Page 65 of Lovely Venom
“I got home an hour ago.” I squeeze my eyes closed, waiting to hear laughter for lying or scolding for messing up. “I meant to text you when I came home. But I dropped from exhaustion.”
“I don’t think you understand the man you’re dealing with.”
“Of course, I don’t. I don’t know Connor.”
“I mean, Noel!” Valdrin barks.
I let him vent his frustration. It’s best to let a huge wave crash to the shore, get all its energy out, and then try to ride it after it’s lost some steam.
“What was I supposed to do?” I cringe at how whiny I sound. “He was probably trolling the streets all night. Spilling blood.”
“No one has seen him,” Valdrin grinds out.
I drag myself from the bed and amble into the kitchen. “Find someone else to kill him. Find someone else to marry Noel, while you’re at it. I’ll take my chances being doxed.”
But as I say that, I swallow thickly, worried that a professional will easily end Connor’s life.
Valdrin is quiet for a moment, then his tone shifts. “Maybe we should rethink our approach.”
I exhale slowly. “What do you mean?”
“You hit him in public. I’ll be there to make sure the job gets done.”
My heart pounds as I lean into my kitchen window and press my forehead against the cool glass before everything warms up again. I choose my next words carefully.
“That’s not a good idea, like you said. Too many cameras. I’ll make it happen. I just need another opportunity. This was my first attempt. Do your professional assassins always hit a target on the first try?”
Valdrin sighs, and for the first time, I don’t hear anger, I hear disappointment. And for some reason,thatbothers me more. “I can only stand by you for so long, Raina.”
A lump forms in my throat. I want to ask him why, but I also want to get off this phone and pretend this part of my life isn’t real. “Am I in danger?”
“Not yet,” he notes, unsure. “Noel won’t wait forever for that man’s blood to run in the streets.”
A chill skates down my spine. “Did he call you?”
“He called for an update,” Valdrin grumbles. “I told him you checked in earlier, but then I got called away for something else.”
He lied for me. Why?
I close my eyes. Valdrin is giving me a lifeline. But maybe just this once. “What will you tell him now?”
After a bitter scoff, he says, “That you waited for him to leave The Sterling, but he spent the night there withsome whore. Noel will believe that.”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“Don’t thank me.” His voice hardens. “Just don’t make me regret covering for you.”
The call ends.
I stand there for a long moment, staring out at the city, my pulse pounding in my ears.
Noel is watching me.
Valdrin covered for me.
And Connor Quinlan, the man I’m supposed to kill, is asleep in his bed with my scent on his skin and the taste of my release lingering on his tongue.
I’m so screwed.
