Page 13 of Rawest Venom

Wandering to the elevator with my new friends, the lawyer chastises Ace. “What were youthinking?”

As I step inside the glowing vault, the three female guests jump on with me, all hurriedly dressed. One checks out my hoodie with a sneer and the other two ignore me completely. When the doors open at the bottom floor, I simply say, “I’d get checked for chlamydia.” Then depart to short little scoffs of shock.

My watch buzzes before the valet pulls up with my Tesla outside the revolving doors. It’s pretty early in the day for Alpha to message, which means she’s likely found out information on Herodius like I asked the previous week. The fox gets to live another day.

Checking the location on the message she sent, I punch in the address on the dashboard navigation system and sit back to send out some emails, then textMax and Livia about the plans to have Ace marry Arianna in a few weeks. He’ll do it one way or another.

By the time the car drives me to Von Dovish estate, I’ve completed most of my business for the day and jump out, heading toward the woods on the back forty. An old hunting shanty leans against some oaks, but a few camping chairs and a fire circle make it cozy for our meeting.

But she’s not sitting down. She paces with her hands on her jean-covered hips, whipping her long brown ponytail around as she spots me.

“You havenoidea what I’ve been through over the last week.” My legs carry me across our distance as my fingers snatch her chin, turning her cheek to me. A long, red gash has been cut along her cheekbone, stitched in several places by a professional healer.

“Huh. Look at that.”

“I’ll need surgery for it. If you want me to continue to do…that kind of work.”

Releasing her face, I stare into her deep blue eyes until she blushes. “It gives you character. They’ll just fuck you from behind now instead of peering at your face lovingly.”

Squatting in a chair, I let my legs stretch out. Her body turns to mine in a lithe movement, elbows still jutting out from her waist.

“You know, sometimes you’re a fucking asshole.”

Placing my hands behind my head, I ask, “What information do you have, Alpha?”

“Herodius. Finding out almost killed me. Obviously,I had to tail the shit out of Strauss’s spies,includingHalcyon.” Her finger trails over the cut.

“Did he ass rape you in the woods again?”

Her hands lower, and there’s a slow movement in her throat as she swallows. This time, I’ve gone too far, I know. Just as I think she’s a block of ice, her eyes melt, then are quickly frozen again as she blinks, shoulders sagging. “I don’t know why I let you be so mean to me.”

This is the part where I lure her back in. And it’s so easy.

Jumping up, I run my hands down her arms, encasing her back with my chest. She stiffens, until I place my face in the crook of her neck. “I’m sorry, Daisy. I had a rough morning, and I never should have taken it out on you. I’m an asshole. A spoiled rotten one at that.” Placing my lips next to the column of blood flowing there, I use some suction to gather the skin, licking it with the tip of my tongue. She tastes used. “I’m just jealous. I can’t stand that they get to be inside you.” Twisting her torso around to face me, I gather her in my arms and kiss the top of her head as she melts into me.

Franklin would be so proud.

“We’ll get you the surgery you need. You okay?” She nods slightly under my chin. “Now…tell me about Herodius.” Releasing her, I settle back into my chair and await her report. I shouldn’t even have to pretend to be nice. It’smyfucking intel! It’s what I let her live for!

But everyone lies.

Even I.

The poison will run deep through my veins until I die.

“There’s a female contact Strauss meets with. It sounds like Herodius is an entire organization and the woman is part of that society. You’re right, they call themselves owls. Each one goes by a different type. Barn owl, night owl, etcetera. I didn’t see her or anyone.” She sinks to her knees and sets to building a fire. “When I got caught and tortured for the last few days, I found out they require a sacrifice for a meeting.”

Caught. Tortured. Hmm. That ishighlyunusual for the best spy in the city. Unless… “Did youwantto be caught?”

A nefarious grin comes over her as her brow lowers when she gazes up at me. “Of course. How else would I get the information my master deserves?”

Reaching across the divide, I stroke her cheek with my finger and her eyes shut as if soaking in the affection.

“Thanks, Daisy. I can always count on you.” Standing, I make it to the door of the shack before her words wrinkle the hairs along the back of my scalp.

“Cal? Be careful with Jane.”

I stop moving. Slowly turning, my gaze trails up her soldier’s frame.

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