Page 133 of Lovely Venom

“You?”

“I’ll be watching from a van. Valdrin will be looking for me. They still think I killed Berisha.”

I’m not sure if I should clear that up with Valdrin. Something tells me Connor would take the fall for his brother.

We’re one.

“Let’s get you dressed.” He steps into the closet he gave me and helps me pick out an outfit I should wear.

I choose a cotton skirt with an elastic waistband, a pale blue tank top, and a denim jacket for this covert operation. They’re all from the collection of clothes he’s built for me.

To keep me.

I braid my hair to match his tattoo as he presses a lingering kiss to my mouth.

Then his eyes turn dark. “You’re going there to get his DNA and answers. But make no mistake, you are mine to protect. Do not be a hero.”

Ifthis opgoes sideways, something tells me Valdrin will have a bullet between his eyes before I even get my knife out of the sheath.

AN HOUR LATER, I’Msitting in the last booth of a quiet diner Shane found for this meeting. My nose wrinkles at the smell of grease and fake maple syrup. My stubby nails tap restlessly on the table. All the while, my thigh twitches as the weight of my knife presses against the muscle.

I’m nervous, but I’m not alone.

Every booth and table around me is filled with Quinlan guards. I clock each one. Bald Guy by the window? Blade. The dark-haired man scrolling on his phone? Jett. A pair of mahogany mops in sunglasses under Yankee hats? Rhys and Trace.

Then Valdrin walks in. He scans the diner like a soldier on the battlefield, making eye contact with every single Quinlan guard. No flinch. No fear. This man isnoamateur.

“Fuck,” I mutter. “He spotted the guards.”

“Good,” Connor says from the van. “If he has any idea of dragging you out of there, he’ll think again.”

Valdrin slides into the seat across from me. The bruises on his face are worse than I imagined. Deep purple from cheek to jaw, and his split lip is just scabbing up.

“Oh my God, what happened to your face?” I ask softly because I’m not supposed to know.

“Tough night with the enemy,” he says with a shrug, like it doesn’t matter. “Cost of loyalty.”

Interesting choice of words, thinking of Noel as the enemy. Even as part of his lie.

The server shows up at the table and puts down two cups of water. “What can I get you?”

“Coffee, please.” I slide the menu away.

“Nothing for me.” Valdrin drums his fingers on the table.

“No tea bags this time?” I ask, wishing that warmth he’d always shown me would return.

He blinks up at me with a quiet sadness in his eyes that makes me think Noel’s men probably burned all his tea. “I forgot.”

My ass. I swear, I’m going to kill Noel Tahiri.

Steadying myself, I push a cup at him. “Not even water?”

He glances at it.

I tilt my head to the right. “Do you think I poisoned it?”

When he says nothing, I take a sip from both cups to prove it’s safe to drink.