Page 77 of Lovely Venom

Rhys nods. “I’ll get someone to keep an eye on him.”

My man-bun cousin turns his eyes to me in a knowing stare. After we cleaned up Raina’s attackers, I bought the guy a pint to get a more in-depth take on her and gut-check my sanity. He didn’t say much other than he found her cagey as hell, already in cahoots with his stalker neighbor, and that the empty briefcase was left on his doorstep by the time he got home after the cleanup. Raina must have sent the cab there before going home.

“Now I have two stalkers,” Rhys said that afternoon. “Thanks, cuz.”

He trusts I know what I’m doing. Do I, though? Know what I’m doing?

I stare at the swarm of bodies on Luxe’s dancefloor through the haze of lights. Dancers are all grind and desperation. None of it touches me. None of it stirs me.

Not when Raina’s absence crushes my ribs with every breath I take. It’s been a week since I’veseen her, smelled her, tasted her. Seven days since she aimed a gun at my chest and didn’t pull the trigger. Seven sunsets since I let her walk away when I should’ve pinned her down andmadeher face this thing between us.

And now? Silence. No knives. No revenge. No Raina.

That woman was fire heating my skin. Now her absence feels like blistering ice.

I’m one day away from showing up at her place. But she might have eyes on her. And guns. I can’t take out someone without knowing who put the hit on me.

It’s all just too quiet. Every night when I get home, I expect to see her in my living room. Since she’s not there, I fall asleep with a hard dick and a pounding head.

Shane slides into the booth beside me, slamming a glass down. “I swear the shite my wife goes through running this place.”

“Is that why you’re here every night?” I ask him. “You killed the previous Albaniankyre, I doubtthey’recoming back.”

“Noel Tahiri is a coward,” Shane bites out. “I wish he’d show up here, so I can fucking kill him, too.”

Trace sits back and strokes his forehead. “Is that common knowledge? That you killed Levin Berisha, Shane?”

“I hope so.” My brother’s savage grin gives me the chills.

“If Noel comes looking for revenge, he’ll leave in a body bag, too,” I mutter.

Shane lifts a brow. “You want a shot next time?”

“Maybe.” I finish my drink.

Iwantto leave. The perfume in this club is making me sick. It’s not Raina’s, and I’m fucking unraveling.

I look up and see a trio of barely dressed girls materialize at the edge of our booth. They’re all glossed lips and practiced giggles. One makes a beeline for me.She must have heard I’m the single one who fucks to forget.

Or I used to.

One woman doesn’t even ask. Just slides into my lap, arms hooking around my neck. It happens so fast, but this isn’t the place to make a scene or fast moves.

“Can I help you?” I ask with an attitude.

“Hey, handsome,” she purrs. “I’m in town for two more nights. Staying at the Park Inn.” She presses a key card into my hand. “Room 814.”

Her breath hits my cheek, and I go still.

I grab her wrist. Not hard, just enough to send a message.Not you.

“You’ve got five seconds to get off my dick and walk away before I ruin your night.” I hand the key card back.

Her smile falters, and she hops off, embarrassment coloring her cheeks. Her friends follow her with stunned gazes as they look back at the table. They’re set on the other man without a wedding ring.

Rhys smiles and waves them off. Not that I would expect him to take my discards, but he can. Unless he’s more stuck on that neighbor of his than he wants to admit.

Shane sips his drink, wisely silent.