Page 26 of Desperately Delicate Viper

“Uncle Sal.” I greet him as soon as I pull the door open.

He grins at me and pats me on the shoulder. His eyes move down the length of my throat and heat creeps up my spine at the flat look he gives me. I tug uselessly at the low collar of my t-shirt, knowing there’s nothing I can do to cover up the love bites and bruises Anders left all over me last night.

“I take it you found your man?” He smirks and steps inside.

I can hear the intentional clatter of silverware against a plate in the kitchen, and I fight back a smile at Anders’s bratty form of protest. I lead Sal into the kitchen where Anders is still at the table, violently stabbing his eggs with a fork.

“Uncle Sal, this is Anders, my—”

“Prisoner,” Anders finishes for me.

“I thought we settled on ‘boyfriend,’” I counter, returning his glare.

“Boyfriend,” he agrees sagely. “As long as ‘boyfriend’ means someone you paid for sex, stalked, and then kidnapped and won’t let leave.”

Sal makes a choking sound.

“Luca.” My uncle rumbles my name in an admonishing tone.

“Most of that is only technically true.”

“So, I can leave?” Anders says.

“No,” I say again.

He makes a feral sound and then bites into his toast so hard I’m surprised he doesn’t break a tooth.

“I wish I could say this is the messiest start to a relationship I’ve seen, but it’s not even top three,” Sal mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose.

I chuckle and go back over to Anders, making sure to stay just out of ball kicking range.

“Listen, here’s what we’re going to do,” I say gently, and Anders expression softens just a fraction. “Can you send your dad the money you should have made last night?” He hesitates for a second, then nods. “Okay, good. Text him and make up an excuse about why you aren’t coming home, but tell him he doesn’t need to worry, his money will still keep coming.” When his posture relaxes a little more, I move close enough to cup his jaw and lean in close. “I have to go have a terrifying meeting with Lorenzo this morning, so if you could lend me just a little bit of your venom, it would be extremely helpful.”

Anders huffs, but closes the last inch of space between us, nipping roughly at my bottom lip before shoving his tongue into my mouth. I moan softly and kiss him back, soaking up his strength for just a second before we break apart again.

“So, I give my dad what he wants to keep him away from Finn for now. Then what? Is that the plan for the next two weeks?” he asks.

“No. I’m going to go figure out a plan, and then we’re going to take care of this.”

His nose bumps against mine and our eyes lock. “Then I can leave?”

The question makes my throat tighten and my skin crawl. It’s on the tip of my tongue to remind him of what I said last night.He’smine. I don’t care how batshit it sounds or how short a time I’ve known him, I’m not going to let him go. I swallow that response down though. I’m going to carve out his father’s heart and hand it to him on a silver platter. If he still wants to leave me after that…

“If you want to.”

Chapter 11

ANDERS

Afterbreakfast,Lucagoeswith his uncle, leaving me all alone in his apartment. There’s a security system, but he gives me the code for it, and after a thorough search of the place, I can’t find any hidden cameras. Even though he got all growly and possessive about wanting to keep me here, there’s nothingactuallykeeping me here. I could type in the security code to disarm the alarm and walk right out the front door, back to my place—where my father is—or straight onto the first bus out of the city.

Just knowing that Icouldleave soothes the defiant streak inside of me.

I send my dad the money through the app like we talked about, but I don’t bother with any kind of message. He might not even notice that I’m not around as long as the money keeps coming. I’ll have to go back at some point to get the money and the few sentimental items I packed into my “go bag” to take with me. Pictures of my mom and a few little trinkets—the only things I have left of her other than her attitude and her nose.

A shower seems like a good way to pass some time, so I wander into the bathroom and start the water. Since I’m not sure if Luca will want me rummaging through his dresser for fresh clothes, I strip the t-shirt over my head and start to fold it neatly so I can put it back on after my shower. I stop mid-fold though and glare at the t-shirt, but not reallyatthe t-shirt. There was a time in my life when I was difficult and demanding, always with a snarky retort right on the tip of my tongue. Full of piss and vinegar, that’s how my mom described me, always with a fond smile and a kiss on the forehead.

I really have spent years making myself small and quiet and easy to deal with, to protect myself, but mostly to protect Finn. Would Luca really like that side of me without sex involved? I glower again, balling up the shirt and tossing it onto the bathroom floor. So what if he doesn’t? I’m sick and goddamn tired of being what everyone else wants and needs me to be.

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