Page 45 of Sweet Venom

His grumbles lower in volume, but he’s still speaking. I halt a few steps away and look back to check if he’s actually talking to me and not himself.

Thankfully, he’s glaring at me, and his mumbles stop as he kicks the couch and goes back to drinking.

A long breath whooshes out of me. He’s all right.

Ithink.

Ever since we were kids, Preston has been kind of…fucked up, thanks to his useless damn parents and the world we live in. After the three of us were shipped to an all-boys boarding school, Kane and I promised we’d never leave him alone. Especially after he was assaulted by a teacher and the three of us killed the motherfucker.

We’ve made it our mission to just…be there for Pres at all times. Kill his demons—whether they’re physical or mental.

While Pres is built like a mountain now and is often preening about his ‘perfect’ physique, he had girly looks when we were younger. It didn’t help that he used to have his blond hair long and was a scrawny little twerp whose biting words exceeded his size.

All the bullies picked on him, not only because of hislooks but also because he was—and still is—a provocateur who truly doesn’t know when to shut up.

Always asking for trouble. Attention. Fights. Altercations.

Anything.

And although we grew up in the same world, I at least had Mom, but Pres didn’t have anyone.

Well, except me and Kane.

And now that Mom’s gone, he’s the only one I have who I’ll protect with everything in me.

I groan when my phone on the table flashes with Julian’s name.

Pres fetches it and waves it at me. “Aren’t you going to get this?”

“No. He’ll just nag.”

“It’s a horrible fucking idea to be on Julian’s bad side, big man. Don’t be an idiot. I don’t include those in my close circle.” He picks up with a singsong tone. “Julian! It’s been a while, man.”

“You fucking—” I rush toward him.

“Jude? Yeah, he’s right here. Byyyye!”

Preston thrusts the phone in my face, and I kick him when I take it, leaving him groaning as he grabs his shin and grunts, causing more drama than needed.

He punches me before disappearing into the kitchen, probably to raid my fridge.

“What do you want?” I say to my brother.

“You didn’t join us for dinner over the weekend. Father was livid.”

“I know. He called and texted about his feelings.”

“You need to show up to family dinners, Jude. Don’t make me force you.”

My free hand clenches and unclenches. “Don’t knowabout you, but I have no reason to see Regis’s face anymore, and I certainly don’t need to keep up appearances.”

“You think I do?”

“You de facto had him step down from being the company’s CEO to an honorary chairman, so I’m not sure why you’re licking the old man’s boots.”

“You seem to be forgetting that his power with the Callahan empire and the organization remains the same.” My brother’s voice is crisp and firm. Every word is spoken with a meaning, sometimes hidden, sometimes clear.

Just like Pres, Mom always told me to be on his side, not against him, but he’s the one who tried to bury her fucking death.