Page 111 of Beautiful Venom
When I look back, Violet’s hand twitches on the sheet.
20
DAHLIA
Ican’t stop looking at Kane’s right hand.
The images of those deep-purple bruises and cuts on his wrist still play in my mind in haunting, disturbing strokes.
Especially since I already know he has multiple old scars slashing across his back.
Ever since I saw those bruises in the hospital, I’ve been watching him closely. I noticed his complexion is paler today, his lips slightly blue, and his eyes are colder.
What happened to him between last night’s game and this morning?
And why the hell am I so invested when I spent days trying to put a healthy amount of distance between us?
Kane’s ordeals should be none of my concern.
I lean back against Kane’s car, the metal cool against my spine as the frigid air bites into my skin. Not sure if I should even be touching his expensive-looking car. But when I attempted to stand away from him, Kane dragged me back to his side.
Below us, Graystone Ridge stretches out like a map, the town still cloaked in the last traces of night, rooftops and streets softened by the dawn’s dim light. The sun is just beginning to break through, casting a golden haze over the buildings, making everything seem almost peaceful.
As peaceful as this den of vipers could get.
The cool wind tugs at my hair, carrying the faint scent of pine from the woods behind us. And just for one suspended moment in time, it feels like we’re the only two people awake in the world.
“You’re staring.” Kane doesn’t look at me and, instead, eyes his convenience store sandwich as if it’s spoiled goods.
“Sorry.” I bite into my cheese and lettuce sandwich and follow with a long slurp of iced coffee.
“You better apologize for this travesty of food.”
“Well, no other place was open this early.”
“We could’ve gone to a proper restaurant.”
“And have you miss open skate? Stop being picky and just eat.”
He sniffs the bread before he takes a tentative bite.
“How is it?” I ask.
“Edible, but depressingly flavorless and not fresh.”
I laugh and hit his shoulder. “You’re such a snob.”
“For wanting fresh food?”
“That’s not a luxury all of us can afford.”
“You can from now on.”
My shoulders tense up. “I don’t need your charity.”
Funny because I didn’t mind when Isabella or Preston called me a charity case. Hell, I’m keeping my sister alive solely through charity that Kane’s family definitely pitches into.
But I don’t want him to look at me like that.
