Page 232 of Beautiful Venom
Jude smiling? I’ve never seen him do that. Likenever.
I snap myself out of my daze.
Before he can retaliate, I rush over to my sister and pull her to my side. She’s trembling all over, and something tells me it has nothing to do with the rain.
“Go away, Jude!” I hug her closer as I glare at him.
He glares back as if he wants to bash my head on the ground for daring to interrupt whatever the hell he was going to do.
But he casts one last dark, cryptic look at my sister, and she stares back. Vi rarely looks at people directly. She usually stares at her shoes or anywhere but the other person.
Jude finally walks away, and she releases a long exhale as if she forgot to breathe.
I grab the umbrella and hold it over our heads. “You okay, Vi? I swear I’m going to kill Jude one of these days.”
“It’s nothing.”
“That didn’t look like nothing.” I study her. “Did he hurt you?”
“No. I’m all right.” She forces a smile. “Now that I brought your umbrella, I’m leaving.”
“Want me to come along?”
“Stop worrying so much, Dahl. I’ll be fine.” She motions behind me. “Your boyfriend is waiting.”
As she walks away, her movements are stiff, and I frown.
A strong arm wraps around my waist before Kane’s soothing voice rushes into my ear. “What’s wrong?”
“Jude was cornering Vi. He whispered something I couldn’t hear. She slapped him and he was…smiling. What’s up with that?”
“Hmm,” is all he says, his expression neutral.
“What type of response is that?”
“Just stay away from whatever foreplay they have going on.”
“Foreplay? What the hell are you talking about?”
“Probably nothing.” He presses me against his rock-hard chest. “More importantly, can I have your attention now?”
I grin. “Youalwayshave my attention.”
“Damn straight.” He lifts my chin. “I need that proper kiss now.”
And then his lips devour mine.
Until I completely forget we’re in public.
Until he’s my entire world.
And I’m his.
EPILOGUE 2 — KANE
A YEAR LATER
My heartbeat is steady as I lurk in the shadows of my mother’s extravagant garden.
