Page 152 of Sweet Venom

She’s been…a force of nature lately. The fucking sun I’m orbiting around whether I like it or not.

Violet stops in front of me, her hand extending toward me before she lets it fall back down. “Are you still mad about this dinner idea?”

“I’m not mad. But as you can see, it’s a shitshow.” I wrap an arm around her waist because, apparently, Ihaveto touch her.

I can’t be near her without this overwhelming need to keep her close. Shield her.

Make sure no one messes with her.

Not even me.

And even that is…not plausible. Since when did I stopwantingto mess with her?

I have no clue about the reasons, and I’ve stopped trying to figure it out.

Lucia hates me because I’ve been overworking her ever since Violet was attacked in the parking lot. We have little to no evidence to go on, and the surveillance cameras didn’t provide us with any clues except that the assailant was on a motorcycle.

I’ve spent hours watching that footage—mainly because I couldn’t get Violet’s frightened expression out of my head, and I hated that I couldn’t be there for her.

For hours on end, I keep watching the way she was shaking while escaping between the cars or the frightened expression on her face when he pointed the gun at her.

She didn’t want to die.

For someone with a shit ton of suicidal ideations, she truly didn’t want to die from the moment she had a gun pointed at her head.

I don’t know who the fuck wants her dead, but they’ll pay for making her feel that way.

Even if it’s Julian or Regis.

Especially if it’s Regis—I’ve been itching to bring down that man all these years.

“I’ve always wanted to cook for this many people. It brings me joy.” Violet pauses. “I made you lasagna, too.”

I narrow my eyes. “Is it only for me, though?”

“Come on, don’t make that face. You look so handsome when you smile instead. Besides, this is so much fun.” Violet’s hand lands on my chest, and I can’t resist the hum that ripples through me.

Jesus fuck.

Her softness has always been my undoing.

She touches me so gently that I’m ready to murder my entire bloodline for her.

This ailment needs to be studied.

“Preston’s antics are anything but fun,” I grunt out in my usual closed-off tone.

“I heard that.” He pauses his bickering with Dahlia. “And stop being jealous. Doesn’t look good on you, big man.”

Violet vibrates with laughter in my arms.

I lift a brow. “He’s notthatfunny.”

“I just find it endearing.”

“You find what endearing?”

“The relationship between you guys.” She lifts her hand to my face, then drops it back down, still seeming to think twice about her actions around me. “Even though we come from different worlds, I feel like you guys bonded over harsh circumstances just like Dahlia and I did.”