Page 143 of Lovely Venom

She stares at me as years of friendship play out behind her eyes until she remembers, I’m not the enemy.

“No, it’s not your fault,” she says with an exhale while staring at Connor’s back in the kitchen. “And I guess it’s not his fault either. It’s my fault. I agreed to go with the client, and I shouldn’t have.”

I press my lips to her temple and clear my throat to be gentle. “It’snotyour fault.”

She nods softly, her chin lifted. “What else about that night do you need to know?”

“Did they use protection?” I ask, my voice barely a knock against the air.

Ruby cocks a curious head tilt at me. “What does that have to do with anything?”

This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

“Ruby, this goes deeper than you coincidentally hooking up with one of Connor’s capos. Valdrin,” I sayhis name with a hint of regret. “Valdrinis my father, and he’s part of the gang that retaliated against Connor’s family. The three men who hurt you work for Valdrin’s leader.”

“What?” she responds, tears welling up in her eyes. “Valdrin is responsible?”

“He didn’t order the capo’s death, and he would never have told the killers to hurt a woman he’s with.” I hope. I hope. God, I hope.

“Valdrin knows?” She twists the hoodie in her hands and practically covers her face.

“Yes, and he’s beyond furious about what those men did to you.” I slide a glance at Connor, who comes back with two mugs of tea and sets them down gently on the coffee table.

He sits in a lounge chair across from the sofa. Leaning on his elbows, he says, “We have the three men under surveillance. They’re powerful pricks. Don’t worry. Nero won’t let anyone hurt you again.”

“Ruby, we need as much information as possible to have the men who hurt you arrested.” I squeeze her hand.

“No, they didn’t use any protection,” Ruby answers, tears dripping down her cheeks.

I glance at Connor, and he just shakes his head. “Arrogant bastards. Don’t worry. My brothers have a direct line to the mayor with a prosecutor briefed about the case. But we haven’t mentioned you. Yet.”

“Did they, um,finishinside you, Ruby?” I ask, my stomach rolling even as I say it. “Or on you?”

She nods once. “As far as I could tell.”

“That means they left behind evidence. On your clothes, maybe?” Something tugs at the corner of my memory. “Ruby, weren’t you wearing your fishnet stockings that night? The sparkly ones?”

“Yeah, I think so.” She sniffs and dumps her head inher hands. “I don’t remember.”

“Do you remember if they, the men, took off the tights?” I ask delicately.

Her mouth twists. “No. I think the first guy ripped them so he and the others could get at my...”

Ruby breaks down piece by piece. My arms tighten around her as she cries, and I let myself cry with her. Her pain is my pain.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur against her hair. “I know this is hard. But we’re so close. We can catch them. We need you.”

“No one’s ever needed me.” She clears her throat and sits up, the look of feeling important setting her shoulders back.

I wipe leftover tears from her cheeks with my sleeve. “What did you do with the stockings?” I ask gently.

“I don’t know.” Her face scrunches. “I remember taking a shower here. After. I must’ve taken them off, but...”

“They have to be somewhere.”

She shrugs, defeated. “Maybe. I was messed up.”

I glance at Connor, who looks ready to detonate out of anger for what she was put through by these evil men.