Page 47 of Poison Touch (Monarch Vipers #1)

KINSLEY

“Where did you go last night?” Eden asks.

Hmm… let’s see. I kicked a rapist’s ass, then I got off by the leader of Venom—who may or may not be a killer.

After Edge and I went our separate ways Saturday night, I called Luca to pick me up and take me home.

I wasn’t sure where I stood with Edge—if anywhere.

It’s not like we have anything else except this crazy strong attraction to each other.

He wanted to drive me home, but that would have been a very bad idea.

The trust issue I’m developing with myself is becoming unhealthy.

Which, by the way, I had to tell myself over and over that I deserved that mind-blowing orgasm after kicking the shit out of a rapist. Then I screamed into my pillow for half an hour, telling myself how stupid and weak I was for wanting it so bad.

Aside from the not-so-regretful mind-blowing orgasm, I found out Kade did not kill my dad.

I’m not sure how obvious my perusal of his torso was, but I wasn’t about to let the opportunity pass without catching a glimpse of his shirtless body.

Hence, the only one left of Venom, who I’m not sure is a killer or not, is the one who masterfully summoned the otherworldly epic orgasm out of me.

What if they’re all innocent? The idea never occurred to me. What if I’ve had this whole thing wrong from the beginning? No, there are too many coincidences, too many tells… right?

Eden and Bryce came by the dojo to check it out.

Luca showed up a little after they did. He began showing Bryce a few entry positions and moves.

By the looks and laughs from each of them, both seem pretty happy to be dom and sub—I mean, the teacher and student.

I catch Luca’s expression a couple of times, and he has a huge smile each time.

His eyes also have a glint that may or may not be naughty.

“Want to walk across the street and get a couple of subs?” I pull Eden to her feet from the mat.

“Sure.” She’s not nearly as invested or excited about learning martial arts as Bryce. But if I had to guess, I bet Luca has a lot to do with that.

“We’ll be back. Going to Val’s,” I call over to Luca. “You want the usual?”

“Yeah,” he grunts as he holds Bryce in a submissive position and proceeds to teach him how to maneuver his way out of it.

As we walk out, a guy with dark hair and a toned fighter’s build comes in. “I’m looking for Trey Mitchell.”

“Yeah, he’s in the back. I’ll get him,” I say.

My uncle is sitting at his desk doing paperwork.

“Hey, there’s some guy here to see you. He looks very MMA-like.”

He sets down his pen and removes his glasses. There’s a long sigh as he gets up and goes out into the main room of the dojo. “Can I help you?”

“Yeah, I want you to train me.”

My uncle slips his hands into the pockets of his joggers. “I’m sorry. I can’t help you.”

He turns away and goes to walk back into his office when the guy grabs his arm. Uncle Trey’s eyes light with disbelief and fire as they intersect the stranger’s.

The guy instantly drops his arm. “Sorry, man. Listen, I heard you’re the best around here and?—”

“I don’t train fighters who fight for money,” my uncle interrupts.

The steroid juice or whatever he’s taken has him reaching his next level of anger fast. I want to ask him where he’s fought, but I don’t want to give anything away to any of the other company in the room.

“It’s not for?—”

“Please leave,” Uncle Trey cuts him off.

The guy glances around the room, stopping his gaze on me. “Do I know you?”

He may, but I deny him the answer he’s looking for. I may have seen him in one of the underground fights, but there’s no way he would recognize me. I used to have blonde hair and always wore a mask with a hoodie. “No, I don’t think so.”

Mr. MMA huffs, then storms off. His fists are as tight as iron. He pushes the door open hard enough that it slams against the concrete wall.

Without a word, my uncle returns to his office.

I follow him. “What was that all about?”

“He’s just a guy who thinks he can win a few bucks beating someone else at the game. It’s not about that. There’s no respect in what they do.”

I’m quiet for a moment as he picks up his pen and continues to do whatever he was before I interrupted him. “Eden and I are going to Val’s. Do you want anything?”

“Sure, I’ll take a piece of her pie. Doesn’t matter what kind.”

“You got it.”

He looks up. “Kinsley, you know why I said no to him, right?”

“Yeah, I get it.” I know we’re both thinking about my dad, the position he put himself in in that cage, and what it ultimately led to. I sweep a tear away before it builds enough momentum to fall.

He nods solemnly. “I’m sorry.” There’s so much sorrow and genuine regret in those two words.

“Me too.”

Eden is waiting for me by the door.

