Page 9 of The Vipers and Their Venom

ZANE

Islip back inside the building.

Time to find my boys and tell them what I just saw, and I’m relishing the prospect. Nothing this interesting has happened at Verona Falls in a long time.

Nathaniele had spotted me winking at the girl’s father.

I hadn’t been able to help myself. The big biker had been staring right at me like I should be frightened of him. I’ll admit that his gaze had been hard, and most men would have quaked under it, but not me. I’d wanted to make sure he knew I wasn’t intimidated by him.

I’d thrown my butt in the trash can to the side of me, just as Nathaniele had turned to shoot me a disdainful glare.

He hates me. The Greek and Italian mafias don’t like each other much, but he can’t do anything about it or he’ll start a massive war, and my family moves weapons. Ammunition. Lots of it. We have fucking militias who we can call on if needs be, so Nathaniele and his suits and his preening don’t intimidate me.

I’d smirked at him and pretended to doff my non-existent cap.

The girl’s father had also glared at me. He’d left me with a parting comment of, “You stay well away from my daughter.”

I’d taken that as a challenge. I’d flicked my gaze back to the girl, locking eyes with her for a beat, and then I’d left.

I reach the far end of the dark hallway, and a figure steps out of the gloom. He’s by the side door, and he’s massive. I take in his biker boots, the heavy jacket, the patches, and my spine stiffens. It’s one of the goons from outside. What the hell?

“What’s your name?” he asks.

His voice is deep and rumbling. He’s a big guy, but not as big as me, and he’s turning soft around his middle.

I simply stare.

He smirks. “The strong, silent type, huh? Suits you. I’m Big Mike. I’m the club’s protector, and I am Vani’s protector.” The muscles in his face tighten. “The way you looked at her? Not allowed.”

I give him the finger and turn to walk away. No one tells me what to do.

But he’s fast for a man his age and build, and he has me up against the wall before I can react. Something is sticking in the side of my throat, and I realize it’s a knife. I go cold.

For the second time in my life, I freeze.

The flashback hits hard and fast. I’m back in my father’s house, with that son of a bitch ready to take my life. This is too much like the last time. Then I lost my voice. What might I lose now?

He presses the blade in enough to pierce my skin and laughs softly. “Touch her, and you die.”

Then he closes the switchblade, tucks it back in his waistband, and slips out of the door.

My breathing is ragged, and I shake myself back to life. Fuck, I froze. Once again, I fucking froze. I’ve gone back over the attack that left me without my voice so many times, and replayed what I would have done, and how I would have acted—what I would have done differently. I’ve always believed I’d fight back, givena second chance. That was as close to a second chance as I’ll probably ever get, and instead I did nothing. As I take in what just happened, fury roars to life inside me. That bitch arrived like a fucking queen with her courtiers all around her and then one of them threatened me.

The fact he gave me a fucking flashback and almost triggered a major trauma moment has me angrier than I’ve been in years. The sense of shame at the fear I felt in that moment is washed away by glorious rage. Rage, I can deal with. Rage, I know…and like. It’s my old friend.

The new girl is so fucked because by thinking he’s protecting her. Big Mike has just made her my new number one priority. In the worst possible way.

5

VANI

Itry to pay attention to everything the dean, Mr. Rossi, is saying as he walks us through the wood-paneled hallways and shows us the various departments and lecture halls, but my mind is elsewhere.

My sister walks these same hallways.

My sister.

I wonder how much she knows about my mom. What did her father tell her? Did he say her mother died in childbirth, or something like that, to prevent Reagan looking for her? If that is the case, she won’t know anything about me. Will it be a good surprise for her, finding out she has a sister, too, or will my presence be bad news?

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