Page 143 of Viper

I will my heart not to thrash in panic.Does he know? Does he suspect them?I swallow. “You want me to spy?”

He tilts his head to the side as if agreeing. “I’ve heard of them for years. Many of our associates do business with them, butIdon’t know them.”

“Yet you’re forcing me to marry one,” I say, but the words barely leave my lips before Rune’s hand is around my throat, yanking me from the chair and dragging me to my feet as he stands. My chest slams against his, the air punched from my lungs.

“You’re wearing on me, girl,” he hisses, his breath hot against my face. “This deal hangs by a thread. Campbell accepted my offer, but I can end it, and ruin him with a single word. Just. Like. You.”

My pulse hammers against his fingertips as I gasp. “Besides their buyers, what exactly am I watching for?”

Rune’s grip loosens, satisfaction darkening his eyes. “Anything. Everything.” His fingers release me but hover around my throat. “No more outbursts, Cora. We both know what happens when you anger me.”

I nod, biting back the rage. Every time I stand up to him, he knocks me down to my place.

“You still breathe because of me, sweet girl,” he whispers, stroking the skin along my collarbone. A finger drags lower, toward the low neckline of my dress. He tugs it, eyes trailing over me, landing on the space between my breasts. “We do what we must in order to protect this family.”

Like fuck the man who adopted me?My mind screams, and I grind my teeth. I’m not family. I’m his tool. A soft cunt to sink into. His punching bag. A ticket to more wealth.

But I’ll be his fucking demise.

Rune just doesn’t know it yet.

“I understand, Papa,” I say. “I won’t let you down.”

Chapter 44

Viper

It’sduskbythetime we turn onto the long road that leads to the estate. Reaper sent the message less than five hours ago, and we drove nonstop after landing at a nearby airport. It took longer than expected to leave. We had to prepare the company jet to fly us into a small airfield nearby, not only to shorten the drive but to have a flight log of us actually leaving in case Rune looked into it. Then, an email to Zane’s office informed him we had to leave to ensure the merchandise was properly shipped, and we’d be in contact soon.

My message to Clyde was simple and to the point. Keep Cora healthy and happy in my absence. Rune made me an offer. I get a wife with good family ties, who is wealthy, owns part of his company, and in return, he gets my loyalty. Once we’re connected, if Rune goes down, I and the entire Snyder Group, goes down with him.

Rune sees himself as the king of his domain. I pledge my fealty, marry into his family, and I get all that he has to offer and his protection, but he also gets mine.

As much as I hate leaving, knowing Cora is still within Rune’s reach, I have no doubt my outburst will ensure she’s left untouched. Vince will fuck up anyone and everyone, including cancel deals, if she’s so much as humiliated before it’s finalized.

I made that abundantly clear.

I just hope we’re not here too long. Reaper’s message was risky. He’d never have sent it, much less demanded our return, unless it was important. Hell, it wasn’t even a demand, but a need. Reaper needs nothing, so this means something has happened.

We find out the second I pull the SUV down the long drive and spot the black transporter vans and Fallon’s sleek black Audi parked out front of the estate. The tires grind over the dirt and gravel as I come to a stop.

“Dammit,” I mutter. Father being here means one thing.

He’s furious.

“Yeah,” Breaker agrees. “Let me deal with this.” He opens the car door, then rubs a hand over his face. “Father is mad at me.”

“I left too,” I remind him. “And I killed Zane’s bodyguard.”

He winces. “Never mind. You deal with this,” he says right before the door shuts.

I turn off the ignition and grip the wheel, building up the nerve to face Father, before trudging up the drive behind Breaker. Dread pools in my gut as I take the steps up to the front door. It’s unlocked when I try the handle, the door creaking as I enter the dark foyer. Silence greets me, and my skin crawls. Something ominous hangs in the air, and when I see the two soldiers posted at the top of the stairs leading to Delilah’s room, my stomach sinks.

She’s been locked away again.

My boots echo as I move across the foyer. “Find Father,” I tell Breaker over my shoulder. Of course he doesn’t listenand follows me upstairs. When we reach the two guarding the hallway, they both stiffen.

“Come on, Viper,” number 55 says, and reaches for his pistol at his hip. “I didn’t even know what he planned.”