Inside, I’m losing my fuckingshit.
“Excuse me a minute,” I growl before I turn and walk to the men’s room.
The door has barely closed behind me before I whirl and slam my knuckles into it so hard that it dents. I do it again, then again, only stopping when my hand roars in protest.
I run my knuckles under cold water, then grip the sides of the basin and stare into the rushing faucet. I lean down and splash my face, swallowing and tugging at my collar before I lean over the sink again, breathing hard.
My eyes lift to the mirror in front of me.
The flicker of the monster behind my eyes. The swirling anger.
Hello, Demon.
But that can’t happen now. Not here. Not any of them.
I swallow the feeling down, steadying my breathing, trying to slow my galloping pulse before I exhale slowly.
I pop a Klonopin and splash some more water on my face.
“He was no son of mine.”
I close my eyes, gritting my teeth as I grip the edge of the sink tighter.
“But hewas, Quentin.”
My eyes are still closed, but I canfeelmy grandfather shaking his head. “Biologically, sure. But we both know he was never strong enough to do what you have. He was weak. He gave in to poison. Neglected the two of you. Let your mother poisonherself?—”
“He hated you,” I mutter quietly.
“Of course he did. Mediocrity despises success.”
I nod, slowly inhaling and exhaling, my eyes still shut.
Finally, I return from the restroom. Val keeps his ass sitting. But Morgan stands from his chair as I approach the table again.
“I’m sorry, son?—”
“Don’t ever fucking do that again.”
His brow knits. “Do what?”
“Touch me. Justdon’t.”
“Vaughn,” Val hisses.
“And don’t call me that, either,” I growl, looking right at Morgan. “Son.”
We sit. We order some food. I deliberately order a drink I don’t intend to touch so I can watch the struggle behind the eyes of the pathetic, weak man at the table.
He and Val are chatting away about fuck knows what.
The Klonopin isn’t working. I canfeelthe darkness inside stretching awake.
I need to get the fuck out of here. Lock myself away until the episode passes.
And yet?
There’s a needy hunger in me, and only one thing will sate it.
