Page 42 of Sweet Venom

The blue is so calm yet deep, a force of nature that’s no different from the ocean. Something that’s unassuming on the outside but bears secrets no one has dared to uncover.

And I want to dive into those depths, dismantle each of her secrets one by one.

But as her tongue moves the slightest bit, not even licking me, my entire body tenses up.

“Don’t flirt, Violet.”

It’s her turn to tense, and she attempts to shake her head, but I hold my finger at the back of her throat. “You must be a natural at sucking cock with these impressive little-to-no gagging skills. Tell me, have you considered selling your services like your mother?”

She pulls back with a cough, her saliva and dried tears mixing with the blood in a beautiful mess.

I like the view.

The way her disgusting innocence is smudged with my darkness.

A realization slithers beneath my skin and spreads through my chest with haunting violence.

That’s what I’ve always wanted to do to Violet. Erase her innocence and crush any of her feeble hopes of keeping her lowly life together.

And I don’t need death to accomplish that.

Death is reserved for the scum who’s lying on the ground staring at nothing.

Violet jumps up and glares down at me—she fuckingglares.“People like my mom do what they do to survive. Something you have no knowledge of, considering the silver spoon you were born with and the privileged upbringing and wealth that force doors open in your face. Soexcuseus normal people, for working hard for our next meal and the roof over our heads. Whether we do that in shitholes or lying on our backs is none of your business.”

While she’s tense, she’s standing in a wide stance, not the mouse-like posture she usually forces her body into.

Even with the blood, the dried tears, and the disheveled hair, she looks the prettiest I’ve ever seen her.

I stand up and even that doesn’t make her recoil like she usually does. “Did you just snap at me?”

“I wouldn’t have done it if you weren’t disrespectful.”

“I don’t believe that’s the real issue. I’ve never shown you respect, and that doesn’t seem to faze you, but the moment I mention someone else, you transform into a kitten with claws. Ever thought of adopting the same energy to defend yourself?”

She purses her lips but says nothing.

“Ah, but you have such low self-esteem, it’s almost impossible to see yourself pastthe worthless, useless, waste-of-space little bitch who should’ve never been born,right?”

Her eyes round, her pupils enlarging more by the second. “How…?”

“That’s what you wrote in your journal. Your dear mama’s words that you take way too seriously. Religiously, almost.”

“You…you…”

“While you find a response, I want you to do something for me. From now on, you’ll stand up for yourself like you do for Dahlia and others. If you fail to do so, I’ll fuck you in my next target’s blood.”

Her lips fall open.

She takes a step back.

But stops.

“Fuck me, then.”

It’s my turn to stop, narrowing my eyes on her. “What?”

She lifts a shoulder casually—too fucking casually. “I don’t care about sex, and we’re already surrounded by blood.”