Page 107 of Vengeance and Vipers

Maddox sits back down at his desk, looking through some paperwork.

Jules, who’s suddenly dressing in loungewear instead of evening gowns, approaches him. My eyes narrow. What’s her angle now?

‘Thanks for the clothes,’ she says to him.

Maddox looks up, his expression bored, but I watch his fist clench as he takes Jules in directly.

‘I didn’t choose them,’ he drawls with a roll of his eyes.

She chuckles, and he raises a brow.

‘I was just imagining you actually looking for clothes in a normal department store.’

He snorts. ‘I wouldn’t do that for anyone, let alone you.’

I think I’m going to see anger in her expression, but I should have known better. She ignores his barbs.

‘Well, thanks anyway,’ she says more brightly than she has any business being when he’s treating her like shit to her face.

Dumb supe slut.

‘Get out,’ I snarl at her, and she flinches just a tiny bit at my growling words.

Upsetting her is more than a little gratifying, and I find I want to keep messing with her.

I push a pen off the desk. It lands in front of her, and I watch her stoop to pick it up, giving me a great view of her tits in that tank top. Maddox’s eyes roll over her ass while he pretends to work.

She puts the pen back on the desk, ignoring my smirk as she walks out.

‘Iron said he’s received some news about Robertson,’ I say once the door shuts and we’re left alone.

I sit in front of the desk, watching Maddox stare at the door Jules just left through, his expression unreadable.

He blinks. ‘Yes. As of a fortnight ago, he was still alive, but he’s in the wind. I’m having our contacts search for him. I’ve put a bounty on his head.’

I nod. ‘And the fights? They starting up again soon?’

‘Yes, we need the revenue stream until we’re properly up and running again. The pardons will come through next week, but we need to wait until All-Hallows for the official announcements. After that, we’ll be nigh on untouchable. I spoke with Alex, and we decided on a fight next month. Sort it, will you?’

I nod, glad I’m being given tasks again. Maybe Maddox is finally forgiving me for Jules, really letting me back into clan business.

‘I saw you speaking with Pierre La Croix at the club,’ he says.

I just about hold in my grimace. ‘Look, there were times out there when—’

He looks up. ‘I understand, and I don’t need the details. But whatever business you have with McCathrie, finish it. No split loyalties.’

I nod, glad he’s giving me a chance. I was afraid he’d just kick me to the curb once he knew I had unfinished business with the vamps.

What I can’t tell him, though, is how much money I owe them and how fucked I am if I can’t pay it back soon. I thought I’d be able to get something out of Alex, but he’s adamant that our father’s clan left nothing when they died. I need to get another plan together and fast since Pierre knows I’m back now. I saw him writing on a napkin from the bar after we spoke.

Smart, old-school fucker wrote himself a note so he’d remember he’d seen me even after the club magick wiped his memory when he left.

I stifle a sigh. Wish I’d never had to get in bed with the vamps, but here I am.

‘Will that be all?’ I ask, and Maddox nods. ‘Keep me updated.’

I leave the library, feeling like hitting the pads for a while. I go up to my room to change. My phone rings, and I sigh as I see who it is.