Page 39 of Lovely Venom

“Have you? Lit her on fire in your bed?”

His jaw goes tight. “No.”

“But you’re thinking about it.”

He exhales. “Forget her. Look up.”

I glance up at one of the many new high rises in Midtown Manhattan. Bold letters along the ground-level windows read: York Towers.

“Who lives here?” I ask him.

“Blade and Jett tracked Noel Tahiri here. Penthouse A.”

This fucking Albaniankyretwists my stomach.

“Still no response to a sit-down with them?” I click my da’s butane lighter, admiring the blue flame to fire up my cigarette.

Rhys shakes his head. “Total radio silence.”

I drag smoke into my lungs. “Have you or your guys tried to get up there to see Tahiri?”

“No. Don’t want to blow our load without a real plan.” Rhys strokes his chin. “We have no idea how they’re organized other than thekyreand his guards.”

“Don’t forget all the drug dealers they have.” I pace a few feet in both directions, scoping out the block. “Traffickers. Money laundering. They’ve come a long way in a short amount of time. But who the fuck are they?”

“Berisha’s bloodline goes back close to a century, all to onekyrefrom Albania,” Rhys answers. “I’ve been doing some research. One family has ruled them. Until now.”

“What?” I stare at him.

“Noel Tahiri is American. Thekyretitle should have passed to someone in Levin Berisha’s family, but he wasnever married and didn’t have any children as far as we know. He’s rumored to have a cousin, but we couldn’t ID him. Some secret council named Tahirikyre, but hehasto marry someone in the bloodline.”

“This makes me nervous as hell.” I pinch the cigarette between my fingers.

Rhys finishes his. “Without that blood connection, they’ll be looking to marry into another family for legitimacy.”

“With who?” I think about all the daughters of the current dons, pakhans, and godfathers. Slim pickings. But I suddenly worry about my young nieces and the daughters of the O’Rourke brothers.

“You’re next, you know,” Rhys says, lighting a new cigarette for us to share. “Marriage.”

A sharp laugh leaves my throat. But thenshepops into my festering thoughts. God, what’s wrong with me?

“No thanks.” I savor the rest of the smoke, thinking of where I can stop to get a pack of my own, even though I’m supposed to be on the wagon.

“You don’t think Griffin is already looking for your wife?”

What am I? A goddamn broodmare who needs to be put to stud?

“Griffin knows me better.” I’d rather cut off a limb than be forced into an arranged andlovelessmarriage.

But Griffin and Shane’s marriages are anything but loveless.

Rhys nudges me. “Just keep your eyes open, mate.”

Only a strong woman can survive in our world. A naïve princess will get eaten alive. I need someone who can keep up with me. In every way possible.

I inhale sharply, and those green eyes flash through my mind. I’m starting to think my curious kitty from the fundraiser, who’s also a fucking DEA agent, was there toscope me out. Only, we don’t traffic narcotics.

My cock twitches, pissed off that I let that lass go tonight. It was so bleedin’ hard when I got home, I had to fucking jerk off.