Page 61 of Sweet Venom

I narrow my eyes, rereading her words.

Davenport.

FuckingKane?

People know I’m the most popular on the team, while Kane is just a stickler for techniques and rules. Never fights, never gets out of line, and could be labeled boring in hockey terms.

Anyone who knows hockey would pickmeas the actual hockey god,notKane.

“Yo, Callahan!” Preston slams his shoulder against mine, then wraps an arm around me. “Who are you in the mood to fuck later tonight?”

A certain thorn in my side who keeps pissing me the fuck off.

No.

My usual fuck shouldn’t be dedicated to Violet, especially after what she texted. If I go see her, I might actually snap her neck for the insolence.

Though there haven’t been any fucks lately. I like to think that I could take my pick, but the truth is, I haven’t been enticed by any of the pretty girls around me.

Not since Kane took me to the shithole that is Stantonville and I saw Violet from the top of the roof.

It should be disturbing that I haven’t looked at any girls since then. I like to think it’s because I don’t really fuck as much as the other guys on the team and I can go celibate for a long time.

It definitely has nothing to do with those mystic blue eyes that keep appearing in my dreams lately.

I push Pres away. “Regis wants to see me.”

“Boo! Your dad can wait.”

“Julian said it was an emergency.”

He releases me with a roll of his eyes, then slides to Kane’s side. “We have one man down, so let’s have the best fun and rub it in his face later!”

I dress in record time. Then, on my way out, I slam my shoulder into Kane’s.

Hard.

He steps back, clutching his shoulder, his eyes wide.

“What the fuck was that for?” he bellows.

But I’m already walking out.

A few hours later,I’m not with Regis.

Yes, he keeps ‘insisting’ that I should go see him and if I don’t, there will be ‘consequences,’ but I’ve already suffered the worst of said consequences.

There’s nothing he could do that has the potential to hurt me anymore.

And yes, Julian blew up my phone like a clingy ex, showcasing his massive control-freak tendencies, but I ignored him.

The last time I had dinner with Regis was when Mom was alive. She tried her best to keep up the feeble appearances of a happy family. She held on to it with bloody fingers, and I played my role, not even clashing with my father so she wouldn’t frown or, worse, cry.

So now that she’s gone, I hope Regis will rot.

All alone in his big mansion.

So, no, I’m not with Regis or Julian. I’m standing in Violet’s tiny living room, where I can touch the ceiling if I reach up my arm.