Page 107 of Snitches and Serpents

I raise my eyebrows. “The rats?”

“All of it.” Her eyes are serious as she holds my gaze while lifting her shoulders in a shrug. “Everything you did to me, the bullying and the times when you truly ruined parts of my perfect life, it forced me out of the restrictive box I had been living in. It made me feel like I can finally breathe again.”

Stunned shock courses through me as I stare at her in disbelief. “How is that even possible?”

She smiles. And it’s so bright and full of hope for the future that my heart aches.

“Because now, I finally know that I don’t have to be perfect. I can just be me. And the world will still keep on turning.”

37

ELLE

Glittering chandeliers fill the ballroom with sparkling light. I sweep my gaze over the well-dressed men and women who dance on the shining marble floor or chat in smaller groups along the edges. None of them look like drug users to me, but apparently, people who are rich and bored are among those most likely to partake in recreational drugs.

Next to me, Tristan is also scanning the crowd. He still doesn’t like the idea of me being here, but I simply told him that I was doing this. With or without him. So he could either come with me or not, but I was seeing this through. He threatened to chain me up in his basement again, but eventually gave in.

So here we are. Me in a beautiful green silk dress and him in an impeccable black suit.

I steal a quick glance at him while he is busy watching the crowd. His black hair is styled perfectly, and his eyes gleam like emeralds in the glittering light. The suit, which looks like it has been made for him, accentuates his athletic body in a way that makes it difficult not to stare at him.

God, he really is breathtaking. He’s hot in a pair of jeans with his tattoos on full display and he’s hot in a fancy suit that covers them all up too. This man is simply too attractive for this world.

“You’re staring, sweetheart,” Tristan says, and I can hear the amusement and satisfaction in his voice.

I start in surprise and snap my gaze from his body and up to his face. There’s a devilish smile lurking on his lips. I huff out an amused breath.

“I thought I was being pretty discreet, actually,” I reply with a casual shrug.

He arches an eyebrow at me. “Discreet?”

“Yes.”

“I have spent every second since you walked out the door wearing that dress trying not to carve out the eyes of every man who looks at you. And now you’re looking at me in a way that makes me want to rip your dress off and fuck you against the nearest wall. How is that fair?”

A villainous grin spreads across my mouth as I rake a deliberate glance up and down his body. “Who said I was playing fair?”

His eyes gleam as he takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “You devious little thing.”

I flick another glance down his body and lick my lips.

Lust burns in his eyes, and he tightens his grip on my chin. “Unless you want me to fuck you right here, which would result in me having to blind everyone in here afterwards, I would really suggest you stop doing that.”

I laugh and wiggle my eyebrows at him.

He shakes his head, but then releases my chin.

“Bloody menace,” he mutters, amusement in his voice, as he holds out an arm to me.

I take it and let him lead me farther into the room.

Getting an invitation to this charity ball was very easy since it is hosted by the mayor of Bercester, and I just so happens to be another mayor’s daughter. The difficult part starts now. Actually selling drugs to a crowd of rich elites without getting caught by those who frown upon the practice.

But Tristan says that there is a silent language used between those who are selling and those who are buying in situations like these. A kind of sign language that only the people who know what to look for will notice.

I guess we’re about to find out.

My heart patters nervously in my chest as we make our way along the edge of the dance floor. I expect Tristan to continue along the length of the room, but to my surprise, he turns and moves us onto the dance floor instead.

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