Page 150 of Lovely Venom

“Because you know I’m as unhinged and reckless as Connor. And when I’m on an op, shit almost always goes sideways. But me taking out Noel to end his reign and install Valdrin, my father and the rightful heir, will be seen very differently if it’s done by a rival crime family. I’m doing this to end the tyranny. Not start a war.”

Rhys thinks about that. “So, talk. I’m dying to know how unhinged you really are.”

“I want to earn the name Connor gave me.Venom.”

“Nowevery hairon my body is standing up.”

I swallow, thinking how Fallon would love to trim his body hair like the leaves on those plants with the same close precision. “Let’s get to work.”

We order takeout. Rhys makes calls. We drive around the city for an hour looking for the perfect weapon.

Connor keeps blowing up his cousin’s phone. But after a five-minute private conversation, all calls stop.

We return to Rhys’s building around three a.m., and I ask the most unlikely person a favor.

“Yeah?” Fallon answers her door with tired eyes and rich red hair falling in soft, chaotic waves around her face.

“Can I borrow a dress and heels?”

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

Raina

At 5:50 am, minutes before the knights are set to be arrested, I arrive at York Towers dressed like a doll. Hair in curls. Pink dress. High heels. I look sweet and innocent.

Everything I’m not.

I’m the sparrow sent to attack.

For Lennox.

For Ruby.

For every girl this wicked brotherhood has hurt.

And to get my father his rightful crown.

The doorman calls Noel before letting me in. I expect the fucking prick will make me wait, but I’m ushered right through security. The elevator ride up to the penthouse feels like forever as my heart pounds. Every tick of the numbers overhead tightens the knot in my stomach.

The vial of poison hidden in my bra feels heavier than it should. It’s not just any venom. Rhys found a dealer selling strong, fast-acting neurotoxins with a bitter almond aftertaste. The kind you only survive if you take an antidote. That’s hidden under a different boob and must be ingested no more than two minutes after the poison hits the stomach.

My stomach.

A gaggle of guards greets me as the foyer door opens. One of them gives me a once-over and radios to Noel that I’m here. Then another frisks me. The vials shift from the contact, but so long as these guards don’t strip me naked or overtly grope me, I should be fine.

The guard skims his palms across my breasts and makes a fist between my legs. “Are you tight, slut?”

I push away the idea of beingviolated. This isn’t me. They still think I’m Levin Berisha’s helpless daughter who has to marry Noel and will put up with this bullshit.

“Do you think yourkyrewants your hands all over his fiancée’s tits?” I ask.

The guard grins. “He plans to pass you around to us. Just sampling the goods.”

My stomach turns. “Careful. I bite.”

“Kyrelikes that,” he whispers, and something flickers in his eyes. “He knew you’d come back. Prepare to get punished.”

I hide my relief that Noel thinks I’m here to fall back in line with his original plan.