Page 166 of Beautiful Venom
“I don’t know about that.” Jude hits him on the back of his head.
“Fucking bitch!” Preston kicks him, but Jude dodges and it barely grazes his leg.
“Enough.” Kane slides a bowl of what looks like soup in front of Preston and another one in front of Jude. “I told you to keep your voices down or I’m kicking you out.”
“Yeah, yeah, Mr. Pussy-Whipped.” Preston mocks as he grabs a spoon.
Is Kane cooking for them? This early?
“Man, this shit’s amazing.” Preston gives up on the spoon and drinks straight from the bowl.
“It’s hot, take it easy.” Jude pulls the bowl away and passes him a napkin. “Wipe your mouth.”
“I made a lot and pizza is on the way.” Kane pours Preston another bowl and places a water bottle by the pills. “Don’t eat fast.”
I frown.
Why are they…treating Preston like that?
I’ve never noticed this before, not even in practice. If anything, I thought Jude and Preston barely get along and always fight, but right now, when it’s only the three of them and Preston has a bruise the size of Texas, they’re…fawningover him?
I don’t know if that’s the right word, but they’re definitely treating him differently.
Especially Jude.
He keeps watching Preston as if looking for something. What, I don’t know.
“Did you at least sleep before or after your nocturnal activities?” Jude asks.
“Nope.” Preston grins. “I found something better than sleep.”
“Catch some in the guest room,” Kane says.
“Nah. I’ll sleep after practice.”
“Can you even survive practice in your state?” Jude says.
“We’ll know once I kick your ass today, big man.”
Jude smiles, but it’s menacing. “Nice dreams to have.”
The scene looks weirdly intimate. I feel like I’m trespassing on their bond or something.
While I think Kane has a way better personality than both Jude and especially Preston, I’m starting to think the three of them share something a lot deeper than Vencor or even hockey.
Standing here seems like I’m intruding, so I clear my throat and walk in.
Three pairs of eyes zoom in on me, but only Kane watches me with that edge. The one I feel would consume me on the spot if given the chance.
His eyes size me up, stopping and narrowing at where his hoodie stops at my thighs.
“Look who we have here.” Preston whistles. “Deborah. The Wolves’ spy.”
“It’s Dahlia, and I’m not a spy.”
“Looked like it when you were rubbing yourself all over their captain a few hours ago.”
I bite my lower lip. “I did that to make Kane jealous. There was no spying whatsoever.”
