Page 70 of Lovely Venom

“Can we actually get in?” I ask, focusing on the logistical question.

“Yeah. He’s connected, so he can get us in. But my father said I have to bring a friend if I want to go.”

“Well, in that case, you can count me in.”

“Really?” Her face brightens.

“Yep. There’s only one way to see if he’s worthy of you.”

She gives me a quick hug, but neutralizes her expression when the men glance over at us. That’s probably for the best, because I don’t need Cristian intercepting our plan right now.

“Oh, Chantel.” Abella perks up. “We’re decorating the nursery on Sunday. You want to come out, and we can do brunch after?”

“Sure. Just text me a time, and I’ll be there.”

Angelo observes us with a stormy expression, and I suspect that, thanks to Ares, he’s questioning my presence in their lives. If he thinks for one second that I might start feeding Ares information, that will be the end of all my friendships.

That feeling doesn’t sit well with me, but somehow, I manage a smile as the girls pile into their car.

“Thanks for coming,” I tell them.

“We’ll have to do it again,” Serafina says. “It was fun.”

I nod, and Cristian opens the passenger door for me, but he doesn’t meet my eyes.

Tension lingers between us for the remainder of the silent drive home.

A chilly ride, indeed.

15

CRISTIAN

“I have to go out for a while.”

Chantel glances up at me with a guarded expression.

We’ve barely spoken since I brought her home last night, and realistically, I should have gone to Eden to check in afterward. But I didn’t want her worrying about her safety.

She doesn’t know my men have been watching her house, but she will tonight.

“Hot date with Tiffany?” She plays it off like a joke, but the fire in her eyes betrays her. “Let me guess, she wants you to bend her over her favorite dumpster?”

Her jealousy sends blood rushing to my cock, and I have the urge to tell her I’ll bend her over and fuck that attitude right out of her. Then I remember what’s waiting for me at the club, and the tension returns to my body.

“I thought you were supposed to be sex positive.” I offer her a dry stare. “Isn’t that the whole point of your column?”

“How do you know about that?” She blanches.

I choose not to answer that, because she doesn’t need to know how much information I’ve collected on her since she walked into our lives.

“For the record, I am sex positive,” she says. “But I’m not pro-fucking taken men, which is Tiffany’s favorite sport. Cheaters are going to cheat, but knowingly participating in that? Yeah, no thanks.”

Something tells me this isn’t just a matter of opinion to her. But Chantel’s trust issues run far deeper than cheating.

“Am I the taken man in this scenario?” I ask, knowing full well that isn’t what she meant.

“No,” she huffs. “It was a generalization. And I know it’s on the men, because they’re the ones who took the vows, but at the very least, a girl should have some standards.”