Page 72 of The Vipers and Their Vendetta

CHAPTER 27

Vani

The coffeewith Faith is just what I need.

She looks particularly pretty today with her natural hair held back with a patterned headband and her full lips shining with gloss. She’s a lot more open and at ease than she is when she’s with the others. It’s as if when she’s with Angelica and Jarena, she has a self-protection mechanism in place. A wall comes up, and you don’t quite get to see the real her.

She’s telling me about her mother, who is an interesting sounding lady. Her mom might have married a man deep in the crime world, but she was a doctor who, before she had Faith, was saving lives in various war zones.

“She gave all that up … to marry into our world?” I ask.

It’s a bit of a rude question, but it seems like a huge decision to me.

Faith shrugs. “She loves my dad, and unlike some of the marriages in the circles we all move in, where the wives are treated badly, he loves her. It makes me want more, too, you know? I don’t want to end up the way Jarena is. Being married off to someone with no say in it. I want love.”

I nod. “Of course you do. It’s a basic right.”

She laughs softly. “Not so much in our world. It’s a bit different for you. MCs aren’t as strict about these things as some of the families in the organized crime world are, I imagine.”

I roll my eyes, thinking of the club and the way they treat women. “Trust me, in some ways, they might be worse.”

“So … you and the Vipers.” She smiles at me, and my heart misses a beat.

Can I trust her? I’m so close to telling her something, not all of it, butsomething,because damn, I need someone to confide in, but behind her, striding toward us with purpose, is Angelica, and I clamp my mouth shut.

Crap, there goes our friendly conversation.

“Hey, there you are,” Angelica says.

I assume she’s talking to Faith, but I realize she’s staring straight at me. “Me?”

“Yes, you. I’ve been looking for you. I’ve got someone here who wants to speak with you. Can we grab a table in a corner of the bar—it’s almost empty at this time of day—and have a talk?”

“Who is it?” I ask.

“It’s a surprise,” she says. “A good one.” She steps from foot to foot like an overexcited kid on Christmas day. “Come on.”

I glance at Faith, and she shrugs to indicate she doesn’t mind. We’re almost finished our coffees, anyway.

“Go see what the surprise is,” she says.

Angelica turns her attention to Faith. “See you for study later?”

“Sure, see you later.” Faith dips her head back to her drink as I leave her sitting alone and follow Angelica out of the cafeteria, nerves eating me up.

When we reach the student bar, I see Angelica is right. It’s almost empty. Then again, it’s early on Sunday and most students will be hungover from the previous two nights’ partying.

“It’s always quiet at this time,” Angelica explains. “I sometimes come here alone just to sit and have a coffee in complete peace.”

“You do?” I can’t imagine Angelica seeking out a quiet spot that way.

“Yes, I don’t always want to be the center of attention.” She tugs at my sleeve. “Over here.” She pulls me into a dark recess, and I blink, trying to make out the features of the man sitting there.

As we grow close, he stands. He’s broad, tall, with sharp bone structure and a striking but cold face. He reminds me of the jagged planes of a mountain covered in snow, forbidding and remote. He stares at me, a range of emotions crossing his features.

Then he glances at Angelica. “Are you sure about this?”

She nods. “Yes. I know they don’t look alike, but this is Reagan’s sister.”

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