Page 231 of Beautiful Venom
I pause. “What do you mean?”
“Forget it.”
My phone vibrates and Kane steps away when I open the text from my sister.
Violet
You forgot your umbrella, Dahl. It’s raining. I’m in the arena’s parking lot near Kane’s car. Come pick it up.
Me
Aw, thanks, Vi. You didn’t have to.
Of course I did. I don’t want you to catch a cold.
On my way.
I look back at Kane. “Vi’s brought me an umbrella. I’ll wait for you by the parking lot?”
“You can go home with her if you like.”
“And miss the victory party? No way in hell.”
“You’re getting a bit too addicted to those.”
“I love seeing my man being the center of attention.” I smooch his mouth. “See you in a bit.”
Kane smacks my ass and I gasp in mock horror before I hurry outside, pulling the hoodie over my head. The parking lot is starting to empty out from all the spectators, and the rest are running to their cars to escape the pouring rain.
I can’t find Vi in the midst of the chaos, so I try calling her, but she doesn’t pick up. I go back to where Kane’s car is parked. Not here. The area is practically deserted now except for some players who are heading to their cars, chatting amongst each other.
A flash of movement catches my attention from a corner near the building.
I inch toward it in case Vi chose a secluded place to hide. She doesn’t really do well with crowds and always finds a corner.
My lips part at the scene unraveling before me.
A large, muscular body is flattening my much smaller sister against the corner. His right arm is on the wall above her head while the other clutches her chin in what looks like a painful grip.
Jude.
When the hell did he even leave the locker room?
An open yellow umbrella lies on the ground and the rain pours down, drenching them both, rivulets forming on his leather jacket, her hair sticking to her pale face as she stares up at him. I’m not sure if it’s rain or tears that stream down her cheeks. Or a mixture of both.
He leans down and whispers something in her ear. His muscles are tight, his posture stiffer than usual.
Vi’s eyes widen as he speaks and I march forward, about to rip him a new one.
Slap.
I freeze.
Did Vi just…slap Jude? The Jude Callahan, whose name she trembles at the mere mention of?
What the hell did he even say to make my sister, who’d never hurt a fly,slaphim?
Jude’s lips pull in a smile as he strokes his cheek where she slapped him.
