Page 27 of Seizing Control: Part One

My duchess lifts her head and rolls her eyes.

In her expression, I discover annoyance, mental fatigue, and a small dollop of irony-laden humour. Her posture clearly indicates her disillusionment with men, and for the second time in a minute, I’m left to wonder how much of her mood relates to Venom’s return.

Has he already manipulated her into forgetting his desertion?

I wouldn’t put it past him.

He’s a Cherub-whisperer.

Adept at pushing his Lily’s buttons.

An expert at finding her sweet spots.

Refusing to give into the pessimism that is determined to side-track me, I push forward with my plan. There’s iron-clad determination in my voice when I force her to acknowledge me, “Duchess?”

Anger flares in her gaze as she throws herself against the seat, then jabs the button to lower her window like it’s personally offended her. “What do you want, Slash? I’m kinda busy having a meltdown here.”

“Over Venom?”

The two words escape my mouth before I can stop them.

It’s a rookie mistake.

Thankfully, Cherub simply scoffs at my blatant jealousy.

She rolls her eyes a second time as she sarcastically drawls, “He is on the list.”

Exhaling slowly, I pull open her door, then squat down to her eye level. With the memory of the secret that I’ve kept for more than a decade stalking me, the truth of my sin singing the tip of my tongue, I force myself to meet the eye of the woman who owns my heart. “Am I on that list?”

“You don’t have to be.”

When she tries to smile and fails, I brace for Cherub to tell me to get out of her face. She’s clearly at the end of her tether. Defeat emanates from her pores, but I’m not going to allow anything to keep me away from her. I’ve spent months running hot and cold with her, mostly at the Shamrocks behest.

I’m done with the games. Venom is back permanently. The club is at a crossroad.

Whether we win the war against Brutus, the Maddison clan, and the Bishops of Bloodshed or not, I’m not backing away from my feelings for Cherub. My sometimes-best friend will deny it to his last breath, however, it’s obvious he regrets breaking up with his Lily. It’ll only take a single weak moment, like their dalliance on the balcony after the Apologies to Medusa concert, for them to slip back into old habits. My warning when he left her as she was miscarrying rings in my ears.

If he comes near her again with the intention of stealing her heart back, I’ll kill him.

I need to seize control of the situation before it comes to that.

Which is why I won’t retreat tonight, even if my duchess demands it.

I’m throwing my heart in the ring, come what may.

“I want us to go back to normal, but that won’t happen when you’re actively dodging me. I’ve driven you out of your own home, and I don’t know how to fix it when my money’s been stolen by Dad.”

Her unbidden honesty catches me off guard.

I was ready for a fight.

“Fuckin’ hell.” I was not prepared to discover more betrayal has been heaped on her overburdened shoulders. “I had no idea.”

“How could you?” Cherub’s tone is devoid of blame as she calls me out for my recent behaviour. “I barely see you, and when I do, you act like we hardly know each other.”

Operating with blind instinct, I tell her, “Let’s fix that, right now.”

My movements are assured as I take hold of her hands and tug her out of her SUV. I link our fingers as I lead her into the kitchen. The moment my hands grip her hips and I lift her onto the closest stool at the breakfast bar, a wave of homecoming tries to bring me to my knees. I can’t remember the last time I’ve touched her while she was conscious.

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