Page 101 of Lovely Venom

“What’s wrong?”

“When are you coming home?” she whines, flipping the alarm bells in my head.

Neverwhispers in my brain. But a complete surrender to Connor and his brothers is not an option for me. I will fight to keep my life and that apartment with all the stuff and memories I won’t abandon.

Plus, I have a friend who needs me. And Valdrin already sethis eyes on her.

Christ...

I know Connor will be part of my immediate future. But it can’t be all or nothing. I have to maintain my own identity and friends. Even if it’sonefriend.

“I’ll be home soon. This afternoon, if I can. You can stay in my apartment. Eat whatever you want. Drink whatever you want.”

“I, I have to tell you something,” she whispers.

“Go ahead, honey.”

“No,” she groans. “Not on the phone.”

I exhale and slam my head back into the pillow. “I promise. I’ll be home soon. And Ruby, keep the door locked, all three bolts. If Valdrin comes by,don’tlet him in. I can’t say why right now.”

“Oh. Okay.”

I hang up, feeling a weight on my chest. Ruby is in trouble, and I’m not there for her.

Needing coffee and smelling the lingering aroma out in the hall, I push out of bed and amble toward where I remember the kitchen was.

My foggy head clears up when arguing brogues compete for the oxygen. All Irish accents in degrees of growliness are talking about me.

Like I’m on a stakeout, I close my eyes and put voices to the faces.

Connor.

Rhys, I think.

And then another man, whose voice is smooth as honey.

Someone named Hendrix was killed, and based on Connor’s angry voice, this guy was fairly high up. Emotion ripples through me, raw and sharp. One of Noel’s top men was abducted by the Irish. It can’t be a coincidence that within hours, some high-level Quinlan boss is gunned down.

Or, by how they’re talking, mutilated.

I peek around the corner and see Connor, who’s wearing jeans hanging low off his hips and nothing else. He makes eye contact with me, sending another pair of identical blues my way.

I stop short, taking in a man who’s as breathtaking as I’ve ever seen in an exquisite charcoal three-piece suit.

“Raina, baby, it’s okay. This is my brother Griffin.” Connor waves me over. He shoulder-bumpsthe donand stands in front of me. “Griffin, this woman saved my life last night. Ask Rhys.”

Only, Rhys was passed out.

“Nice to meet you, Raina,” Griffin says, frowning at how his brother is protecting me. “I have meetings with the mayor all day. We’ll talk more about this at dinner Sunday night.”

“About this? In front of Ma?” Connor glances over his shoulder. “We eat Sunday dinner every week with our mother. We’ll have to get you something suitable to wear. Your assassin garb isn’t appropriate.”

“I’m going to meet your mother?” I ask with shock in my voice.

“Connor, I don’t think—” Griffin objects.

“She’swith me.” Connor shuts that down. “Okay? That means she comes to Sunday dinner.”