Page 61 of Sweet Touch of Venom

My eyes drop to the mug. “That’s wonderful,” I whisper, nearly inaudible. Because it is. He chose to help those who were victims to these heinous acts. Choosing to give them a chance to shift their trauma and turn it into a power. It’s admiring.

Ronan crosses his arms glancing back at me. “Now my turn.”

I roll my eyes up to meet his. I wonder what he has for me.

After a few seconds, he asks, “What’s your issue with me? Why do you want to kill me?”

My heart plummets to my stomach.

Didwant to kill you?.?.?.

I guess we’re getting real personal. Do I tell him that my father, who also happens to be the man who trained me to become who I am today, had a notion that I was never safe. And we needed to get revenge for Carter and to kill him too?

There’s no real way to explain that. It was only a matter of time before he wanted answers. Same as I do.

I sip again. “My father believed you were the reason Carter was murdered.” I look off to him, searching for hesitation, a fumble, a sweat?… anything that would prove my father right.

But he doesn’t. His brows deepen as he stares directly into my eyes, a tint of sadness shells them. “Why would your father think that?”

It’s a great question, and sadly… I don’t know anymore.

“You were best friends, and you come from a rich family. My father found out the men that kidnapped you two go after rich people.”

Ronan slowly sits forward, resting his elbows on his knees as they spread wide, his hands running over his knuckles with a pinched jaw.

What is he thinking?

“Your father. Isn’t wrong.”

My mug nearly falls out of my hand, a burning sensation fills my cheeks.

“What?”

Chapter 24

Venom

Isuck in a tight breath, my head buzzing in alert from the news he shot at me. Ronan looks over his shoulder at me. “Not in the way you think.”

Relief I wasn’t expecting loosens the grip that was clutching my heart. I swallow to quench my dry throat, shoulder slacking slightly. “Then explain.”

Please don’t say what I don’t want to hear.I chant over and over until he starts speaking.

“Yes, they go after rich kids. Because of my father and my own wealth, that’s what I thought, but there’s something you don’t know.”

I lower my cup to my thigh, swallowing what seems like sandpaper.

He continues to watch me attentively. “They were after blueprints as well.”

I freeze. “Blueprints?”

“Yes. Your brother and I were creating the next invention. A car that runs on air and water.”

I scratch my head with a confused chuckle. “A car that works only with air?...?and water.” I’m almost ready to say, ‘Do you hearyourself?’ But from his serious expression, the disbelief runs free.

“Exactly. They wanted it.”

My head shakes, blinking rapidly. “Why didn’t you?… Carter, just give it to them?”

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