Page 44 of Venom (St. Sebastian’s at Cravenmoor Academy #1)

Venetia

M y stomach rumbles, cutting into the victory lap, and Viper gives me a hard look.

It’s a world away from Nathan’s stare when I did eat.

No fucking wonder I ‘forget’ to eat as much as I do.

It wasn’t worth the passive-aggressive comments about putting on weight in that way he had.

That new dress won’t fit, Venetia. Those jeans look a little tight.

I bought this size bra, will it still fit you?

My temper zings into the red zone as I clench my teeth hard.

“I’ll get you something to eat,” Viper says, gently clasping my wrist and giving it a squeeze. “Stay here. Do not leave, do not even think about leaving.”

“I’ll stay with her,” Rafferty says. “You and Blake go and bring us back a feast. I’m fucking famished.”

Viper shoots him a vicious glare. Rafferty simply pulls out a Glock from the back of his pants and taps it on his chin.

Viper’s eyes narrow in approval.

I roll mine at this ridiculous display of testosterone.

Blake stifles his snicker and goes around Rafferty to grip my chin lightly. “We’ll be back soon, and then we will plan your coup. In the meantime, ignore your phone and the door.”

I nod, and he drops a light kiss on my lips. He and Viper leave, which I find a massive concession on Viper’s behalf. He trusts Rafferty, and that is something I didn’t think I would see.

“And then there were two,” Rafferty smirks.

I inhale deeply and let it out slowly as I turn to the window, arms crossed. “Why are you so invested in me? You barely know me.”

“Why are you so invested in me?” he replies.

“Don’t do that evasive thing. I hate that.”

“Me too. But answer the question before me, please.”

His plea sounds almost like an imploration. He doesn’t want to stand in a pile of horse manure if I don’t like what he says.

“You’re a great fuck,” I reply, eyes still fixed on the clock tower, looming in the growing dusk. Summer is turning to autumn fast. The leaves are already falling to the ground.

“Is that it?” He moves closer, leaning against the dark wood panelling, shoving his gun away before he slides his hands into his pockets.

“You’re loyal. But I don’t know why. For all you know, I could be a psychotic maniac who kills bunnies.”

“I can handle a psychotic maniac. In fact, it’s preferable. Bunny killer, though? That’s a deal breaker.” I hear the smile in his voice, but I still don’t look at him.

“Good thing I like bunnies, then. Why is a psychotic maniac preferable?”

He sighs. “We’re doing this, aren’t we?”

“We are.”

“Fine. I tried to date a normal girl once. She was a mafia princess, but not an heir. She was pampered, sheltered, decent. I hated every second of it.”

“Why?”

He edges closer and reaches out to cup my face, turning my head so I can meet his gaze. “I don’t want a pampered princess. I want a woman who will get her hands dirty. I want an unhinged mess who doesn’t flinch when I kill, and I want a woman who will reduce this world to ash for me.”

“And you think I’m that woman?”

“I know you are.”

I pull away from him to stare back out of the window.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about my ex lately.

He came into my life at a very difficult time for me, wormed his way in, and made me think I needed him and couldn’t live without his wisdom.

It took me a long time to realise my worth.

My value. I am high value, Raff. And a high value woman doesn’t cry over a boy,” I turn to look at him, “she finds herself a man instead.”

“Am I that man?”

“You are one of those men. Can you handle that?”

“As long as it gets me you, I don’t care who else you are with.”

“You sure about that?”

“No question.”

I nod slowly and turn away from him again.

This opening up about shit is difficult for me.

I feel exposed, but I know this has to happen.

We are becoming more. “I’m glad we started off as intense lust fucking.

Can you imagine if we’d formed this deeper connection and then fucked only to find out it was mediocre? ”

“Fuck, trouble,” he snickers. “There is nothing mediocre about our fucking. There is nothing mediocre about you. You are a high value woman, I respect that. But high value women tend to trigger most men.”

“Why is that then?”

“Because you expose their mediocrity. You deserve excellence, Venetia. You will get that from me. This ex of yours…”

“Nathan.”

“He was triggered by you. You exposed him for being less than you deserved, and he couldn’t handle that, so he tried to control you.”

His words burrow under my skin, finding a home among the ugly truths I’ve tried to forget. Nathan was always threatened by me, by what I represented. The more I succeeded, the more he tried to clip my wings.

“You’re right,” I admit, staring into his gorgeous cornflower blue eyes. “Nathan couldn’t handle me at my full power, so he did everything possible to dim my light.”

Rafferty’s eyes darken with understanding. “Men like that don’t deserve women like you.”

“No, they don’t.” I turn back to him fully now, letting my arms drop to my sides. “But men like you... you’re not afraid of the fire, are you?”

“Sweetheart, I’ll be the one handing you the match. Blake? He will pour the gasoline.”

“And Viper?”

He smiles slowly. “Viper will be the one to watch it all burn with you, keeping you safe while it does,” Rafferty finishes, his gaze holding mine with an intensity that sends heat spiralling through me.

I nod slowly, understanding the roles they’ve carved out for themselves in my life. Three different men, three different approaches to power, all orbiting around me like I’m the sun they can’t escape.

