Page 180 of Sweet Venom

I lift a brow. “Dahlia, I presume?”

She nods.

“I don’t know what she told you, but Vencor doesn’t mean much to me. It means a lot to my father and Julian for sure because they’re power-hungry, but not me.”

“You don’t care about power?”

“I did while my mother was alive.”

“But not anymore.”

It’s not a question, but I nod. Though I don’t tell Violet that I’ll have to start caring again. Aside from Regis and Julian, Kane also cares, and he’s deeply entrenched in the organization after taking the reins of the Davenport family.

“You can’t protect Violet if you remain on the sidelines while Regis and Julian confiscate the limelight, Jude.”

That’s what he told me the other day. He’s always firmly believed that we need to be at the top to shield who and what we care for, and he’s right. I need to become deeply involved again.

Not only for power, but also to be a thorn in Julian’s fucking side.

I still haven’t forgiven him for the coma fiasco, and I’ll make sure to spend the rest of my life making him pay for it.

Violet sighs. “I’m so glad you came over tonight.”

“I thought you didn’t like my stalkerish tendencies.”

She lifts a shoulder. “I think we’re past that phase.”

“I made your life hell and threatened to kill you. How can you so easily get past it?”

“I don’t like holding grudges.” She chuckles a bit. “Dahlia tells me I’m too nice and I need to be meaner, but I just can’t. It’s not in my nature to actively hurt others, and I know that’s frowned upon in today’s world, but I like to hold on to who I am. I’m learning to set boundaries and stuff, but I can’t become mean just because my life sucked. I don’t believe those who aren’t involved should pay for my pain.”

“ButIam involved.”

“As long as you don’t hurt me anymore, I can forgive and forget. But don’t ice me out again.”

“I won’t. I’m sorry, sweetheart. I was having a hard time and didn’t want to burden you with it or take it out on you.”

“That’s the point of having each other, Jude.”

“Okay.”

“I mean it. If you stop communicating, I’ll do the same. I’m no longer someone others can stomp on while I lie there and take it.”

“Good girl.” I stroke beneath her eyes, and she shivers. “I’m proud of you.”

“You…are?”

“Hm. You’ve come a long way from being a scaredy-cat who used to run away from any form of confrontation, sweetheart.”

“Speaking of confrontation.” A line appears between her brows. “Do you know why I need to be present when Preston’s personal will is going to be read?”

A sharp sting of pain cuts through me, and Violet mustsee the change on my face, because she tightens her grip on my hand, leaving it square on her face.

I know why Lawrence asked Violet to be present—because of the bracelet that’s an Armstrong heirloom.

While I’m not sure what that entails, I’m certain it’ll explain something about her mother’s disgusting behavior. Violet tends to close off whenever her mother is in the picture, so I mull over my words to avoid scaring her off.

“He probably mentioned you.” I frown. “Though I find it hard to believe that he kept his personal will up-to-date. Maybe Lawrence made him update it regularly.”