Page 44 of Sweet Venom

“It wasn’t your kill. He was my target.”

“What’s yours is mine, and what’s mine is also mine.” He snatches the bottle of beer. “Where the fuck did you take that loser anyway?”

“To one of the safe houses.”

“Aw, and I wasn’t invited? I’m so fucking offended right now.”

Thinking about the mess from about a week ago, Preston would’ve just been the last straw of chaos.

I haven’t been going to Violet’s workplace or neighborhood, but Mario has, and he said everything looks ‘normal.’ That guy needs to be specific about what’s considerednormal.

Or I can go and watch personally, but even I realize I need to stop getting fucking distracted by a nobody.

A nobody who said I’d be a disappointing fuck.

Not entirely, but it was something along those lines.

“Hey, Pres?”

“Nah, I won’t accept your apology.”

“That’s not it.”

“Might consider it if you let me kill the next…five targets.”

“No.”

“I’m being generous here. Okay, four. Final offer. Cross my heart and never die.”

“It’s cross my heart and hope to die.”

“I meant it the other way. Don’t be boring.”

“Just shut up for a second. I have a question.” I tilt my head in his direction. “What vibes do I give when it comes to sex?”

“Eh…thought of asking your fuck buddies?”

“They say I’m hot and would let me bend them in two.”

“Ew. Cringe.”

What the fuck?“Iam cringe?”

“Sometimes. But I was talking about the girls who are desperate to get your D. They should try mine. Just saying.”

“So you wouldn’t say the girls who want to fuck me expect disappointment?”

Preston stares at me with one narrowed eye. “Disappointment? Who have you been hanging out with? Need names, addresses, social security numbers, and actual phone numbers because, fuck me, you look offended. Shit’s interesting.”

“Fuck off.” I shove his face away with a throw pillow, then stand up. “Let’s go to Kane’s for food.”

It’s supposed to be our day off, but he won’t mind us pestering him to cook. Though, he’ll spend the whole timetalking bullshit about strength training and all that jazz. The guy doesn’t know how to just chill.

Not that I’m any better, but I don’t need a lot of technicalities to prepare for the hockey season or win my games. I just do, with the help of some violence.

Okay, a lot.

Preston stands up as I head to the bedroom. “Such a killjoy. Totally paying a shit ton of Daddy dearest’s money to advertisement agencies searching for new friends. The ones I have certainly don’t appreciate my genius. Hmm. Where to start…”