Page 21 of Vicious and Volatile (Vengeance and Venom #2)

I stretch out in the bed, but I have more room than I should. My eyes slide open, and I search the other side of the bed, but Ares isn’t in it. The sheets are long cold, and as I listen carefully, the penthouse sounds empty.

“Ares?” I call out. He’s light-footed, just like all the vampires I know.

But he doesn’t answer me back.

I curse under my breath. I might be patient and understanding, but for once, it would be nice to wake up next to my fiancé.

We’re supposed to meet Sysco and Harry for breakfast this morning, so I get out of bed and head into the bathroom to get ready. I’m dabbing on the last of my makeup when I hear footsteps walk down the hall before hooking into our bedroom. Ares appears in the doorway just a moment later.

“Good morning,” I say, and my tone comes out a little cold and hard .

“Morning,” he says, sensing the edge to my voice. His eyes study me, but there’s something a little… removed about it.

“You left early this morning,” I say. A statement, not a question.

“Just some shit to take care of,” he says. “You about ready? Billings is downstairs.”

I look at him for two seconds longer than necessary. Do his eyes tighten? Does he look away? No. But something about his words feels like a lie to me. What business could he really have to take care of between the hours of four-ish and eight AM?

“I’m ready, let’s go,” I say.

Neither of us says anything more as I grab my purse, and we walk out the door. I stare straight ahead as we ride the elevator down.

I’ve been understanding of all of the demands on Ares’ time for weeks now. But today, even yesterday, something feels different. Something feels off. Ares disappearing in the middle of the night on me isn’t a habit I think I can handle.

And I still feel like he wasn’t being honest this morning.

Ares slides his specialized sunglasses on as we step out of the elevator and walk out the doors. The black SUV is parked at the curb. Billings hops out and opens the back door.

Ares hesitates as soon as he sets his eyes on his driver. He stops. I glance back at Ares, and I swear, even though I can’t see his eyes behind his shades, something goes colder in his gaze. He narrows his eyes at Billings.

What the hell did Billings do to piss Ares off?

“Morning Mr. Hunt. Lana,” Billings says in greeting. He stands a little straighter when he notices the way Ares is looking at him .

But Ares simply lets out a hard breath and climbs into the vehicle after me.

The tension in the air is just about thick enough to cut with a knife. All three of us are silent as we work our way across town. Ares’ fingers tighten on his knee as if he’s trying to contain himself. He stares out the window at the city, never once looking away.

I look away from him, something feeling sick in my stomach.

Fifteen minutes later, Billings rolls to a stop in front of a restaurant only millionaires and billionaires can afford to eat at. Ares doesn’t thank Billings, which he always does. He simply opens the door and holds out a hand for me to help me out of the vehicle. Stoically, he walks into the establishment.

Sysco and Harry are seated at the back of the place, tucked into the darkest corner. They’re both still wearing sunglasses. Poor vampires. I can’t really imagine what that must be like, being unable to go out during the daytime comfortably.

“Lana,” Sysco greets me with a wide smile. “Always a good day when you’re around.”

“Watch it,” Ares says darkly as he pulls a chair out for me. Darkly, he glares at Sysco from across the table. “I don’t like how friendly you get, Sysco.”

“Ares,” I snap, my brows furrowing. “What the fuck?”

Sysco’s own gaze darkens. “Lana is my friend, Ares. Don’t read something that isn’t there.”

“You okay, Ares?” Harry asks with an evaluative look.

“Fine,” he says sharply as he drops into his seat.

Sysco and Harry both look at me. I shake my head, giving a subtle shrug. I don’t know what the hell to say.

“My new club is opening up next weekend,” Sysco says, moving on from the uncomfortable start to this breakfast. “You’re all coming, right?”

“I’ll try,” Harry says, which actually kind of surprises me. I didn’t think he liked any of the Barons enough to hang out on the weekend. Then again, he is at breakfast with all of us.

“You’re opening a club?” I ask, surprised by the news.

