Page 76 of The Vipers' Vow

“I drugged her. I kissed her to make her think that’s the way things were heading, but I only did it so I could question her while she was out of it.”

“You drugged her? And then you had sex with her? You understand what you’re saying here? That’s called date rape.”

She’s misunderstood what I’m saying. “No, wait, back up. I never had sex with her. Jesus Christ, it’s the opposite of that. I gave her the pills to get out of having to sleep with her. So, she’d pass out, see?” At the time, my plan made perfect sense, but Vani is staring at me as if I’ve grown another head.

“But you did drug her?”

“Yes, I had to. It was the only way I could get her to believe something happened between us when it didn’t. I went to her wanting information, that’s all.”

“You’re admitting that you drugged a girl? And you set Jarl onto her too. What were you hoping would happen? That he’d clean up your mess for you? That I’d never have to find out what you did because Jarl would have taken care of things?” She shakes her head in disbelief. “No wonder you didn’t talk about it before. You were hoping I’d never find out.”

I reach out, pleading with her. “Vani, baby, that’s not what happened. Please, you have to believe me.”

“How can I believe you? How can I believe anyone around here? Every time I think things are finally going right, something happens that upends my world again. I thought we had something special.”

“We do!”

She laughs darkly. “Zane and I do, and maybe even me and Lex, but you’re broken, Saint, and I should never have let you in.”

My heart stutters at her words. How the fuck can she believe this of me? After everything we’ve been through together. I thought we’d gotten past all the half-truths and misunderstandings. Maybe this is my fault for not being open with her sooner, but I’d still thought she’d understand.

“Angelica was my friend, Saint. And I don’t have many of those around here.” She shakes her head. “You had to go and choose one of my friends, didn’t you? But maybe that was the appeal all along.”

I shake my head slowly. “Angelica was never your friend, Vani. That’s what I was trying to prove when I went to her room. I’ve always been suspicious of her. The way she always pushed the narrative that it was us who hurt Reagan, then her befriending you, it was too much. Maybe I shouldn’t have kissed her, but it seemed like she gave me an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.”

Her eyes widen with disbelief. “The opportunity to get in her fucking panties.”

“No, fuck, no. That’s not what I mean.” I take a breath and try to school my thoughts into line. “Don’t you remember how she asked for something in return for Jarl’s number and she wouldn’t say what it was in front of you?”

Vani stalls, her anger stuttering. “So what?”

“She asked to spend the night with me. That was the thing she wanted.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Why would you not believe that?” I’m the one getting angry now. “She just told you we slept together, even though we hadn’t. What makes you think she wouldn’t make that offer?”

“Because she acted like she hated you.”

She’s making zero sense now, and I get that she’s angry, but she’s contradicting her own argument.

“Yes, but that’s all it was, Vani. An act. You’ve just admitted yourself that she acted like she hated me, so why would she screw me? So you’re the one not making sense. She hatesyoubecause you’re with us. And I believe she hated Reagan for that too, even though we were never with her. She has some twisted idea that she and I can be together, and I used that to my advantage to get information out of her that would help you find out what happened to your sister. All I wanted was to help you. I hated you not knowing the truth about what happened. So, I did what I did, but I did it for you.”

I hate the pain in her eyes right now, especially knowing I was the one who put it there.

She shakes her head. “I hate you, Saint. I fucking hate you. I hate you, I hate you, Ihateyou.”

Is she trying to convince herself, or me?

Her words are like an arrow to my heart. “No, don’t say that.”

It’s her expression that does it. So cold. So final. Fuck, I can’t take this. I drop to my knees in front of her and grab her hands. Words that I never thought I’d say to anyone pour out of me.

“I love you, Vani. I’ve never loved anyone before, not like this. You’re my world, and if I don’t have you in it, then it’s like the universe might as well not exist. All I want is for us to be together. Us. Not me and Angelica. I fucking hate Angelica. You’re the person I want to be with. We’re made for each other—the four of us. You’re the Vipers’ Venom.”

“I don’t know what to believe anymore.” She yanks her hands from my grip. “I can’t be around you right now. I can’t be around any of you.”

She turns and storms out of my room, slamming the door behind her.

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