Page 17 of Sweet Venom

And sheisjust another fuckingname.

“It’s time for the next name,” I say, ignoring his question.

“What the fuck!” Preston jumps up. “Why haven’t I beenon this Violet’s hunt, big man? I thought we were bros, but then you go on killing sprees without inviting me?”

“There was no hunt.” Kane tilts his head to the side. “Was there?”

“That’s none of your business. Give me the next name.”

“Whoa. Hold up.” Pres stalks toward me, then circles me. “You mean to tell me you’ve had this Violet’s name for a while, and it didn’t result in a hunt? Blink once if you’ve been possessed.”

“Kane,” I growl, ignoring Pres’s buzzing. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“I’m curious is all.” He crosses his arms. “Is this a new pattern? Not finishing off your targets?”

“No. I just have a different plan for her. And stop asking questions.”

“All right, I’ll leave you to it.” Kane pushes off the desk and comes closer, shoving Preston, who’s been circling and poking me, out of the way, then whispers in my ear, “Remember, the sister stays out of whatever you’re doing.”

I stare down at him. “Depends on how fast you are with that name.”

He narrows his eyes. “You know, your brother has been threatening me to stop enabling your violent sprees.”

“My brother can go fuck himself. I expect a file in my inbox tomorrow at the latest.”

He grunts out a reply and leaves.

“Heeey…” Preston whispers near my ear, resuming poking me. “Do you hear me? Will the real Jude please stand up?”

“Fuck off.” I swat him away.

“Oh, you’re back, big man.” He grins. “I was on the verge of starting an exorcism side gig and shit. Might accidentallybecome a cult leader, though. Not that I’m against the idea per se, but those fanatics can be crazy, not that I’m less crazy, so maybe it’s not a bad idea. Think Dad would finally disown me once I’m on the news…?”

I leave him blabbering and stride out of the office, but, of course, he falls in step beside me and wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Sooo, Violetta, huh? Are we stalking? Because I have the perfect hoodie.”

My shoulders tense, but I feign indifference. “You arenotstalking, Pres.”

“Why not?”

“Because you start shouting ‘This is stupid. Let’s fuck them up instead!’ ten minutes in.”

“I mean, it kind of was. Your previous targets that I had the misfortune of stalking were more boring than monogamy, and we all know that’s, like, my least favorite thing.But—” He headlocks me. “You’re not killing this Veronica or hunting her after all this time, so she must not be boring. I want to see for myself.”

“No.” I punch him in the side. Hard.

“Fucking hell.” He grunts, releasing me and bending over, then grins with a manic edge. “Thatinteresting?”

I leave even as his unhinged laughter echoes in the air.

Well, fuck me sideways.

I think I just piqued Preston’s interest in something neither he nor Kane should know about.

5

JUDE

Afew hours later, I’m somewhere I shouldn’t be.