Page 68 of The Vipers and Their Vendetta

I go to the door and open it.

Saint is standing there.

“Saint!”

I remember then, last night, he was there in the bar. Watching me. One half guardian angel, one half demon stalker.

Walking into my room, he’s all scowls and attitude. He takes a seat on the chair next to my bed.

“What the hell were you playing at last night?” he demands.

He seriously shouldn’t be the one asking me questions right now. “What do you mean?”

I realize I’m in only my underwear, and scoot back into bed, gathering the blankets closer. Did I come back here with him after the bar? I can’t remember. It’s certainly a possibility. One of my final memories is being on the dance floor and him watching me. Did I invite him back? Would I have done that? I know I’ve been horny lately, but I’m sure I’d have remembered if we’d had sex. I squeeze my thighs together. I do have that slippery, swollen feeling, like it might have happened, but I really can’t be sure.

He doesn’t give in. “Answer the question. What game are you playing? Hanging around with those bitches? Is there anything you want to tell me?”

“Tell you? I have no idea what you are talking about. Jesus.” I put my head in my hands. “My brain is thumping on the inside of my skull.”

His shoulders drop a little. “Did you take some meds? Here, drink more water.”

From my nightstand, he hands me the half full glass of water. I take it gratefully, in too much pain to argue with him. My throat is so dry I feel as if I’ve crossed the Sahara. I gulp down the water and then pause, assessing how my stomach feels. Am I going to be sick? A wave of nausea washes over me, but then it subsides again, and I allow myself to breathe. I do not want to throw up in front of Saint. That would be so embarrassing.

Now I’ve dealt with my dehydration, it allows me to focus on what Saint is doing here.

I try not to glance at the drawer. The note is in there, its presence screaming at me. They make me feel a sticky sense ofshame. Why do I suddenly feel guilty about the notes? Someone hates me enough to send them to me, and that in itself makes me all kinds of mortified. Is it the Vipers?

Maybe it’s not even all of them. Just one of them could be doing this. I might ask Saint, and he’d declare his innocence, but he might not know if one of the others wrote it. He doesn’t know what his twin and Zane are doing twenty-four-seven. Zane held a knife to my throat, so sending a little note doesn’t seem like big deal in comparison.

“Did you come back with me last night? Did we have sex? I was way too drunk to know what I was doing, but I feel like … I feel like I did.”

“We fooled around a little,” he admits. “After I walked you back to your room.” He looks around, his gaze anywhere but on me. “Don’t tell the others. They’ll demand their own turn, and you don’t seem up for that.”

“Shit.” I sigh and shake my head. “You guys are like a toxic drug I just can’t quit.”

I’d promised myself I wasn’t going to jump back into bed with them, not after what Zane did, and here I am, one day later, already messing with Saint.

I’d planned to get my revenge, not give them more orgasms. No wonder I’m a sticky mess.

“I need to get cleaned up.” I gesture to the door, but Saint doesn’t move.

“I can help you. Maybe I can clean you up with my mouth.”

“Jesus, no.”

He laughs. “Merde, Venom. I’m not asking for anything in return. Lie back and enjoy it.”

“Get out,” I screech. “Last night was a mistake. I won’t be doing it again.”

“Oh, really, Vani? We’ll see about that.” He strolls to the door and grins at me before leaving.

What did that mean? He’s such an arrogant asshole

Glancing at my phone, I see a message. It’s from Faith. She’s asked me if I want to grab a coffee tomorrow. I smile at that. She’s nice, and seeing her without the other two would be refreshing.

I hope I’m over my hangover by then. I can’t deal with anything or anyone today. I’m just going to stay in my bed and rot.

By the time tomorrow arrives, I’m weirdly nervous about meeting Faith. I’d like a real friend, and I think she could be it, and that’s what’s got me a bit anxious.

---