“Only my fifth,” Sysco says with a chuckle. “But this one is special. All blackout, private events, themed drinks. It’s going to be wild.”

“Sounds fun,” I say, and actually it does. I look at Ares. A night of normal, of fun, of letting loose would do us good. “We’ll be there,” I say it as a statement. Not a question.

Ares looks down at his phone as a notification goes off. His brows furrow and it’s like he didn’t hear a word me or Sysco said.

“Ares?” I question, my tone turning annoyed.

“Sorry, Vengeance, I have to take off.” He leans over and presses a kiss to my temple and immediately rises to his feet.

“Are you serious?” I balk, blinking at him as he moves around his chair.

“Sorry, it can’t wait,” he says, and he doesn’t even look down at me before he strides off back toward the front door.

I blink at his retreating form five times, my mouth slightly agape.

“What the fuck?” Sysco says. I look over to see an angry, disbelieving look on his face. “He really just walked out on you like that?”

Something in me goes stiff. My stomach feels like acid.

“What is going on with Ares lately?” Harry asks. He looks genuinely concerned. “He’s been acting off for days.”

I shake my head. “I honestly don’t know,” I say around a thick throat. “He was working so much. Ever since Augustus’s will landed in his lap, he’s had a lot to deal with. But this…” I shake my head again. My jaw clenches.

“That was just disrespectful,” Sysco says with an angry, offended look. “You’re Lana fucking Kincade. What the hell is wrong with him, just ditching you like that?”

“Who did he just leave to see?” Harry asks. The question is dark. Like he doesn’t want to ask it. But it’s on all of our minds.

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly, and I hate that for the first time, I really don’t know who he rushed out of here for.

Two days later, I’ve just said goodbye to Florence and Clementine. I’ve been alone for two damn days, and I’ve been lonely. So, they brought food, and we all ate together. We’d all called or texted Ares, asking him to join us, but no one had gotten a reply. Finally, just before ten o’clock, twenty minutes after his sister and sister-in-law have left, the door opens, and Ares walks in.

My eyes immediately scan down him. But it isn’t in admiration. Ares walked out the door this morning in jeans and a white t-shirt. Now he’s wearing black pants and a gray shirt.

Why the hell is he wearing different clothes?

Ares kicks his shoes off by the door and walks into the kitchen. He opens the fridge and grabs a bag of blood. He downs it in seven seconds flat, then tosses the emptied bag in the trash.

“What’s wrong?” he asks as he looks up at me. He stands stark still in the kitchen as if all of his vampire senses are picking up on the very dark vibes filling our home right now.

“Where have you been?” I ask. I stand in the living room, glaring at him from beneath my lashes. I fold my arms over my chest, probably a defense mechanism.

“Where I always am these days,” he says cautiously. “At work.”

I glare darkly at him. “Feels like this is getting a little out of hand, doesn’t it?”

His eyes narrow at me, and I see him trying to puzzle my frustration out. “Lana, I’m sorry things have been so demanding. I thought?—”

“Why are you wearing different clothes than you left in?” I cut him off.

He seems confused as he looks down at his clothing. “What do you mean?”

My gaze goes colder. “We’ve always been honest with each other, Ares. Please don’t change that now. You were wearing different clothes when you left this morning. Why are you wearing something different?”

His eyes narrow once more. “Lana, what are you implying?”

I don’t say anything for a long moment. Something stings the back of my eyes. My stomach is a hard knot. I don’t want to say any more, because I don’t want to make any of my fears come to life.

“Tell me what is going on with you for the past week,” I say, and my words come out rough. I hate that they sound a little bit desperate. “You are gone, constantly. You just up and left me with Sysco and Harry. You won’t answer your phone. You have to change your clothes in the middle of the day. What the fuck is going on, Ares?” My volume and misery rise by the moment. When I’m finished, I suck in a breath, hugging myself tighter.

“Lana, I am working ,” Ares says, his expression warring between confused and frustrated. “You implying that there is anything different going on is insane.”

