Page 112 of Lovely Venom

As the words come out of my mouth, I worry I sound insensitive. But she’s an adult, there’s little else I can do except offer sanctuary and want her to be comfortable.

Catatonic, she hikes to my bed and curls into a fetal position on the top cover. I drape another blanket over her and kiss her forehead.

After I close the bedroom door, I meet Connor in my kitchen. “Shedidn’tset up your man.”

“Maybe not directly. But she’s a witness,” Connor says anxiously.

“She’s a victim, Connor,” I say with a bite of passion. “That was the guy your brother mentioned this morning?”

“Aye.” He shows me a photo of a decent-looking man with a salt-and-pepper mop, wearing a suit at some kind of gathering, holding up a glass of whiskey.

I sit down at my kitchen table, my legs too shaky to stay upright. “You killed one Albanian, and they sent three to kill one of yours. It has to stop.”

“You’re right. And I’ll handle it.” He gets on his phone again. “Come to 3A.”

The third guard that I’ve seen occasionally with Blade and Jett arrives in the apartment a few minutes later. In a dark suit with sandy brown hair slicked back, the guard hikes toward us in a powerful gait. “Yes, boss?”

“Nero, you’re going to guard Raina’s best friend until further notice,” Connor says.

I shudder at how serious this is. “Connor...”

“Where does Ruby work?” Connor asks me with Nero hovering in the living room. After I give Connor the name, he looks at me. “Have you ever been there?”

I nod.

“Never again,” he says through gritted teeth.

“Fine by me. But Ruby has to keep working,” I argue.

“Now she has a guard.” He signals to Nero. “You go to that club, and you introduce yourself as Ruby’s private security. They set her up with Hendrix, and she was assaulted. Let them know she’s not to go on any moredates.”

“Will do, boss.” Nero looks around. “How do I get back inside?”

Connor turns to me. “Key?”

“By the door.” I don’t mention the set Ruby has on her, or the other spare in my bedroom. Not while she’s resting.

“Nero will take care of Ruby.” Connor holds me bythe forearms in a comforting way.

I whisper, “For how long?”

Connor drills me with a stare that reaches into my soul. “For as long as you want me to.”

I keep my jaw tight, knowing it will hit the floor in a second if I don’t. “Nero is one ofyourguards, Connor.”

“I haveyounow, Venom.” He speaks with such confidence and pride, and for some stupid reason, that warms my heart. “But wehaveto leave. The brotherhood knows where you live. If anyone shows up looking for you, Nero will handle them and keep Ruby out of it.”

I nod. “Let me say goodbye to her.”

Connor lays a kiss on my lips. “Two minutes, love.”

I wander into my bedroom and find Ruby on her back, staring at the ceiling. “Hey. I have to leave. You come here whenever you need to. There’s a guy in the living room who will watch out for you.”

“Why do I need protection?” She wipes her eyes.

“I know you’ve been through a lot, but I have to tell you something.” I sit on the floor and lean against the wall. “It’s about Valdrin.”

“What?” Ruby stiffens, then blushes. “What about him?”