Page 20 of Venomous as a Snake

And I panic, thinking they’re being attacked.

I rear up, my hood flaring as I sway slightly.

I search for trouble, but only find two men. One looks amused, playful even, as he studies me with his hands pressed over his ears. The second guy has climbed onto the first guy’s back, wide-eyed and fearful.

That happens when you’re a venomous snake, so I don’t blame him for his over-reaction.

Contrary to popular belief, king cobras are non-confrontational and avoid humans when possible.

While I’m watching them, trouble finds me…

In the form of a hand wrapping around my neck.

Before I can register the man’s scent, I’m flailing in the air as he throws me over our shared fence.

I lay the knife on the cutting board and tuck the chopped vegetables into the fridge. We’re grilling out today, so whether this meal is lunch or dinner doesn’t matter.

It’s both.

“Lawless,” Collin yells from upstairs. “Come here.”

“No.”

“You said to tell you if we saw the new neighbor,” he sings as he leans over the banister. “You didn’t say she was hot.”

I growl under my breath as I stomp up the stairs. It’s irrational, I know. That doesn’t stop me from the violent thought of wanting to pluck Collin’s eyes from his skull.

Because, if we were talking about Kody Ayers… Then my mate is fucking gorgeous. But she can’t be mine until Clay is dead.

I don’t know if the woman I saw in the window yesterday is her, though.

A part of me wants it to be Kody. The other part, the more logical one, hopes it’s not.

I won’t be the reason she dies.

Drew knows better than to put us in that position, but he’s been up to something. The wily honey badger is shit at keeping secrets, which is why he’s been avoiding me. This behavior hasn’t changed since we were kids.

Three months ago, when he asked about the house behind me, I should have known he was up to no good.

Now, I wonder how he even knew it went up for sale.

But I didn’t ask questions, too busy healing and getting back into the swing of life after being shot…

That was fucking stupid. I should have interrogated the shit out of him.

I can only think of two reasons Drew would want to know. Either he wanted to buy it and move in… Or he was looking for someone else.

Collin stands at the window with Forrest leaning over him. They both peek through the closed blinds like creepy, nosy neighbors.

“You look like perverts peeping on her.”

“Tell him,” Forrest urges, pointing out the window. “She’s a predator.”

“I didn’t say she wasn’t,” Collin defends.

Forrest huffs, sounding too much like his rhinoceros counterpart. “You said she was prey.”

“I said I don’t think she’s a cat,” Collin corrects.