Page 71 of Venomous Games

“Yes,” he says with a squeeze of my hand.

“I’m going to go home and change.”

He looks at me. “Are you changing into another pair of red heels?”

I can’t help but smile. He knows exactly what it means if I put on a red pair of heels. He thinks I’m going to go after Rolland. He’s not wrong. While I sat here, I thought about all the ways I want to kill his partner, but I wasn’t going to make my move until Boston was finally awake and better. Killing someone can wait.

“Put on the black ones instead, and come back,” he says.

“But I like the red ones,” I say with a pout.

“I know, but come back as soon as you’re showered and changed.” He’s basically asking me not to go after Rolland. He glances at Victor and then Victor looks at me, and it’s as if they had a silent conversation.

Leaning down, I give him a soft kiss on his cheek, careful not to put any weight on him or hurt him. When I walk out the door, Cressida follows, and I try not to look back.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

Victor steps out behind her, waiting for her to leave.

I wipe my face, which I’m sure is dirty.

“Yes. I need to take a shower.”

She smiles softly at me before she lays a hand on my arm, squeezing it. “I’m going to leave my number here if you need me. Please call or text. Whatever you need.” I nod, and she smiles before she goes back into the room.

Arlo arrives and takes one look at me before he storms past me and into the room. He starts talking, but I tune him out and turn my attention to Victor.

“He thinks you can babysit me?”

“He knows what a depraved little assassin you are,” he grumbles. “Move it, killer. I’m taking you home.” He steps past me, and as he does, I notice a woman walking toward us. I haven’t seen her before, but as she reaches the door, Soren appears. He says something to her, and she looks back at us.

“Her name is Maya. She’s Soren’s sister,” Victor says. “Crazy bitch, that one.”

He turns and heads down the hallway, and I have no reason not to follow.

FORTY

BOSTON

“Arlo, shut the fuck up,” I grumble.

He takes one look at my expression and shuts his mouth.

My attention shifts to Soren, who’s watching me closely, his sister Maya lingering just behind him.

“Maven said it was Rolland,” Soren says as he steps closer to the bed.

“Yes.” I move slightly, and the sting is fucking real. Shit, that burns like a bitch. “How long do I have to be in here?” I ask. He was here when I woke up, so I know he’d been sitting here with Maven.

“A week at least, depending on your recovery.”

“Is there anything I can get you?” Maya asks, and Soren glances back at her. They aren’t as close as they once were, but despite how crazy she is, I’ve never really minded her.

“No, Maya.” She nods and stays back where she is.

“Rolland knows about the Forsaken,” I tell Soren, who raises a brow.

“Yes, he knows,” Arlo confirms. “He wanted to join so he could take your position. But we don’t fucking work that way. If Marcus hadn’t been such a fucking gossip when he was drunk, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” He gives me a serious look. “We’ll find him.”