Page 41 of Lovely Venom
I open the freezer and take out a fifth of vodka. “How was work?”
“The usual,” Ruby speaks to my back. “You’re acting strange. Did something else happen tonight?”
I stiffen, unscrewing the brand-new bottle. My head is spinning about Connor, and it must be radiating off me like sonic waves.
Facing her, I admit, “Yeah. I saw that guy tonight. The one I met a couple of months ago?”
Her eyes light up. “No way.” She plops down at my kitchen table, and I see the young girl who wants to still be a kid and gossip with a bestie.
“Way,” I tease her.
Ruby smirks, giving me a once-over. “And?”
“And he wants to see me again.” I give the best succinct update right now about Connor Quinlan.
Just not that he’s a mob boss. Or that I’m supposed to kill him. My stomach twists whenever that reality crashes through. But Iwantto see him again. To sleep with him. Not kill him.
Of all the people who could have killed my father, why did it have to be the only man who would get me?
The real me.
“I bet he wants to see you again.” Ruby nudges me with her elbow when I sit next to her. “What’s theproblem?”
I hesitate. “I don’t know if I should.”
“Why the hell not?”
Because he killed my father. Because he’s a criminal. And I put criminals in jail.
Hang on.I don’t anymore.
I have to push away how I stood in his torture chamber and felt a wicked connection to him. That place felt something close tohome. And that scares the hell out of me.
“Because it’s complicated,” I mutter as a pathetic excuse, regretting that I brought him up.
Then I pour another shot to buy thirty seconds to think.
Ruby snorts. “Everythingwith you is complicated. This guy isn’t your boss.” She eyes me, her expression turning softer.
“Thanks for bringing up Meyers,” I say cringing.
“Whoever this one-night stand is, if you want him, just go for it.”
I chew on my lip. “I’ll think about it. I need to shower.”Andmasturbate. “Are you staying over?”
“If it’s okay?” She grabs an apple from my counter and sits on the sofa alone.
“It’s always okay, Ruby.” I kiss her on the forehead.
Walking to my bedroom, I hear the familiarton-tonof Netflix and figure she’s good for at least an hour.
Slogging into my bedroom to strip, I stare at myself. I went from princess in a gown to ninja.
I like this version of me better. Something tells me Connor would, too.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Raina
