Page 56 of Sweet Touch of Venom

I tuck in my lip, licking the rim. He watches the movement, and my heart beats harder into my ribs. It almost feels like he’s sucking up all the hate, and reluctance I had toward him and tossing it overboard.

“I amforeverindebted to you.” It came out as more of a whisper. One that drives shivers up my spine. It’s a clause that I never agreed to. Those little words alone make me feel like he owes me his life. All he needed to do was bow and kiss my red stained boots.

Here we are standing in the middle of a bloodbath, moaning men and dead ones. And yet, I’m here in a whirlwind by a man who’s as beautiful as a roman god and dark as the scythe himself.

With a mission at stake, I do not have time for this. These unwanted feelings, all the stupid goosebumps that can’t seem to lay off. He continues to make me feel out of place, and I hate it. I hate that Ican’thate him. I narrow my eyes and I yank my hand away.

“We aren’t a team. It’s only temporary. So next time, maybe I’ll just let you get slaughtered.”

He doesn’t care that my entire mood has changed; he seems even more thrilled about it, a mischievous grin on his lips and dark tints shimmering in his gaze.

“Fuck off,” I mutter, purposely pushing past him as I jam the metal into the holster. Once again, he doesn’t even move from the abrasion.

Stepping over men and making my way to the steps, I swallow the brick suffocating my throat. Because although I made the comment of letting him get killed, it seems he knows more than me—it’s a complete lie.

Chapter 22

Ronan

Only a fool would dare…

“How did he escape?” Ire is streaming through my bones as I stand in the middle of the dark chestnut room. I clasp both hands in front of me. Boone crosses his arms and leans on the large seat pushed into the mahogany desk. The chair is huge, like it belongs in a castle. The room is full of decor resembling a king’s quarters. Etched brown vases, thick burgundy and gold carpet, the walls, and ceilings designed with pillars and wood. And an actual damn chandelier slap center in here.

It’s ridiculous.

The room is giving me a splitting headache on top of the fact that the bastard escaped. I hate I missed those minor details and that can cost us a lot, turning into something bigger. Like him fleeing and getting away with it.

Mal has pinched brows stepping around the room. “No clue I locked all the back doors and windows downstairs.”

“Your best bet is searching the place.” Chris’ voice pops in through the earpieces.

“He couldn’t have gotten that far then,” Anita says. I twist my head around to see her seated in another throne chair. Bringing my full body to her direction, my heavy boots scraping against the floor lazily.

I trail my eyes up those long legs that’s crossed over the other, tapping her boot in the air with her arm flat on the armrest.

“I can bet he’s probably running low on energy. Blood doesn’t stay put if he’s shot.” She looks at her nails while talking, then she finally gazes back at me. I could’ve winced at the fire igniting in her eyes. She’s pissed too, and that shit makes her even more sexy.

My eyes roam her face. Like painting a canvas, I brush all over her features. Soft brown skin, pouty plump lips, her flaring button nose, and almond-shaped brown eyes that’ll make a man drop to his knees when she looks at you. The dark eye shadow and natural thick lashes make her look wicked as fuck.

Deslumbrante.

Yes, she’s his little sister, but it doesn’t mean I can’t admire the obvious.

“Venom is right. We start the search now. I’m sure you’ll catch up to him in no time, Headman,” Chris reassures.

I squeeze my knuckles; the bones cracking and relieving some tension that’s built up. I’m exhausted as fuck; the fighting downstairs can leave one winded, and the adrenaline I had is slowly dissipating. But I won’t be able to sleep knowing he’s out there free and unscathed. That’s a no-go in my playbook. I gaze at her again, rolling down my sleeves. “Plan Z.”

I finally see a grin almost come to her lips and a shimmer glistens in her eyes. “Plan Z,” she repeats.

“Ro, take a look at this!” Mal yells out with a hint of concern. My head snaps in her direction, furrowing my brows. We all follow the trail of rustling. Inside a secret room with a table,ashtrays, and half full glasses of liquor stand on a wall a large paper with colored strings and pinpoints of?—.

Oh, fuck.

Nausea with a mix of rage bubbles in my gut at the sight. Anita comes up beside me, lowering her gun. “What is this?”

My stomach plummets to the floor, taking my heart right along with it. I crush my jaws together, hearing the molars crack. I narrow my eyes to see the extremities of the situation.

It’s fucked.

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