Page 136 of Violet

But they can sort their own shit out. I don’t have the bandwidth, not with my princess there because he’s fucking right. I’m not sure Violet wants to handle Emporia fulltime.

Personally, I know she can. Violet’s so much stronger than she gives herself credit for.

And now I have my own anxiety-control methodology with her…

“Stop grinning. I don’t like where your thoughts might be.”

I pick up a cushion and throw it at him. “Jesus, I can smile. Not all of it’s about sex.”

He grabs the cushion, tosses it to the sofa, and then flops down. “I think Violet might love you. And she shines like she used to before her anxiety started to eat at her. Mostly before Dad died.”

“You noticed?”

“I’m her brother, asshole. Of course I know she suffers from panic and anxiety.”

“I’d like her to get therapy, and maybe in Emporia…”

“Don’t tell Mom.” He shrugs. “She’s not against it, but the pressure on Violet over all this has added to it, the Season I mean. And Mom probably feels like it’s her fault, too. She just wants the best for us all. Mom already asks why Vi quit dance.”

“Because she doesn’t think she’s good enough. I first saw her running to a dance class, y’know.”

He holds up a hand. “Keep your meet-cute shit toyourself.” But he winces. “Money. She quit because the lessons cost money, and she thinks Dahlia needs the money spent on her. Vi’s a beautiful dancer. You should see her, really see her dance, on the stage. She’s excellent.”

I don’t say a word because I get the feeling anything I say will be taken wrong. Shit, itwillbe wrong. My private dances are not things anyone else should know about.

So I change the subject.

“I’m going to take Violet to Emporia for a few days. I have some meetings. I was meant to stay away the whole summer but being mated changes things.”

“And a little press opportunity no doubt. How you’ve changed now you have your good girl Omega, and no more women, booze, drugs.”

Anger flares. “I’m not?—”

“I’m just repeating rumors. I’ve never known you to be out of control. Not since?—”

“Where are your sisters?” I don’t need him to finish the sentence about Cecilia and the baby. Saying it just makes the terror of it happening again too real. “Whatever Omega thing they’re at has to be over by now.”

He frowns. Texts. Then texts again. Finally, he texts a few more times. “Rue’s not texting back. Or Vi.”

I try Violet. “Maybe they’re not near their phones.”

“Or Mari or Iris took them.”

I nod at him. “Don’t you have some tracker on Rue?”

“Oh, fuck.” He opens an app. “Son of a…” He looks at me. “She’s in the Lower fucking Side.”

“Heath, wanna go get a drink downtown?”

He tosses down his dregs and stands. “Try and stop me.Come on. We’ve got some bad Omega sisters and one idiotic Beta girl to wrangle.”

I wince. “Do not say that to them if you want to live.”

“You are drunk.”

I try to sound stern, but I fail.

Violet grabs at my face, stroking my beard, her cheeks pink, lips inviting, and so fucking pretty it almost makes my knees give way.

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