Page 60 of The Vipers and Their Vendetta

What about Zane, though? What does he love? The only thing he cares about is himself … and maybe me. A little. Not in a healthy way, but in that intense, messed up way of his.

I think back to his note and try to suppress the flutter I get at the memory.

It will be difficult to get back at them when they’re already so hardened to the world, but, if I can find the thing Zane loves too, I can at least try.

I want to hurt them. To make them feel some of the anger and pain they’ve put me through. It’s not right that they should just be able to swan around here like the fucking lords of the manor after what they’ve done. They need to be taken down several pegs. To understand that they can be hurt too.

Later that day, I’m relaxing in a bath and still ruminating on the Vipers. I’m getting ready to go out with the girls and trying to soak the aches out of my bones. I hope the three of them aren’t there tonight, but I know I’m still going to dress for the possibility that they will be.

That’s the thing with them. I should quit them, but, like an addictive drug, I just keep going back for more. Shit, I wish I had more self-control around them.

Dragging myself out of the bath, I dry off, and with the fluffy towel wrapped around me, consider what to wear.

I could go for the body-con dress of last night, but I don’t want Zane to think I’m sending him some kind of signal if he goes to the bar.

In the end, I settle for tight jeans that hug my ass to perfection, and a long-sleeved, skinny rib top that makes my tits look amazing, despite not showing any flesh.

A pair of cowboy boots under my jeans, and a small purse for my wallet and phone, and I’m ready, so far as my outfit goes. Ibrush some bronzer on my cheeks and nose, a touch of mascara, and a hint of lip-gloss and study my reflection. I still look tired, so I add some winged liner to brighten my eyes and make them the focus of my face. A spritz of perfume, and I’m as good as I’m going to get.

The minute I hit the bar, and the wall of music and excited voices greet me, I regret my decision. I should have stayed in my room and watched Netflix. What the hell do I want to be here for? I am in no mood for partying, and dancing is off the agenda because my damn hips feel like I’m ninety after my legs were tied for so long.

I need to get into shape if rope play is going to feature in my life on a regular basis. I shake my head at myself. No, it won’tbebecause I’m not going to let the Vipers fuck with me that way again.

I spot Angelica and the other two girls in the far corner of the bar. I grab myself a Coke, and head to join them. They turn to me as one and grin. Faith moves up a little to make room along the bench where she is sitting.

A pretty girl with mid length blonde hair walks by and glances at the table, her eyes narrowing and her nose scrunching as if there’s a bad smell in the air.

“What are you staring at, Verity?” Angelica snaps.

The other girl gives Angelica the finger before pivoting on her heel and stalking away.

“She is such a bitch,” Jarena says.

“The sort of girl who thinks her own shit doesn’t smell,” Faith says, making me laugh.

“Her nose really got put out of joint when the Devils went and fell for Mackenzie.” Jarena smirks, but Angelica purses her lips.

“The Devils have made themselves look ridiculous with that girl.” Angelica shakes her head. “Verity might be a raging bitch, but at least she’s not a disgusting whore who takes three men atonce. That’s all that Mackenzie is. She’s so cheap and trashy, it’s unbelievable.” She leans forward, her eyes sparkling now that she’s getting into the gossip. “Can you imagine what even goes on with those three? I mean, how does it work? It’s absolutely sick, if you ask me. Does she let them in all her holes at once?Slut.”

She says the word slut with a hard, extended T, and sneers.

My stomach churns at her words. Even though she’s talking about Mackenzie—who, as far as I can tell, is sweet as pie—it feels like she’s aiming her comments at me. She knows the Vipers have been interested in me. All three of them. Is she trying to make some kind of passive aggressive point that people will think those kinds of things about me if I let it go any further?

Thoughts of last night flash into my head, and my cheeks burn. If only she knew how far I already have taken it. I had the twins’ cocks inside me at the same time while Zane watched. I think that would definitely count as slutty in Angelica’s book. But at least now she thinks I hate them because of them being involved in what happened with Reagan. Hopefully, she’ll never know the truth.

I pick at the beer mat on the table, as I start to tear strips of paper from the corner.

“Are you okay, honey?” Angelica smiles sweetly at me. “I’m sorry someone wrote that shit about you all over the lockers.”

My cheeks warm. “Oh, yeah. That. It’s nothing.”

“Just someone putting the new girl through her paces,” Jarena says. “That sort of shit happens to everyone.”

I brighten at her words. It makes me feel better to know I’m not alone. Does this mean the Vipers aren’t responsible for the horrible note writing either? Though the words had felt personal, maybe they weren’t.

“It does?” I ask.

Jarena nods. “Yeah, it’s like the Verona Falls version of hazing, you know.”

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