“I’ll take all three of you,” I say, my voice steady despite the weight of what I’m admitting. “But on my terms.”

“A queen choosing her court,” he finishes for me, a slow smile spreading across his face. “We know. This may look like crazy instalust on the outside, and fuck me, it is, but we are forging something much deeper, Venetia. I couldn’t stay away even if you tried to make me.”

My phone buzzes again, and I glance at it. Another desperate message from someone who suddenly needs me. The rush of power is intoxicating, but I force myself to set it aside. “This is all moving so fast.”

“That’s how coups work,” Rafferty says.

“I didn’t mean the coup,” I mutter. “I mean, not just the coup.”

“I know, but we have had enough layer stripping today, don’t you think?”

I move into his personal space and place my hands on his hard chest, feeling his muscles ripple under my touch. “I will reduce this world to ash for you, Rafferty Warrick. You need someone who will love you unconditionally. I see that. You need someone who will choose you. I choose you.”

His jaw tightens as a rush of emotion washes over his face, but it’s quickly masked.

But it tells me everything I need to know.

He has been abandoned in his life. Maybe not literally, but emotionally.

Under that rock-hard, rough exterior, he is a man looking for someone to take care of him.

That empowers me more than anything else.

He has chosen me to be that woman. Despite the whirlwind, despite the fact that we have only scratched the surface of knowing each other, we know each other. We are the same.

His eyes darken, and I feel him press against me, his arousal evident through his jeans.

“You’ve fucking ruined me,” he growls against my ear, his breath hot on my skin. “I’ve spent my entire life being the cold, calculated killer. The one who doesn’t need anything but the next target. And then you walk in with your sharp tongue, fierce eyes, and a rack to die for and suddenly I’m?—”

“Needy?” I offer with a smirk, but his words hit that nerve inside me that never goes away. A rack to die for . Maybe one day it will kill me.

He bites my earlobe, hard enough to make me gasp. “Alive.”

The word hangs between us, heavy with meaning. Before I can respond, there’s a thump at the door. Rafferty pulls away, his hand immediately going to his gun as he positions himself between me and the entrance.

“Who is it?” he calls, his voice betraying none of the vulnerability I just witnessed.

“It’s us,” Blake’s voice comes through the door. “We’ve got food and no hands to open the door.”

Rafferty relaxes marginally but keeps his hand near his weapon as he opens the door. Blake and Viper enter, carrying pizza boxes and bags of fries that smell divine. My stomach growls embarrassingly loudly, and Viper’s eyes find mine with that knowing look.

He places the boxes on the bedside cabinet and opens one. The scent of fresh, hot pizza hits my nose as he pulls out a slice. He turns to me and holds it up. “Open up like a good little girl.”

“What?” I snap. “I can feed myself.”

“If that were true, you wouldn’t let yourself starve. So now Daddy is in control of your feeding. Open the fuck up before I make you.”

I glare at Viper, crossing my arms. The audacity of this man never ceases to amaze me. He’s standing there with pizza held out like I’m some pet he’s training, and the worst part is, a tiny, traitorous part of me actually likes it.

“I don’t need to be fed like a child,” I say, but my stomach betrays me with another loud growl.

“Evidence suggests otherwise,” he replies, his expression unwavering. “Now open up, wildcat.”

Rafferty chuckles behind me, but Blake’s interest is intense. They’re enjoying this little power play far too much.

“Fine,” I mutter, uncrossing my arms and stepping forward. “But only because I’m starving.”

I open my mouth and take a bite of the pizza he’s holding. It’s delicious—hot, cheesy, and exactly what my body needs. A small moan escapes me before I can stop it, and Viper’s eyes darken.

“Good girl,” he murmurs, and something hot and liquid pools in my core despite my irritation.

“This is ridiculous,” I say after swallowing. “I’m perfectly capable of?—”

He shoves the slice into my mouth again, effectively silencing my protest.

“We know you’re capable,” Blake says smoothly, setting down the bags he’s carrying and moving to sit on the edge of the bed. “But this is way more fun.”

“For you, maybe,” I growl with a full mouth.

But I finally give in, letting Viper feed me bite after bite until I’ve consumed half the pizza. The boys dig into their food, and for a few blissful minutes, the only sounds in the room are appreciative grunts and the rustle of napkins.

“So,” I say, wiping my mouth with the napkin Viper hands me, feeling stronger with actual sustenance in my body, “let’s talk about how we’re going to handle these meetings.”

Blake nods, immediately shifting into strategy mode.

“A controlled environment. Like a workshop. We find a meeting room and let everyone know that’s where you will be.

There will be no private meetings, no backhand deals.

You stand in front of everyone and tell them that you are now running St. Seb’s, and if they don’t like it, you hope they will be happy in their cardboard box on the side of the road. ”

“Ouch,” Viper chuckles. “That is brutal.”

I grin. “It’s savage, and I love it. These arseholes who are targeting me need a lesson in who not to fuck with.

I’m done being the victim. Venetia Corbyn-Hale is a leader, and everyone will follow if they want their lives back.

Once the coup is complete, it will be known to everyone who walks these halls that I am the queen, and St. Seb’s is about to learn my name in screams.”