“Everything okay?” Luca asks.

“Yeah.” I pull on my baggy boho pants and slip my bare feet into my boots.

Eden holds the door open for me as I pass through. “So, are you going to tell me?”

I still haven’t answered her about where I went last night. I’m not ready to tell her about Edge. But I want her to trust me, so I need to give her something. And I like Eden. She’s a good person. I just have to be careful with my words.

“I went into the maze with Josh.”

She grabs my arm, jerking me to a stop. “Was that you who beat the shit out of him?” When I say nothing, that’s enough of an answer. Her eyes bug. “What happened?”

I close my eyes and shut out the pain of all the girls he hurt who couldn’t defend themselves. When I open them, Eden is staring at me with empathetic kindness. Her eyes are soft, but her face is filled with concern.

I give her a half-shrug. “He tried to take something that wasn’t being offered, something he thought he was entitled to. And unfortunately for him, he went up against someone who could take care of herself.”

Edge and I left before the maze was supposed to get busy. I wasn’t about to hang around to see what happened when Josh came to.

“Holy shit!” Her voice drops a little. “So what happened to that girl was true?”

I don’t have to confirm what she already knows.

Very unlike the Eden I’ve come to know, she wraps her arm around my shoulder as we continue walking. “You know, I knew I liked you from day one.”

We both burst out laughing at her blatant lie.

“I’m pretty sure you couldn’t stand me for at least a week.”

“Nah, not the whole week. I knew you were good people the moment you had my back in the cafeteria. I just misjudged and misunderstood you.”

As honest as we’re being, I leave out the intimate moment between Edge and me.

There’s a part of me that wants to tell her—to tell someone, for fuck’s sake.

But I can’t. I have no idea what he and I are or what the hell is even going on between us.

All I know is I keep telling myself to keep my distance emotionally.

But my betraying body has plans of her own.

Although I can’t deny our attraction for each other, I have to stay on course with my plan to take Venom down.

As sure as I am that they’re involved in my father’s murder, I’m beginning to think someone else is pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Edge is the only one who I haven’t discounted as being the murderer.

Figuring out who did it and making that person pay is the only thing that matters.

There is no other option. If using him in the process also has orgasmic benefits, so be it.

Val has a few customers waiting who already placed their orders. “Hey, Kins! How are you, sweetie?”

Eden’s head jerks toward me. “I’m guessing you come here a lot?”

“Yeah, at least once a week.”I turn back to Val.

“You and Luca want your usual?”

“Yes, please. Also, Trey wants a piece of today’s pie.”

She writes the order on a small pad. “It’s key lime. And for you?” she asks Eden.

I tune them out as Eden orders for her and Bryce.

The bell on the door jingles, catching my attention.

I look over my shoulder as Gunner, Levi, and Kade stroll into the place like they own it.

They’re in compression spats with baggy shorts and tight shirts—clothes designed for grappling.

Where’s Edge? Then I notice one of the waiting customers moves closer to the wall.

Another tightens themselves against the condiment counter.

I silently laugh and shake my head. Fucking Venom and their scare tactics.

I refrain from asking about their missing friend. It’s none of my business. And besides, I probably don’t want to know where he is as Brielle’s face pops rudely into my thoughts.

“Look who we have here. If it isn’t the masked beauty,” Gunner says.

I smirk. “The one and only.”

Kade catches my eye and jerks his head to the back of the sandwich shop.

“I’ll be right back,” I tell Eden. I give Gunner and Levi a look of warning. “Be nice.”

They both hold up their hands in unison. “Promise,” Levi says.

I head toward Kade. Once we’re in the back, Kade lowers his voice. “Josh told the police he was jumped last night, but he didn’t see who did it.”

“And?”

“Nothing. That was it.”

I fold my arms over my chest. “So, basically, what you’re telling me is that he needs a reminder?”

His lips curve up into an almost half-smile. “Something like that.”

I nod. “I’ll take care of it.”

I can’t bring myself to ask him where Edge is, but the question must be evident on my face because he says, “He’s with his father.”

For some reason, I never pictured Edge and his father doing stuff together—like father and son shit. I relax and try not to let my relief show.

But I’m not as smooth as I think because Kade says, “He didn’t go home with anyone last night.”

I shrug one shoulder and bite the tip of my thumbnail. “Yeah, if he did, it isn’t any of my business.”

He’s quiet until I finally look up at him. His stare is set dead on my face. “Yeah, it is.”

“Why do you say that?”