Page 102 of Lovely Venom

Griffin shoves big hands into his pockets. “Okay, but be prepared to answer questions. Not just Ma. The wives.”

He says wives like they’re she-wolves. Oh God, what the hell did I get myself into?

“Aye,” Connor agrees. “See you Sunday night.”

Griffin leaves, giving me another once-over. I don’t belong here. Only, I’m not sure what choices I have.

A look passes between Connor and Rhys. I just rolled out of the boss’s bed. Smiling, Rhys follows the don out the front door.

“Coffee?” Connor asks, strolling back into his kitchen like everything is completely normal.

“Uh, okay.” I creep up toward the kitchen island and take a seat.

My ass hitting a cool metal stool reminds me I’m in just a T-shirt. Griffin saw my bare legs and that I had come from the bedroom.

God, this is so embarrassing. To let myself be used like this. But is Connor using me? For what purpose?

He pushes a mug at me. “Here.”

I look down and smile at the color, the shade of saddle brown. When I fist the steaming mug for a sip, it’s also the perfect sweetness. “How did you know?”

His tilted head is the answer, but he voices it anyway. “I got you all figured out. You’re mine. Mine to protect from a pack of Albanian animals. Making you the perfect cup of coffee is the easy part.”

“It is perfect.” I let the warmth calm me. “And thank you for protecting me. Don’t you have someone else to do that?”

“No. I don’t trust anyone with your safety right now.”

“Okay. But for how long?”

“Forever.”

I give him an incredulous look through my lashes. “You don’t mean that.”

“The hell I don’t.” He leans his elbows on the marble countertop.

I gently place my mug down, then do something dangerous and risky.

Coffee forgotten, stomach twisting, I hop off the stool. My feet hit the warm, wooden-plank floor, and Irun.

I have only two immediate choices. The dank corridor of hissing steam pipes that lead to Connor’s torture chamber, or the front door and into the open courtyard with guards who can shoot me in the head. I take mychances outside.

I’ll scream if I have to. As if the cops would question a mob boss.

Yanking open the door, I celebrate with a tiny breath of relief that the immediate courtyard isn’t swarming with guards at the moment. I sprint barefoot across the uneven and cracked paving stones. My breath is ragged, my heart hammering in my throat. The city air stings my skin, the early chill of the approaching fall biting at my exposed legs. I don’t have a plan. I just know I needout.

With every slap of my soleless shoes against the cold, wet pavement, this is just one of many mistakes I’ve made in the last twenty-four hours.

I shouldn’t have woken up in Connor’s bed or spent the night in his arms. Lying to myself that I belong there.

I shouldn’t have let myselfwantthis. Him. To stay with him.Behis.

I stop, seeing Rhys and the man I’m guessing is his brother, the enforcer, standing at the curb. Before I can yell, strong arms snag my waist. “Stop. Let me go!”

But my body is lifted clean off the ground like I weigh a feather.

“Oh no, you don’t, Venom.” Connor puts me in a death grip, but it’s oddly gentle.

If I were some enemy who’d gotten loose, I suspect I’d have been shot or dragged back by the hair. Maybe both.