Page 28 of Envy

Caruthers exhales, impatient. “Fine.” His voice cuts through the tension like a blade. “Enough talk about a girl with no future in our organization.”

John’s fury ignites. “You won’t get away with this, Nox.” He glares, seething. “I own her. She’s mine.”

I pick up my plague mask from the pew. “Please, try and stop me.” My tone is dry, amused. But inside— I want to smash his face in.

I want to gut him open and play jump rope with his intestines.

Alaric meets me outside after the others leave. “What the fuck, Nox? You want your bloodline to die?”

I shrug. “I didn’t mean to mention her. But it was the only way.”

He adjusts his tailored suit jacket, the red Louis Vuitton tie unmistakably Veronica’s choice. He never would have pickedthat out himself. Let alone worn a fucking tie. “A way to get your little toy out of the playpen?”

I scoff. “You would’ve done the same.” I pause. “I need a favor.”

He snorts. “What? You want my fucking balls? My cock? You want that too?” “I need Veronica to stop by the house.”

He laughs. It’s murderous. “Like fucking hell. You had a better chance with my dick.”

“It’s not for me. It’s for her.”

He rolls his shoulders.“Ask any other asshole’s wife you’ve fucked in the past. Why does it have to be mine?”

I exhale. “Jess is eight months pregnant. Melody wouldn’t understand. And the twins don’t let Gia out of their sight.” I meet his gaze. “Veronica’s the only one I trust.”

He studies me. “Why her?”

I give him the real answer. “She’s the only one who understands me.”

Alaric walks to the cemetery entrance. The clouds shift, revealing the full moon. He sighs. “I should have hit you harder that day.” His voice is flat. “I thought the pills we slipped you would teach you a lesson.”

I shake my head. “That wasn’t funny.” He smirks. “I thought I had small dick syndrome for a year until the doctor told me about the side effects.”

He grins, unrepentant. “You should have kept it in your pants before you fucked with Jess. It was Reid’s idea.”

Fucking assholes.

I shake my head. “Tell him he owes me.”

“I think knowing you’ve tasted our wife’s pussy is punishment enough.”

I glare. “I said I was sorry.”

Alaric exhales.

“What is it with you and this girl?”

I don’t respond.

He continues.

“Melody wants to reach out to her. You said no. Repeatedly. And now this.”

I hesitate. “I don’t know yet. But I need you to find out where John adopted her from.” He goes still. “There are no records. Something doesn’t add up.”

Alaric leans against the stone pillar. The moonlight catches in his dark eyes.

He finally nods. “Well, for one thing—John’s a liar.” He straightens. “It’s obvious he’s possessive of her.”

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