“No, what’s insane is you pretending nothing is going on,” I say. I turn and stalk down the hall. I close the bedroom door behind me—loudly. And I lock it for good fucking measure.

Ares isn’t home when I wake in the morning. I’m fucking devastated but not surprised.

I’m not going to wait around and worry all day. I head into Valor Combat Sports. Dressed in workout gear, I head back into my old work.

The gym is familiar. Comforting. Seeing old faces is nice. Larry, the guy now running the place, hugs me like I’m his own daughter. It’s good to see him. It’s good to see Garrett. It’s nice to be in the space I spent so much time with my father.

But I came here to take out my rage.

I box. I punch. I kick. I beat the living shit out of the bag and myself. I’ll likely be black and blue tomorrow, but it feels good to take out all of this anger and frustration and uncertainty.

Larry watches me with worried eyes. But he never intrudes.

When I can’t take any more, I hit the shower and then dress.

My fiancé might not have time to take me out anymore, but I can buy my own damn dinner. I go to my favorite restaurant and buy the most expensive steak on the menu. I get dessert. And I enjoy the hell out of my own company .

It’s pushing nine o’clock before I head back to the apartment. I’m resigned to a silent night alone, but raise my eyebrows in surprise when I walk into the penthouse and see Ares’ shoes tucked away by the front door.

I head into the kitchen to put my leftovers in the fridge. I turn around to head into the bedroom when I notice something.

The cupboard that hides our trash is halfway open. And there on top, half shoved down the side of the can, is a white shirt. And, barely visible, I see a bit of dark red.

Looking up, making sure Ares isn’t walking back out here, I pull the shirt from the garbage can.

There is a splatter of something red across it. Dark red.

My heart hammers faster when I realize exactly what it is.

Blood.

Ares came home and took off his bloody shirt and stuffed it in the garbage can.

He came home last night wearing different clothes than he had left in. And as a woman, my mind started going to the worst-case scenario.

But what if there is a different worst-case reason?

I stuff the shirt back in the trash and head down the hallway. My hands are shaking just slightly.

Whose blood was on that shirt? Ares’? Or someone else’s?

I walk into the bedroom just as I hear the shower in our bathroom shut off. I stand there awkwardly between the bed and the door, unsure what to do, unsure what to think.

A few moments later, the door to the bathroom opens, and Ares steps out. He’s wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and no shirt.

Immediately, his eyes meet mine. In them, I see regret .

“Sysco caught up with me today,” he says. His voice sounds a little hoarse. I see apology in his eyes. “Practically handed me my own ass. Ripped me a new one. Lana, you thought I was cheating on you?”

Moisture pools in my eyes, but I refuse to let tears fall. I don’t say anything. I don’t move.

Ares’ expression breaks. “Lana, I would never, ever. I’m pretty sure every other woman on this planet has evaporated since I met you, because I haven’t seen a single other one since I met you.”

His words reach a place deep inside me. The last week has been a nightmare. Hell. But every single cell in me believes Ares.

“You are the end for me, Lana,” Ares says as he takes a step forward. I don’t take one back. “There is nothing beyond you. I swear it. And I can’t blame you for thinking this, for Sysco damn near ripping my head off. I’ve been an ass lately.”

He takes another step forward. Something goes worried in his eyes. He looks a little paler.

“I think I’m burning myself out,” he says, his words again coming out hoarse. “I can’t even remember what I did today.”

That makes my blood go cold. I see it in his eyes, Ares isn’t being dramatic. I see the exhaustion in every inch of his beautiful body. I see a man about to burn out.

He doesn’t remember what he did today.

He came home with blood on his shirt.

“Lana, I’m so fucking sorry,” he says, and he looks like he’s two breaths away from falling apart.

“Come here,” I say. I open my arms, pulling him into me. He tucks his face into my neck, his arms wrapping around my waist .

He feels so bone weary. He seems exhausted. He feels… lost.

And I know he’s telling the truth.

He isn’t cheating on me.

He doesn’t remember what he did today.

And something else is very fucking wrong.