Page 76 of Venomous Games

I look up at him as I hand him his phone back. He bends down, only flinching slightly, and presses his lips to my forehead before leaving the room.

“He’s doing better. Though, he’s not staying in bed like the doctor ordered.”

“Ugh, men,” she says, then laughs. And I have to agree with her.

FORTY-TWO

BOSTON

Victor has cooked a whole fucking meal for dinner. There’s steak, potatoes, and gravy, the whole nine yards, all lined up on the table that I’ve hardly ever eaten at. He sits down and doesn’t even wait for us before he starts digging in. Maven comes into the dining room after getting off the phone with her sister and takes the seat between Victor and me. She looks a little pale and is avoiding making eye contact with me.

“Dynamite.” I set my hand over hers and squeeze gently. “Eat.” She attempts to, chewing on a piece of meat for a long while before she finally places both hands on the table and turns to look at me.

“I know who sent you the video,” she croaks. “But I don’t want to tell you because you need to rest.”

“I have to go out anyway.” I shoot a glance at Victor. “We have somewhere we need to be, so tell me.”

She shakes her head. “No. You’re supposed to be resting. What could be so important tonight that it can’t wait?” She averts her eyes again.

“They have Rolland,” I tell her.

She gasps. “They do? How?”

“He made a mistake when he went up to you. I hacked into the security cameras, and it didn’t take long to trace him back to an old, abandoned house from a bust we made years ago. So that’s where he was hiding. I sent Reon and Arlo after him. I contemplated turning him over to the authorities, but I don’t think he deserves that luxury.”

“What do you plan to do with him?” she asks.

“The hunt,” I admit. Victor clenches the knife in his hand, knowing she isn’t supposed to know about it.

“I’m coming,” she announces, getting to her feet. “If you want to know who sent the video, you’re taking me with you.”

“You know I can’t do that.” I also stand, though not as quickly as she does. Everything still hurts, but I want to protect her.

“You can, and you will,” she insists. “Go. I’ll follow you.”

Victor shakes his head.

“You have a flat tire; your bike is still at the pharmacy,” I remind her.

“Fuck,” she growls. “I’m riding with you.” Before I can tell her no again, she raises her hand. “End of discussion. I will tell you this much. It was one of your members who sent it.” Without another word, she heads for the front door.

I glance at Victor, who is watching her go.

“Who do you think it is?” I ask.

He shakes his head in answer as I grab my mask and follow her out. She’s waiting at the door, and her gaze falls to the mask.

“I’ve seen that before … at Bailey’s house. I took it.” She extends her hand toward it.

“I knew as much.”

“You wear them when you hunt?”

“Yes. And we each carry a weapon of our choosing.”

“Weapon?”

“We don’t have to use weapons, but it does make the game a lot of fun.”