Page 134 of Lovely Venom
Idiot. You’ve just contaminated the samples.
Staying quiet, he watches me with those mysterious green eyes that look so much like mine. Did he think I wouldn’t notice?
The server puts her pen away, and before she leaves, I say, “Actually, can I have an order of French fries too, please?”
No one can resist French fries from a diner.
When she turns away, I startle, surprised Valdrin is gazing at me. “I asked you here because it’s time for honesty. I’ll go first. I met Connor in June. Before I met you. He and I spent the night together. It was a great night. If you know what I mean.”
Valdrin shifts in his seat. Not a big movement, but a tiny flicker of rage fires up behind his eyes. Like a man in my bed matters.
“I can’t kill him,” I add quietly. “And I won’t marry Noel.”
Valdrin looks around again, and his eyes land on Blade. Then Jett. Valdrin’s lips twitch in something close to admiration.
“Noel will not be pleased. You belong with us, notthem. But it looks like you’re well protected here. There’s not much more I can do.” He starts to rise.
I panic, worried I’ll never know for sure if he is my father.
“Please stay. I have to ask you something important.”
He hesitates but sinks back into the booth with a stiff nod. “I have a question first. What are your plans with Connor Quinlan?”
My jaw tips open from the unexpected question about my future with a man. Like afatherwould be concerned.
“I don’t know,” I answer to force him to stay in touch with me somehow. “My life imploded one month ago. You were there,Havok.I’m still figuring shit out.”
“He’s a mob boss. Their wives are property.”
“And Noel wouldn’t consider me property?” I don’t argue that he’scompletelywrong about the Quinlans.
Ava and Lennox would kick anyone’s ass for suggesting they are their husband’s property.
“Noel iskyre. A king. You will be queen,” Valdrin says, his accent thicker than usual. Pride and pain mixed. “Connor is...”
My throat tightens at his insinuation that Connor’s status with Quinlan Empire isn’t regal enough for him. “He’s second-in-command for all intents and purposes.”
“Still not a king.”
“I’ll figure it out. It is my life,” I say to test him further.
To see if he’ll crack and slip, say the words I need to hear. Admit thathe’smy father. Surely, he tested my DNA at some point.
Valdrin doesn’t utter a syllable and looks itching to leave because marrying me to Noel is a failed mission in his eyes. Tahiri will exact revenge, and Valdrin must endure the punishment.
Like a strong soldier.
“Will Noel retaliate against the Quinlans for keepingme?” I ask, my throat tightening at the idea I’ve just lit the fuse of war.
But the server comes with the fries before Valdrin can answer.
“Please stay,” I say quickly. “Help me eat these. There are so many. I assume you’re hungry.”
He grumbles under his breath and picks at a fry. “Happy?”
I pick up one too and dunk it into a puddle of ketchup. “I am. I like you, Valdrin. I wish we didn’t have to be on opposite sides.” I lay the groundwork for him to consider that he has options.
The server comes back and puts down more napkins. Valdrin immediately uses one to wipe his mouth and then crumples it like it means nothing.
