Page 79 of Viper

“I know, but I’m your brother. Your VP—”

“When I pursued Ella in her previous life, I did it knowing it would piss off alotof people—some of whom I considered family.” He just hadn’t thought they’d hide her soul from him. “I knew I was breaking every rule there was; knew there’d be people who’d be upset, or angry, or disappointed. I did it anyway. Nothing could have stopped me.”

“I still wouldn’t blame you for being pissed.”

“How can I be, when I know you wouldn’t have gotten even slightly entangled with Mia if she hadn’t snagged your interest in a major way? No woman has done that in a very long time.”

“You’re not worried that if I hurt Mia it’ll lead to Ella not wanting anything to do with the Fallen?”

“You wouldn’t hurt Mia or any other woman.” Viper took a step toward him. “Look, I want you and the rest of our brothers to find some fucking happiness in this life where we subsist partly on the life-force of others and have to randomly suffer bouts of bloodlust. If Mia can give you that, even temporarily, I’m not going to stand in the way.”

Dice cleared his throat. “Appreciate it. Not sure I’d have been so reasonable.”

“Well, you’re not me.”

The angel’s lips curled.

“Now I gotta go, I’m heading off to see Ella.”

Dice tipped his chin. “Later.”

“Later.”

Viper teleported straight to the living area of Ella’s apartment. And there she was, tucking a hoover into a closet. “Hey there, baby.”

She jumped a little and then put a hand to her chest. “Yeah, we’redefinitelyputting a bell on you.”

Feeling his mouth curve, he crossed to her, hooked his hand around her nape, and planted a quick kiss on her lips. Or that was the plan. But the kiss fast turned deep and wet and wicked.

She hummed against his mouth. “That was a promising start to the evening.”

His entity fully agreed. “I plan for it to end on an equally good note.”

“You’re my favorite angel. Just sayin’.”

He felt his lips quirk. “I’m the only angel you know well.”

“I am getting to know your brothers, though. Speaking of them … did you have a particular talk with Dice today?”

Surprise plucked at his brows. “I did.”

“I confessed to Mia that you and I were sleeping together, and she then confessed that she and Dice were also regularly doing the dirty. She said he meant to share it with you today.”

“He did. It took me aback, but I’m glad. He’s been on his own too long. Even something simple and casual will be good for him. What prompted you to tell her?”

She hesitated. “I was approached by that blonde from your club. Mia said her name is Neta.”

At the reminder, anger zipped through both him and his entity. He felt his face go hard. “Ghost mentioned it earlier—he was watching over you today. What did she say?”

“She wasn’t hostile or anything. Just said she’s of the opinion that you’d only ever commit to a fellow celestial or descendant.”

Viper’s entity growled. “The fuck?”

“Something about you having secrets you wouldn’t be able to share with any other race.”

Son of a bitch, she’d tried manipulating Ella into walking away.

“Is that true?” Such a deceptively casual question.

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