Page 72 of Penance

“Merry Christmas, Charlie,” Frank smiles, knowingly keeping his hands to himself, I don’t do handshakes.

“’Appy Christmas, Carol,” I offer, the smallest, most genuine smile I can muster tilts my lips.

Knowing that it’ll make my cousin happy if I’m polite.

“Merry Christmas, Charlie,” she smiles at me, and I feel warmth bloom in my chest.

I like Carol, she’s kind and she means well. She has a big heart. It’s a shame this world likes to snuff out people like her.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’ve come to kidnap my cousin,” I wink, only half joking.

I sometimes think we’d be better off somewhere far away from here.

“Oh, of course! I’ve been hogging her all to myself!” she laughs, her cheeks turning a soft shade of pink.

“You can have her back soon. I won’t keep her long,” I promise with a sly smirk.

Taking Kyla-Rose’s small hand in my large, rough one, I pull her up from the couch.

Tugging her tightly behind me as I start to lead her from the room.

“Charl?” she questions as we pass her trio of men, all of whom follow her with their eyes.

Good.

Tightening my grip on her delicate fingers, I crush them between my own. Dragging her behind me, her too-high heels clacking against the white marble floors. I weave us through the large dining room. Working my way between the busy catering staff currently filling the buffet table with a feast. I whip us out of the archway, around the corner and slam her back into a darkened alcove with my forearm across her chest.

“Charlieeee,” she whines, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Dee’s gunna be so,somad if we play a game right now, the house is full of people,” she pouts, biting her bottom lip to hide her smirk.

I can see in her eyes she wants to play, they’re filled with excitement. Her demon rearing its head, her pupils blown with deviant ideas. She’s been out of the game for a whole fucking month, I can see how desperate she is to dosomething. Anything to wreak havoc or make abloodymess. I didn’t drag her out here to play… but maybe later.

“No games,” I growl, making her smirk grow, her lip popping free from her teeth. “I wanted to give you your gift,” I hiss at her and her eyes gleam.

“What did you get me?” she whispers curiously, her head tilting in wonder, those too large eyes peering into my own.

Without taking my eyes from hers, I pull out the small vile from my trouser pocket, holding it up to her face.

“Venom.” I answer coolly, my expression stoic.

Her large grey-green orbs blink at me slowly, once, twice.

“Is that? Charlie isthat…no fucking wayyy,” she whispers, her awed gaze flicking between my eyes and the small vile.

She swallows hard, her tongue darting out to lick her red lips.

“Inland Taipan.”

“NO FUCKING WAY!” she squeals.

The high pitch ringing through my ears, my eyes narrowing as a growl stirs in my chest at the discomfort. She screams quietly through her gritted teeth. Her long, black nailed fingers gripping my bicep as she jumps up and down in excitement, just like a kid on Christmas. I smirk at the thought.

“How in the fuck did you get it? That snake is just- when can we use it? How long does it keep for?Fuck, Charlie!” she asks me too many questions, her husky voice low and breathy.

“It doesn’t matter how, but it needs to be kept in the freezer, I just wanted you to see it first.”

“Can I?” she asks innocently, her small uninjured hand reaching up to take the vile from between my fingers.

I offer it up to her. Gently lifting it up towards the light from the hall. Her head tilting as she looks up into the bottom of the vile, her lips kicking up at the corners.

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