working with children.”

“I have someone I would like to recommend. A therapist from New York, Dr. Zander Dunaway. He is exceptional at what he does, and I think he could really help Kytten. I think she would open up to him.”

“That is actually who Dr. Scott recommended.”

“Dr. Scott?” I asked. “Dr. Gideon Scott?”

Mellie’s confusion about my tone was clear. “Yes, that was who I called.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I gave him the run on Kytten.”

“Did you tell him her name?”

“Cash, what is going on?”

I jumped from my chair, slamming my hands on the table. “Did you tell him her name?”

“No. I wouldn’t give him her name unless he agreed to see her.”

I fell back in my chair, taking three deep breaths.

“What is going on?” Mellie asked.

“Club business.”

“Don’t give me that shit. This is about my patient.”

“Mellie, I’m sorry, but I cannot tell you what is going on.”

“Cash, Melissa, please,” Ellie interrupted us. “There is more.”

Mellie continued to glare at me until Ellie told us what she suspected. I sat there, stunned. How could I have missed it?

“Cash, there are no signs of abuse, other than the self-harm. And if she won’t open up, there would be no way we would know,” Mellie tried to reassure me. Tried to convince me I hadn’t failed at taking care of her.

“We still don’t know,” Ryder pointed out. “This is an assumption. Which is why Kytten needs to talk to someone she can trust.”

“Zander will be here tomorrow.”

“What? You already called him?”

“Yes, I did. He’s good at what he does, Cash.”

“He has to be vetted, Ellie. We can’t just bring a stranger into the clubhouse.” I pulled out my phone and sent a text to Nav.