Page 48 of Beautiful Venom
I wander off down a quieter hallway, needing to bleach my mind of all the scenes I just witnessed.
I hear a few unintelligible voices.
My heartbeat picks up, and after I make sure the hall is empty, I tiptoe to the room where the noise is coming from.
“…is a loose end that needs tying up.”
My eyes widen. That’s Isabella’s voice. No one else sounds as haughty as she does.
“You’re letting it get under your skin. That’s unlike you.”
My heart thunders behind my rib cage and I flatten myself against the wall, wishing I could somehow disappear.
Kane.
That was definitely Kane.
I draw circles on my thumb, hoping, praying that my heart rate will slow the hell down.
“That’s where you’re wrong. This is exactly like her. She’s jealous, vicious, and resembles a snake better than her necklace.”
Preston.
When did he get here? I swear he was about to fuck that girl who was rubbing herself all over him less than fifteen minutes ago.
“I’m not asking for permission. I’ll go against the Osborns and Serena if needed.” Isabella again.
“Be reasonable,” a third masculine voice says. I want to say it’s Gavin, but I’m not sure.
“That’s like asking a shark not to bite.” There’s vague amusement in Preston’s voice.
“Izzy’s right.” A girl’s voice. “Let us do this our way.”
“Truly, I don’t mind. The crazier the better. Just give me time to prepare my popcorn,” Preston says. “Davenport?”
Though I’m not sure what the hell they’re talking about, I’m certain it’s about Vencor, and I find myself leaning closer with bated breath to hear Kane’s reply.
I suspected it before, but now I’m positive he has some leadership role. Not only as the head of the Vipers, but also their little group.
He’s the right path to follow, if only I weren’t so terrified of him.
A strong hand lands on top of my head. “What do you think you’re doing?”
I slowly look back and my gaze clashes with Jude’s glacial one. His eyes are so dark, there’s barely any light in them. He’s so tall and wide, he dwarfs the hallway and sends a shiver down my spine.
It might be because Jude was always the scariest—before I was introduced to Kane’s true colors—but I feel like he might actually crush my skull between his fingers just to spill my brains out.
He sure glares at me as if he wants to put me six feet under.
“I was looking for the ladies’ room,” I say as calmly as possible, proud of how confident I sound, considering the circumstances.
His upper lip lifts in either a snarl or a look of disgust—I’m not sure which—but he pushes the door open and shoves me inside.
I lose my footing and land on my knees on the decorative Persian carpet, but I manage to keep my purse on my shoulder.
“Found this one eavesdropping outside.” Jude strolls across the room and I instantly feel several pairs of eyes zeroing in on me.
Glaring.
