Page 59 of Beautiful Venom
He tilts his head in my direction, and it’s stunning how much I look like him. Same hair, same eye shape, same bone structure. The only difference between us, other than his grim gray eyes, is the creases of age in his face and his thin lips, which are always in a disapproving line.
Grant Davenport has always been my warden, not my father.
“Kane. You’re here.”
“You called.”
He walks to the liquor cabinet and pours me a drink, the amber color glistening under the study’s yellow lights.
My father offers me the malt whiskey, then takes a seat on the brown leather sofa and motions at the chair across from him.
I sit down, my legs far apart, projecting the commanding, relaxed posture he engrained in me through years of torture.
“Is there a reason behind my presence here, Father?”
“I can’t ask to see my son?”
“You can, but you don’t usually. If there’s a purpose, I’d appreciate it if we could reach it.”
A slight smile tilts his lips. “You’re a true Davenport.”
I hold my glass up. “I’ll drink to that.”
The alcohol tastes like fucking urine down my throat, but I keep up the façade he made sure I’d wear like a second skin.
“I’ll cut to the chase.” Grant leans forward in his seat and swirls the alcohol in his glass. “The Osborns are making a move.”
I raise a brow.
This town was founded by four families: Davenport, Armstrong, Callahan, and Osborn.
For centuries, we held a monopoly on the town, its politics, and people. Not only that, but we made sure to extend our influence to the rest of society.
It’s why Vencor exists. Once you’re backed by the extended wealth and connections the organization offers, your and your offspring’s future is set.
This is why we attract many businessmen, politicians, and the scum of humanity.
However, what the outsiders don’t know is that there has always been an internal rivalry between the four founding families. Each of them wants to rule, to cripple the other families and take hold of the reins.
Reputation is important, so one family has often publicized the other families’ scandals to ruin their social standing within the town and encourage/incite a member vote to restrict their influence.
When we were the target of such an attack less than a year ago because of my uncle who was caught on camera fucking a man, my dad banished him from the family and the state.
Homophobia runs deep in this town, and no gay members are allowed in. Doesn’t matter in what day and age we live. If you’re not straight, you’re not respectable.
Cheating like a champ is okay, though. Grant dipped his dick in all the pussy available and is considered a ‘real man’.
Fucking morons.
At any rate. My uncle’s sexcapades, though they were dealt with mercilessly by my father, still hurt the Davenport standing. Because he didn’t kill him.
I kid you not, my uncle was expected to die for preferring dick over pussy. Talk about the Middle Ages.
My father didn’t spare his life out of brotherly love. He doesn’t have that emotion. It was more because he’s categorically against spilling Davenport blood. It’s a bad omen.
Also, my uncle controls the strongest arms of the Davenport trade operation to this day.
And he has the protection of his boyfriend’s mafia connections, so even the other families need to tread carefully before they lay a hand on him.
