Page 170 of Seizing Control: Part One

As I lean my forehead to hers, a move that I’ve witnessed Venom make a million times, I attempt to get a handle on myself. I’m too drunk, too emotionally wrecked, to be this close to her. My savagery is trying to destroy the myth of steadfast wisdom that I’ve built around me. If I keep acting like this, everyone will know that they were right eleven years ago.

I am the problem.

Uncouth.

Selfish.

Reckless.

Worse than Venom in so many ways.

“Did you miss me?” My wife smiles at me as she brushes her index finger over the scar splitting my eyebrow. There’s a level of open adoration in her gaze that I haven’t seen since I declared my feelings for her the night of the Apologies to Medusa concert. “’Cause I missed you.”

The effort to restrain myself fails.

For the second time in the past ten minutes, I snap.

My hold is inflexible as I march from the bar and through the wide entrance to the sleeping quarters with my wife in my arms. We’re halfway down the hallway when my wife’s cousin catches up with us. He tries to get between me and my bedroom door to stop me from locking us away from his over-protective reach.

“Let her go.”

“It’s fine, Toker.” Twisting so she can look at her cousin, my duchess tells him, “This has been a long time coming.”

“That’s what’s got me worried. He’s losin’ it… he’s not?—”

“I can handle him.”

“I—he…” Whatever Toker was going to say dies after he takes a moment to scan us. Nodding, almost to himself, he says, “I think you’re right.” Despite his comment, Toker scowls at me, then punches me in the upper arm when he passes by to head back to the bar. “I’m gonna give you the same warnin’ I gave Venom… if it comes to a choice between the pair of ya, I’m team Cherub every time.”

“If you weren’t, I’d strip ya patch myself.”

My SAA and I exchange a loaded look.

Expression tight with enough worry to give me second thoughts, he nods again. I hold my breath, and my wife, as I wait for him to head in the opposite direction. As soon as we’re alone, I step over the threshold into my bedroom.

It’s a place Cherub has been numerous times.

Still, this time feels different.

She’s my wife now.

Not Venom’s fiancé.

I lower my duchess to her feet, then I turn back to lock the door. The latch clicks into place. I drag in a deep breath, steeling myself for the discussion that I know we need to have. As much as I’m ready to lay my cards out on the table, to bare my soul and my sins, I can’t help but fear her reaction to the part I played in Venom’s deception.

We broke her.

On purpose.

Ready to humble myself on the altar of her wrath, I steel myself, then turn to face my duchess.

Only to end up broken by what I find.

My wife.

On her knees.

34

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