Page 91 of Beautiful Venom
Jude’s brother, Julian. I remember reading about him, too. If I remember correctly, Julian Callahan’s name was brought up as the country’s top innovator in the pharmaceutical sector.
“I see.” Serena pats Ryder’s mask again and he freezes as if he doesn’t dare to breathe.
It’s amazing how an average-height woman can make three men who are double and triple her size stand so still in reverence.
“Have fun, boys.” She pauses and then tilts her head to the side. “Don’t give my brother a hard time in the upcoming game.”
“Yes, ma’am.” They all but salute.
Her throaty laughter carries in the air as she walks with purpose to the next group. All full of people in black-and-red masks.
I thought there were only four members who had those masks—meaning the heads of the founding families—but in that group alone, there are six. Serena is number seven.
“Don’t give her brother a hard time?” Gav scoffs, his voice low. “I’m surprised she hasn’t already put a target on Marcus’s back, considering he’s rumored to be absorbed back in so he can take her place in the family.”
“Who says she hasn’t?” the third person I can’t name says even lower. “Marcus is just a cat with nine lives.”
Right. Marcus.
I forgot that while I was observing. Marcus Osborn is Serena’s half-brother.
But hold on. Absorbed back in?
Do they evenknowMarcus? He looks down on everything this world represents. I bet he’d rather be beaten to death than be part of the ‘pretentious snobs,’ as he calls them.
Ryder rubs his hair. “This internal power struggle is making me anxious. Dad says we need to pick a side sooner rather than later.”
“The whole four-families thing is absurd in the first place,” the third player says. “No matter how much they collaborate, they’ll end up stepping on each other’s toes sooner or later. Plus, the generation that preceded us, whether it’s Julian Callahan, Serena Osborn, Atlas Armstrong, or the currently banished Kayden Davenport, only knows how to go at each other’s throats.”
“Our generation is different, though,” Gavin says. “Kane, Jude, and Pres are tightly knit.”
“For now.” Player three stares into the distance. “After Kayden’s banishment, Grant Davenport's business decisions suffered greatly, and it’s starting to impact their standing. It’s just a matter of time before either Serena, Julian, or Atlas uses that opening and crushes them. That will signal a war.”
“Fuck this,” Ryder grumbles. “I don’t like the unknown in this entire thing. I’d rather they send us to kill people instead of picking sides. Better yet, I just want to play hockey and hook up with beautiful women. Is that too much to ask?”
Gavin throws a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll survive. In the game of predators, small flies like us only need to know our place.”
As they walk away, I keep thinking about what they said.
Gavin Drayton, the son of the mayor, who lives in the biggest and most beautiful house I’ve ever seen, just called himself a fly. Also Ryder. Whose family literally owns a chain of shopping malls.
If they’re flies, what the hell am I?
The sound of metal clinking on glass echoes in the air, silencing everyone.
The crowd’s attention turns to the top of the marble stairs covered in a red carpet, where five people stand.
The man who’s holding the champagne glass is wearing a black-and-red mask. The woman to his right is donning a black mask, and the man to his left has a black-and-red mask. Another man stands a step down wearing a black mask while holding the hand of a little girl who’s wearing a pink, fluffy half mask.
I assume the man who commanded everyone’s attention is Lawrence Armstrong, a tycoon who owns an international energy resources company. The woman is probably his wife, and the third man is Atlas Armstrong, his younger brother.
The guy holding the girl’s hand is Preston, and the little girl must be his sister.
Lawrence raises his glass, then his voice echoes around the hall. “I’m honored to host you at my humble estate. Tonight is about forming connections between the members. Please don’t hesitate to ask our ingenious butler for your specific needs. No matter what they are.” He motions at a man who’s wearing a black half mask and he bows courteously. “With that, ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy your evening. In the shadows…”
“We rule!” everyone echoes at once, the hall vibrating with their voices.
The party continues with soft piano music playing in the background. I spot some Members, mostly in silver masks, being approached by the staff and then following them out.
