Page 216 of Beautiful Venom
“Were you awake at that time?”
“Yeah, recovering.”
“I didn’t know back then. I’m sorry, Vi.”
“What are you apologizing for?”
“Getting in bed with the enemy.”And falling in love with him.
“Whose enemy?”
“Yours.”
“Kane’s not my enemy.”
“He’s the one who gave your name and information to Jude!”
She pales again. I noticed that whenever I say Jude’s name, she flinches.
“He would’ve found me anyway.” Her small voice is barely audible. “I’m the one who ran away when his mother was being killed.”
“That still doesn’t excuse what Kane did.”
“You love him, Dahl. I can see it through the pain in your eyes. I saw it when you held on to him and kissed him like you couldn’t live without him. If he treats you right, you should go back to him.”
“No way in hell. He lied to me. He knew everything and didn’t tell me. He played me like a chess piece. If I see him again, I’ll kill him.” I hug her once more. “Besides, I’ll never leave you. Ever.”
Violet’s only response is a sad smile.
* * *
Vi and I have spent the last couple of days catching up. We go on walks in the nearby park, then buy all the snacks and stuff our faces full. Though they’re now tasteless after that road trip with Kane.
Vi is Vi with her soft voice and little smiles, but she’s also not the same person from three months ago.
She still refuses to tell me who was behind the attack and often closes in on herself.
Sometimes, I catch her watching the windows with wide, frightened eyes as if she’s waiting for Satan himself to barge in.
She wakes up every night screaming. It’s gotten so bad, she barely sleeps and has dark circles surrounding her eyes in the morning.
I stand by the kitchen doorway as she prepares lunch and listens to the radio. If I ask her to go out, she refuses and insists I should either go on my own or go back to school and not sacrifice my scholarship for her.
She always thinks about everyone but herself.
I hate it so much because I don’t know how to make it better.
Or how to stop her from feeling like she’s waiting for her doom in this unremarkable, miserable place.
I stare at her movements—lethargic, with no soul, and entirely different from Kane’s purposeful strides when he’s cooking.
Damn it.
Why does everything make me think of him?
Vi notices me sulking and forces a smile. “Don’t just stand there. Come in.”
“Want me to help?”
