Page 70 of Sweet Venom

But why thefuckis she touching the motherfucker?

He put something in her drink, didn’t he?

That’s the only explanation.

Or maybe she’s more comfortable with him than she is with you.

I ignore that small voice that should be fucking gagged.

There’s no way in hell she’s fucking that guy tonight. Call it absurd or illogical or fucking territorial, but Violet’s off-limits to all other men.

She’s mine until I slice her goddamn throat open.

And I’m done watching from the shadows.

I stride at a fast pace and step in front of them. They come to an abrupt halt. Blondie’s eyes widen, and Violet purses her lips even as she touches the tattoo on her wrist.

I’ve put her on edge. Good. She should never—and I meannever—feel safe around me.

She opens her mouth, but I speak first, in my most cordial tone. “There you are, sweetheart. I’ve been looking for you.”

Her lips part, but before she can react, I pull her arm from his grip. She loses her balance and crashes against my chest.

I have to stop myself from closing my eyes and inhaling her deeply.

Like a fucking drug.

She smells like soft roses and bergamot—a breeze of calm amid maddening chaos.

And sheshouldn’tbe what defines calm when she’s part of the reason behind the fucking chaos.

My hand stretches across her lower back, and she vibrates against me, a blush creeping up her cheeks.

That wasn’t there in her feeble attempts to flirt with Blondie.

Serves him right for coveting what belongs to me.

“Vee?” he asks like a goddamn idiot, staring at us with eyes so wide, they’d be comical under different circumstances.

She snaps out of it. Her body that was soft and pliant in my hold stiffens, her small hands fisting against my chest.

Violet tries to push me away as if that were even possible.

I lean down, speaking so low, so close to her ear that only she can hear me. “One wrong move, and I’ll slice his throat open and fuck you in his goddamn blood.”

Her eyes widen as I push back, her entire body going into shock.

Blondie doesn’t step forward, just watches from a distance, like when I snatched her away from him. He doesn’t attempt to protect her or take her back.

And this is her type? Like fuck he is.

“Who are you to Vee…?”

“Violet.” I maneuver her to my side, my arm still on her lower back. “Her name is Violet. And she’s mine; that’s all you need to know.”

I can feel her rigidity, but she won’t fight it. She’s that responsible and annoyingly cares about others, so she won’t let herself be the reason for her little friend’s death.

Though I wouldn’t really kill him and just said that to keep her in line.