Page 42 of Viper

Like Striker, there’s a sweetness to his face, but it vanishes the instant anger flares. Then the soft yet masculine features become more prominent, almost like something dark and violent is trying to emerge. It turns his high cheekbones sharp, his strong jaw severe, and the startling blue eyes that are already deep-set, darker, more intense, and menacing.

He’s fair-skinned like me, with a dusting of freckles on his hands and forearms, a few on his cheeks, along with some darker moles. There’s a hint of auburn stubble, matching his wavy, dark auburn hair. When the light hits it, each strand flashes with streaks of ember, making it look like it’s about to catch fire.

“I should have known you were a redhead,” I blurt out before I can stop myself.

One of his brows quirks, and Viper rubs at the thin bridge of his nose where it’s slightly crooked, which makes me realize I’m staring at him just as intently as he is me.

“Why is that, little Vixen?” Viper asks, his voice dropping, the question slipping out smooth like whiskey and dangerous as sin.

My pulse skitters. The air between us thickens, charged with something dangerous and electric that sets my veins on fire.

Does he even know? How highly sexual he is? Every quirk of a brow, every movement of his body oozes with a sensuality I noticed before, but somehow is more prominent now that I can see his full face.

He’s overwhelming.

They all are. This entire situation is too much.

The room seems to shrink in on me, my heart skipping and jumping. I brush Breaker’s arm away and stand, my skin suddenly too hot.

Inhaling a deep breath, I meet Viper’s eyes. “Because you’re a liar and you keep secrets.”

His lips curl into a grin that makes the air leave my lungs. “That makes two of us, pretty Vixen.”

Viper’s gaze drags up my body like he’s thinking of the promise he made in the bathroom. Kissing me everywhere. Claiming me yet again, so I remember I’m his. Theirs. When his eyes lock on mine again, my face heats, and I look away, deliberately looking at anything and everything but him. He’s too volatile.

Too knowing.

My jaw clenches against the shame trying to pierce my armor. The thought of Viper knowing what Rune did last night makes my chest tight, even though I know I did nothing wrong. Rune is the vile one. He should feel shame, not me. There is no shame in being a casualty of his rage.

It’s not my fault or theirs, even though a small part of me is furious they didn’t prepare me with the news about the marriage arrangement.

I flash on their father’s face. His silver-hair and those eyes like a frozen wasteland. The way he’d examined me like merchandise being returned. I know the men never would have sent me back, or put me in danger if they had a choice. Rune had made a deal. One that couldn’t be broken.

A deal I got myself out of at a hefty cost. Revealing what I know to Zane was a dangerous move. But showing my hand was my only option, and it worked.

For now.

Until he kills me to keep me quiet.

Like he can read my mind Viper says, “Is Zane going to be any more of a problem?”

My gaze darts to him. Yes. He’s talking to me.

I narrow my eyes, not liking how he seems to dissect me layer by layer. Like he’s seeing all my secrets. And just like him, I have many.

“No,” I say at the same moment Clyde says, “Yes.”

I shoot Clyde a look. “It’s taken care of.”

“Rune already knew about your mother’s parties,” Clyde snaps. “There wasn’t a person in their circle who didn’t know.”

“Oh,” I say, searching for anything else to use besides the truth, but come up empty. “I guess Zane didn’t know that.”

“He said he called it off,” Breaker says to Clyde. “Does it matter why?”

“The reason could affect the outcome.” Viper shifts again, drawing my eyes. The long lists of time logs and various images tacked to the wall behind him shift with him, and a single image of Delly draws my attention. It was taken from several yards away, zoomed in enough to see her face clearly. She’s on the steps of the courthouse with the lawyer she used to file for divorce from Dave a few months ago, wearing the black pantsuit I convinced her to buy.

I move forward until I’m in front of it, barely registering I’m right next to Viper so I can examine the picture.