Page 208 of Beautiful Venom
I freeze.
Of course he’d have such a backup plan. It wouldn’t be Julian if he didn’t.
Jude grabs his brother by the collar of his shirt. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Putting your heads back where they belong. On the game, on your roles. Without distractions.”
Preston claps. “Thank you! That’s what I’ve been saying.”
“You think I won’t find her?” I breathe close to his face. “I have all the resources to, and those promises of investment I made to you? Consider them canceled and divided between Serena and Atlas.”
“Doesn’t matter whether or not you find her. She knows everything about your involvement in her sister’s attack and how she ended up in Graystone Ridge. Poor girl was shaken at the reality that you’re the mastermind. She really tried to defend you as well. Until she couldn’t deny the truth.”
“You…told her?”
“Yes. How else would I get her to leave?”
I raise my hand and punch him in the face. “You had no right to tell her. That wasn’t your conversation to have.”
“It’s up to me how I use the information at my disposal.” He wipes his bloody nose. “As for business matters, you’ll come to your logical senses. Neither Serena nor Atlas can help you maintain the Davenports’ shaky foundation like I can.”
“I don’t need you for that. I have my uncle.”
“Kayden can’t come back so soon, even if Grant is dead, and you know it. You need to get stronger and enforce your own rules first.”
“Julian,” his brother growls. “Don’t make me hurt you.”
“You can try.” Julian stares me down. “Here’s the deal, Kane. If you manage to bring Dahlia back willingly, I won’t touch her again, and you won’t throw a tantrum regarding business matters.”
My jaw clenches.
“Now, get off my property. If you barge into my house again, I’ll kill you.”
Then he turns and goes back into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
“Night, Julian!” Preston says in a singsong voice. “Sorry for the late-night visit! Will send flowers in the morning!”
Jude strides toward the door, but Preston holds him back. “I’m not disposing of your corpses tonight.”
“Forget it, Jude.” I let my gun fall to my side. “I’ll find them myself. Even if it’s the last thing I do.”
Preston snaps his fingers in my direction. “Now, that’s the spirit. I still hate where this is going, but anyway. We’re out of here.”
He starts to drag us out, joking about how we escaped with our skin unscathed while Jude hits him upside the head.
When we’re in the driveway, my phone vibrates and I pull it out, expecting Samuel.
Unknown number.
I pick up, and as soon as I hear harsh, fractured breaths from the other end, I go still, my fingers tightening on the phone.
“Dahlia?”
“Is it true?” Her voice is weak, hoarse, as if she’s spent hours crying.
“Whatever Julian has told you is massively blown out of proportion. Where are you? I’ll pick you up?—”
“Just tell me. Did you know all along about Violet? About the connection to Jude’s mother? Aboutme?”
