Page 113 of Daddy Sees Snakes

Allegra quirks an eyebrow at me. "Whoa, what was that?"

I force a bright smile. "Just your dad being his usual charming self. Now, I vote we start this girls' day with a trashy reality show binge. Thoughts?"

As we laugh and lose ourselves in petty onscreen drama, my mind keeps wandering to Viper despite my best efforts.

His words, his eyes, his closeness.

Everything about him sets me on edge in the most thrilling, frustrating way.

Get it together, Iris.

But I can't shake the feeling that something is shifting between us.

Like we're hurtling toward... what exactly?

Oblivion?

Ecstasy?

Both?

I guess only time will tell.

For now, I'll focus on being the friend Allegra needs, the sweet, fierce soul currently giggling and throwing gummy bears at the TV.

Even if that means facing off with her formidable, dangerously alluring father.

Four glasses of wine later, Allegra and I sprawl across the plush living room rug, limbs loose and languid.

The movie plays on forgotten as we trade increasingly wild ideas between peals of laughter.

"You know what I really want?" Allegra muses, tracing idle patterns on the carpet. "A tattoo. Something badass and sexy, right here."

She taps her hip.

I sit up straighter, my eyes lighting with inspiration. "Oh my god, yes! I can totally design something for you. Hold on, let me grab a pen."

Rummaging through my purse, I pull out a Sharpie and grab my sketchbook again. "Okay, what are you thinking? Flowers, stars, a quote maybe?"

As I start sketching out possibilities, a shadow falls across the paper.

I glance up to find Viper looming over us, his jaw set in a hard line.

"She's not getting a tattoo. Allegra isn’t like us, Iris. She’s classy. She’s not an ex-con or a whore," he says flatly.

I cock an eyebrow, meeting his steely gaze head-on. "Isn't that her choice? Allegra's an adult, Viper. If she wants a tattoo, she can get one."

I don’t even say anything about the whore, or ex-con remark…but when he calls me a whore, it gets me all hot and bothered.

I’mhiswhore.

Hisslut.

Hislittle plaything.

The air crackles with tension as we stare each other down. I've never dared to challenge him so directly before, and I can see the muscle ticking in his clenched jaw.

"Not as long as she's living under my roof," he grits out. "End of discussion."

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