Page 77 of The Vipers and Their Vendetta

He has a bitter smirk on his face. “She’s fucked with us, we should fuck with her, and let the cards fall where they may. None of us know the outcome once events are set in motion, but she’s not getting away with this, Lex. Maybe you’re too soft for her and want to let her go?”

I narrow my eyes. “Screw you.”

“No one comes between us,” he states.

I hate where this is going, but if they’re all in, then I’m in with them. It’s our way. I make a fist and extend it in front of me at chest height. The others do the same.

I grit my teeth. “Remember who we are.”

We press our fists together.

Zane mouths,Hot Blood.

“Hot thoughts,” I say.

My twin follows. “Hot deeds.”

I unison we say, with Zane mouthing, “We are Vipers.”

We remain that way for a moment, and then I break apart from them.

“Okay. Let’s not rush into anything. We can tell Dean Rossi we’ve spotted Jarl Olsen on campus. He’s bound to want to know. We don’t have to mention Vani at all, do we?”

“He’ll see,” Saint says. “Rossi will want to know where we saw him, and then he’ll check the security cameras, and he’ll see Jarl with Vani, and he’ll kick her straight out of here.”

“Fuck.”

At least he’d kick that bitch Angelica out with her too.Zane writes. Then he adds something else and pushes the pad at me and Saint.We could always try to be more honest. Admit she means something to us.

“And then what?” I demand. “We tell her we forgive her, and we want to work through it? That’s bullshit, and you know it, especially after what she’s done.”

Despite my protests, the question lingers on my mind. What does she mean to us?

We want her. We crave her. Hell, Saint fucking welled up over her, but what does it mean?

Zane fixes me in his serious gaze and signs.It’s better than her leaving. You know the truth, even if you won’t say it.

“If we tell her,” I say, “she might use it against us.” I don’t voice my worst fear that by giving our Venom power over us by admitting we feel something, we give her the power to break us.

Is it really a risk we want to take?

CHAPTER 29

Vani

Jarl Olsen checkshis watch and gets to his feet. “I should get going. You know I’m not really supposed to be here.”

I stand as well. “Of course.”

“Do you want me to show you out?” Angelica offers.

“I think I can find my way. I appreciate the introduction.” He turns to me. “Thank you for your time, Ivani. It was good to meet my daughter’s sister. I know technically we’re not related, but it feels like we are.”

I don’t want to be related to this man in any way, but I force a smile. “Thank you for sharing those photographs of her.”

He adjusts his suit jacket sleeves. “Of course.”

Jarl checks to ensure he’s not being watched, and then slips around the outskirts of the bar, sticking to the shadows. He pushes through the door and leaves via the corridor. I have no idea which way he’s going to sneak out of here, but he seems to know where he’s going. I’m still troubled about meeting him, though my emotions are mixed.

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