Page 31 of The Monsters Within

A few minutes later, he walked in with his laptop. Looking from Ryder to me, then to the women, he asked, “Uh, what’s going on?”

“Rose needs a new therapist, and Ellie called in a friend. I need you to run a background check now. He’ll be here tomorrow.”

“Ok. What’s his name?” Nav sat down and opened his computer. Ellie gave him the name, and he ran a quick check. “Fuck.”

“Don’t say fuck, goddammit!” I shouted.

“Dr. Zander Dunaway is a great therapist and looking at his credentials, Ellie is right. He would be great to talk to Kytten.”

“But?”

Nav looked me in the eye, “But he is also Torment.”

“Are you fucking with me?”

“Who is Torment?” Mellie asked.

“A brother in the Soulless Sinners.”

“Zander is a Soulless Sinner?” Ellie asked. She sounded shocked.

“Call him back. Cancel the appointment,” I ordered.

“Cash, no. Kytten needs him,” Mellie insisted. “Doesn’t him being a biker make it better? He understands the life.”

“No, it doesn’t make it fucking better!” I ran my hands through my hair. “Nav, call King and the officers in.”

I paced the room while we waited for the officers to show up. Each brother entered the room, casting furtive glances between Mellie, me, Ryder, and Ellie.

“Hey, Princess. Everything ok?”

“Apparently not. But Cash won’t tell us why.”

King walked in, distracted by something on his phone. When he looked up, he quickly realized this meeting was more than just the officers.

“What happened?” he asked, closing his eyes.

“Have a seat, Prez.”

King slowly walked to his chair. His eyes moved from one person to another. When he finally sat, he looked up. “Okay, let me have it.”

Mellie started, “Kytten needs to talk to someone other than me. She resents my relationship with Danika, and it is preventing her from trusting me. Without trust, she will not open up.”

“Okay. What about Haizley?”

“It’s a conflict of interest for Haizley to see both of us,” I explained.

King considered my words as he studied me. “And you aren’t jumping on the chance to stop your appointments?”

“No.” That was all I said. It was all anyone was getting. My appointments with Haizley were my business, no one else’s.

“Okay. Mellie, who do you recommend?” King asked.

“I spoke with Dr. Scott—”

“No fucking way,” Ghost said before she could finish. “Malice,” Ghost added when King turned his way.

“Yea, no. Can’t happen. Who’s next?”