Page 135 of Lovely Venom

A napkin.Check.

Feeling greedy because I may only have one shot at this, while the server is still at the table, I knock over one of the waters. Carefully, I use theothernapkins, pushing aside his used one and letting it fall on the seat next to me. I apologize to the server and ask for a new cup of water.

She grabs one off a tray behind her, and I pass Valdrin the untouched cup. “I don’t think the server wants to poison you either.”

Shaking his head, Valdrin eats more fries. Then drinks the water.

The cup.Bingo.

When the plate is empty, he leans back, dabbing his mouth with another napkin. “Thank you. I didn’t realize I was that hungry.”

“Will Noel hurtyoubecause I walked away?”

His expression shifts to a softness behind the bruises, but sadness bleeds in his eyes. “That’s not something you need to worry about.”

When he stands up to walk away, I have mixedfeelings. I believe he’s my father, and I worry I’ll never see him again. I’m scared to death that Noel will kill him for failing to bring me back into his brotherhood.

“I’m sorry it has to be this way.” I finger the plastic bag in my purse, anxious to leave as well.

But Valdrin stops and turns around. “And yes, Noel will retaliate against the Quinlans.” His words are chilling. “Connorkilledour king.”

It’s the first time he didn’t refer to Levin Berisha as my father. But Connordidn’tkill Levin, and it looks like I’ll be responsible for my real father’s death.

God, I hate this.

When Valdrin leaves the diner, I take out the plastic bag and slide the cup inside. Then I do the same for the two napkins in two other bags.

Barely audible, I murmur into the mic, “I got it.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

Raina

Valdrin Sokolovismy father.

The DNA we lifted at the diner two weeks ago confirmed it. And right now, Quinlan Empire is breaching the black site he’s been sent back to and bringing him to Connor’s tunnel.

A mission I wasn’t allowed to be a part of. Mostly because Connor wasn’t entirely sure they’d find Valdrin alive. And God, that man didn’t want me to see that.

I saw my da dead, I don’t wish it on anyone else.

I worry I don’t know who Valdrin will stay loyal to once he’s confronted. Me or Noel?

Connor plans to tell him that he’s my father without me present to see his natural reaction. Valdrin might not know, but I feel strongly that he does. He’ll be given a choice. Either he joins Quinlan Empire, or rots in Noel’s prison.

The terms are harsh, but Connor is purposely playing hardball so I can have a father in my life. BeforeIaccept Valdrin, I just need to know why he gave me up in the first place and why he lied to me.

I pace around the bedroom. Connor’s bedroom. Only, it feels like mine too now. My clothes take up half the closet. I’ve filled the nightstand on my side of the bed. His dresser was practically empty, so I filled that, too.

I’ve spoken to Ruby here and there. She sounds depressed, but Connor assures me she’s well-guarded by Nero.

My phone vibrates on the dresser, and I amble that way to look at it. Heart pounding, I see it’s amessage from Connor.

Connor: We have him!

He’s alive! I leave the bedroom and sprint down the tunnel that leads to the chamber. When I get to the door, it opens before I can knock.

Connor grabs me and hugs me. “He’s okay. Only three men were guarding him. Trace, Rhys, and I killed two, and we let Valdrin kill the man who’d been torturing him.”