Page 26 of Rawest Venom

“Iknowit’s too early, but that’s why I used the code. The code is there for areason,and it’s necessary.” Shaking my head, I try not to sound whiny, but he brings it out of me.

One side of his head is shaved now, the longer half of his light brown hair falling over the top of his head, which he shakes at me. “You need extractionnow?”

“Dash. He?—”

“Don’t speak until the spot, Zero. Come on. Be smart.”

Instead of screaming through a closed mouth, I clamp my lips together and take a deep breath through my nose, drumming my fingers on the armrest near the door. Fortunately, the ride is only two more minutes. Once he pulls into the grass and dirt covered drive, Iunbuckle, ready to jump out and explode with everything I’ve waited months to say.

Dash’s broad, tattooed shoulder shoves in the old cabin’s wooden front door. Pulling out a lighter, he finds an oil lamp and illuminates the living area, but it doesn’t help to take away the chill in the air. Snapping his finger at me, he points to the stiff armchair next to the sofa as he sits. I find my spot, curling my legs up under myself to keep warm. Couldn’t he at least light a fire?

“He knows,” I tell him flatly.

“You don’t know he knows,” Dash leans back against the cushions, the eagles tattooed down his arms stretching their wings. Who wears a fucking tank top in winter?

“Dash, two of my dates are dead withappendages missing. Someone left me agiftof atoenext to my bed. An unnamed individual has been sneaking in and messing with my stuff. I messaged Tracer through the secure channel when it happened, but I haven’t heard a fucking word back from you guys.” Spit rails from my mouth as I discuss the irritation I’ve held on to for weeks now.

The dark freckles across his cheeks and nose dance as he grimaces. “We’ve been watching. You had your code. I still think you used it too early. If anything, it just proves you’re doing your job correctly. Calum has bought into Jane so much he’s trying to get rid of the competition.”

Brushing back some fallen locks off my face, I lean forward, considering every exact micro expression Cal has made toward me. He’s so hard to read and I thinkhe’s doing it on purpose because he’s onto me. “I don’t think so…”

“You’ve been playing this well. You went on the dates and got that data we needed from Will. We gotsomeinfo from Rainier. Hell, you even let Cal chase you in the woods. You know he enjoys that shit.” His thick bottom lip curls into a smile as he chuckles. “I liked the part where you kept screaming ‘No, no!’ Uh, I bet that just made him want it more.”

I scoff. “That’s because I wasn’t sure it washim!”

His smile fades. “Oh. Well, you did good!”

Shaking my head vigorously, I try to convince him. “No, Dash. Please listen to me. Cal is way too smart. He knows. I know he knows. But I don’t know if he knows thatIknow he knows!” Nausea returns with a vengeance. I could spew it on Dash’s pretty face. Maybe then he’d give a shit.

Dash’s head hangs back as he sighs. “Fuck, you’re starting to sound like him. Have you been dosing, too?”

“Fuck you. You’veneverprotected me.”

Dramatically, his light brown eyes roll as he breathes out, “Here we go.”

The anger takes over until I’m practically standing in my seat. Roaring my voice at him, I let it all out. “No, Dash! Never once have you put my needs above the mission.”

“Because weare the fucking mission, Zero! Weexist for the fucking mission!” With a jolt, he stands up and paces a few steps. Grasping an old flower vase, he picks it up and throws it against the wall, shattering it into a million pieces. I’m so over his tantrums.

My top lip edges up into disgust. “Now who’s crazy, brute?”

Spinning around, he darts toward me, and I jump up to defend myself, arms raised in guard. His long, narrow nose almost meets the tip of mine, but instead of the heat of rage in his eyes, they seem to be filled with fright. “You weremadefor this mission, Zero. You were crafted for it specifically. If you cannot perform your duty…there is no use for you. So get thefuckback there and seduce the shit out of Calum Von Dovish. Do I need to repeat myself, agent?”

The tingles of ire settle into resolute sadness. I’m damned if I do. And damned if I don’t. Either way, I end up dead.

Could be good. Could be bad.

“No, sir.”

Nine

CALUM

She’s curled her hair. Not fully, but some of the locks look like rust-colored ribbons falling down her back in a big, fluffy ponytail. Her tight black top shows off her perfect breasts, nipples poking through her thin bra as she steps out of her apartment door to the cold outside. Dragging on the concrete near her feet is a black winter pea coat, which she only shrugs on after I get a glimpse at her curves.

“M’lady.” With a small bow, I open the passenger door and wave her inside.

Flashing me some fluttering lashes, she greets me and says, “Thank you, kind sir.”

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