Page 169 of Sweet Venom

He lifts my bracelet with his index finger, his eyes hardening when they slide back to my face.

Dahlia has always told me that Preston is dangerous, but I’ve found that hard to believe since he’s only ever been cheerful to me and easily befriended me. This is the first time I’ve seen the version she’s talking about.

Unpredictable, unhinged, and…disturbing, even.

“It’s my mother’s,” I whisper and attempt to pull my hand back, but he keeps it in a firm grip.

“Did your mother steal it?” He frowns. “No, that’s impossible. Who gave it to her?”

“I don’t know. She just told me to keep it… Pres, you’re hurting me.”

He releases me, his jaw tightening. “Remove it.”

“What?”

“Remove it, Violet. I need to check something.”

“Hey, why are you being a dick all of a sudden?” Dahlia moves on her knees a bit in front of me. “It’s progress she’s even wearing it after she buried it in a box her entire life. It’s a family heirloom.”

“I said. Remove it before I rip it from your wrist.”

I flinch.

“Hey!” Dahlia’s shoulders square, but I pat her arm.

“It’s okay. I don’t like it that much anyway.” I unclasp it and hand it to Preston.

He flips it and rotates something that holds the plate at the back, and just like that, the plate opens.

I watch in bewilderment as the two plates laid side by side reveal a crescent moon and a sun. The same symbol Preston has on the black ring he’s wearing on his index finger.

He aligns them. My eyes widen because the ring and the bracelet have the exact identical symbol.

Preston’s fingers trace the initials carved by the symbol. W.J.A.

“Jesus fucking Christ.” He lets out in a breath. “What the fuck is this?”

“I don’t know,” I whisper. “This is the first time I’ve seen that. I…didn’t even know it could be opened.”

“This explains a lot of shit.” He watches me for a few beats, his eyes seeming to peer into mine. Then he stands up all of a sudden, clutching the bracelet between his fingers. “I have to go.”

“Wait.” I stand, too, and Dahlia follows, her brows knitting as she watches Preston carefully.

“I’ll give it back later.” He pauses. “If I can.”

“It’s not that.” I step in front of him. “Is that symbol common? If it’s really valuable, maybe Mom stole it…”

“She would’ve never been able to steal my grandfather’s bracelet. So that means he willingly gave it to her.”

“G-grandfather?”

“Yes, Winston James Armstrong. This belonged to him at some point and has his initials. My father and uncle have similar ones. They’re usually offered by the father to his offspring, so I’m supposed to get one after graduating. Grandpa said he lost his a long time ago, but that doesn’t seem to be the case?—”

“Vi, watch out!” Dahlia’s scream punctures my ears as the loud revving of an engine and a popping sound echo in the air.

My first instinct is to push Preston, but as I do so, he swings us around so fast, I’m disoriented and lose my footing.

Dahlia screams again when I crash to the ground, and I think I’ve been hit.