Page 6 of The Viper

Fuck. “Nothing,” I say as I step back from my brother.

“Pencil dick over here told me to leave Eliza’s sister alone,” Adrian happily says and smirks at me.

I wanted to keep this between us, but now Adrian has involved our uncle and boss. Ruben approaches us and shoves his hands in his pockets. “Do you like the girl?” he asks me. Shit. “If you don’t then she’s whoever claims her. But if you do, no one touches her.” He lifts his brows and stares waiting for my answer.

If I say I don’t, then she’ll never be mine. “She’s mine,” I say.

Ruben gives me a small, confirming nod. “You heard the man.” He turns to Adrian and looks at him. “You have a wife now, Adrian. You don’t need the sister too. Pick someone else. Leave the sister alone.” Adrian shoots me a sideways glance before pursing his lips together. “Good.” Ruben waltzes back into the reception, leaving Adrian and me to finish having this out.

“You can have the dirty whore.” Adrian skims his gaze down my body as his mouth twists. “When her snatch gives you a fucking disease, don’t come running to me when your dick shrivels up, little bro.”

“You’re a prick,” I say as I step forward to match up with him.

“What are you going to do about it?” He pulls his shoulders back and lifts his chin.

I have to remind myself that we’re at his wedding, and causing a scene right now might not be the smartest moves. Besides, he outranks me. “This isn’t over,” I reply as I walk away. I flick a look to Marco, my right hand, who’s been intensely watching us.

“That’s it, run to your whore,” he calls after me in a condescending tone.

I want to smash his fucking mouth in, but instead I close my eyes, take a breath, and walk away. My brother needs to be taught a lesson. But it’s not worth a confrontation here. This isn’t the time or the place. Yet.

I head back inside, where I see Rose is sitting with Eliza at the bridal table. “Ladies,” I say as I take my place beside Adrian’s seat. They both look to me and Rose rolls her eyes while Eliza offers me a soft smile. They appear to have been deep in conversation that I’ve interrupted. I flick my hand to our server and he appears within seconds with another scotch for me. He places it on the table and I shoo him away with a hard look. The scotch barely touches the sides as I throw it back.

The girls haven’t lifted their heads from whatever they’re talking about, and my brother is still outside. I stand and walk over to Eliza. “May I?” I ask as I offer her my hand.

“Go away,” Rose sneers toward me.

I can’t help but like her sassiness. It’s refreshing, and quite alluring. “I wasn’t asking you,” I reply with a slight grin.

She arches a brow and sucks in a deep breath. “Good.” Rose sits back and crosses her arms in front of her chest.

I control my urge to stare at her pushed-up tits. I refrain from laughing at her cute annoyance with me. “May I?” I repeat to Eliza.

Eliza sucks in a breath and plasters a fake smile on her face. She pulls her shoulders back and effortlessly stands from her seat. “Of course.”

“Eliza, what are you doing?” Rose grips onto her hand and tries to pull her back.

“It’s fine, Rose.” She lays her hand in mine and I guide her to the dance floor.

I make sure I keep a good distance between us as we dance to the slow song playing. Eliza’s shoulders are stiff and she can’t look at me. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine, thank you,” she replies in a flat voice.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes,” her reply is wooden.

“What’s happening?” Is my brother being an asshole to her?

She visibly swallows then slowly looks to me. “It’s an emotional day.” There’s no expression on her face. She’s telling me what I want to hear, not what’s actually going on with her.

“You’re my sister-in-law now, Eliza, and we take care of our own family.”

“I’m sure you do.”

“If you need anything, you can always ask me.”

“Uh-huh,” she says flatly. Eliza quickly breaks eye contact with me, and looks out over the guests, inhaling deeply. “There are so many people here.”

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