Page 59 of Poison Touch (Monarch Vipers #1)

KINSLEY

Some days, I feel like I have all my shit under control. Those perfect days when the sun warms my face with its invisible caress or when I deliver a flawless high kick to my opponent’s head or even paint the perfect, elegant line in art class.

Today isn’t going to be one of those days.

I’m anticipating today will be the kind that seizes me by my soul and shakes me like a rabid dog until I’m battered and bruised.

When I pull into the parking lot, two cop cars are near the entrance. The door opens, and Josh comes out between two officers with handcuffs on. I don’t know what he’s saying, but it looks like he’s cursing them out and spewing empty threats. Good riddance.

Maybe this day won’t be so bad after all.

Then, as soon as I think that’s a possibility, I see Edge.

With his arms crossed over his chest, Edge is waiting for me near the parking spot I claimed as mine since day two at Monarch.

I let out a long breath as he walks toward me.

His predatory strides are as menacing as they are graceful.

I should look away, not in fear or shame but to avoid being spellbound by those mesmerizing eyes.

The second I remove my helmet, I know there’s no escaping Edge or his wrath. He’s on me before I turn off the engine of my motorcycle.

“What the fuck is going on?”

I don’t want to look at him, but he’s making it very difficult. “What are you talking about? Nothing. It’s Monday.” Every cell in my body is furious with him, but I can’t let any of that show. I need him to back off until I learn more about the UG.

“I know it’s fucking Monday.” The sneer on his face says he’s not in the mood to be fucked with. “Let’s go, we need to talk,” he demands.

I turn off the engine and put down the kickstand. “I don’t think so. I’m going to class.”

He reaches for me, but I slink away just out of his reach. His eyes are a mass of gray fury swirled with torment.

“What’s with all the avoidance, ignoring my calls and texts? What the fuck happened that you didn’t already know about?”

That one question stops the world around me.

There’s only me and Edge in our vast universe as we stare at one another, taking the other in as if our very lives and our next breath depend on it.

I feel like I’m catching glimpses of him I just noticed for the first time.

Another mask or facade—no, his expression is raw with genuine confusion and hurt.

Does he think I knew he was a key fighter for Venom?

Granted, I suspected and even knew he had something to do with Venom.

But not enough clout to jump out of the ring to come for me after almost killing someone.

I’ve spent more time making empty excuses about how he couldn’t be involved that deeply with the enemy.

I let myself become so immersed with him that I even found a way to distort and twist the truth to my liking.

Stupid. Stupid girl.

Deciding not to admit my clouded judgment, I say, “I can’t do this anymore.”

It’s a cop-out of the worst kind, but it’s all I have right now.

I’ve never seen his face contort with so much anger.

It’s a hundred times fiercer than when he went up against Python.

His fists are balled at his sides, and his breaths are shallow pants as I turn away from him and walk toward the school.

I close my eyes for a long moment, open them, take several deep breaths, and then carry on.

It’s so much harder than I thought it would be.

There’s a crumbling ache in my chest that physically hurts.

The sting of tears burns the corners of my eyes as they threaten to fall.

I do everything in my power to hold them back, at least until I’m out of his sight.

Show no weakness.

Eden joins me as I cross the courtyard toward the arts building.

The good friend she has become, after one quick look at my face, she doesn’t pry or ask me a thing.

She stops at the large wooden doors with me.

As I reach for the handle, she gently sets her hand on my shoulder. “If you need me, I’m here.”

I give her a weak smile. “Thanks.”

Thankfully, Brielle couldn’t find the time to make it to class. She’s the last irritating little stone in my shoe I want to deal with right now.

Levi had to have told his twin brother he saw me at the fight. And the second our gazes lock, it’s all over his face. For the first time since I transferred to Monarch, Gunner completely ignores me. He was probably instructed to do so.

It’s almost the end of class, and I can’t take the silence anymore. “Why didn’t you guys tell me you were going to the fight?” I blurt out.

He ignores my question as he paints a few brush strokes on his canvas.

“Gunner...”

He swishes the saturated tip in the cup of water before setting the brush down. I wait for him to look at me. When he finally does, I hate the sadness and disappointment in his eyes.

“I could ask you the same thing, little Ninja.” His voice lacks the light and fun tone I’ve grown used to.

He’s right. I don’t know what to say. Trying to defend his counter-question will only make the situation hurt worse.

Over the past couple of months, a slow-growing connection has developed between me and each of the boys, an understanding and an unspoken trust. But with all of the secrets between us, there was never any chance of true friendship or trust.

Chelsea announces that it’s time to clean up our supplies.

Gunner is locked up as tightly as I am. I’m both relieved that I don’t have to answer and irritated because he’s the easy one to talk to, the one who can’t wait to spill all the juicy details. Not today.

Going through the motions, I barely remember anything said or explained in biology. Like a zombie, I write illegible notes that may or may not make sense when I need them.

I keep my head low on the way to the library, the place where Edge and I had several intense and uninhibited moments.

These moments I relived in my imagination more than once.

I briefly look up to see the four of them standing just outside the massive wooden doors.

Shit!I turn to make a one-eighty and practically run into the group of people I didn’t notice.

Apologizing, I maneuver and spin around, only to land directly into the arms of Venom.

“I just want to talk,” Edge says. He’s a hell of a lot calmer than he was this morning.

I’m not sure if this new demeanor is good or bad, or what his angle is.

By talking, does he want to confess shit, or does he want information from me?

If it’s the former, he already told me he wasn’t the one who killed my dad. He also said it was complicated.

I glance at the others behind him. Kade catches my attention first and gives me an inconspicuous nod as if he’s letting me know it’s okay. It’s all going to be okay. I can trust them.

Can I, though?

Edge is staring at me when I turn my focus on him.

“What about?”

He reaches out his hand for me to take. “The past.”