Page 29 of Villainous Rise

“The only thing I regret is not putting you in your place on day one,” he whispered. He leaned in until his lips brushed my ear. “Now, put your arms around my neck and smile for me. Show me you know how to behave.”

“Trouble in paradise?” The voice drifted from the shadows, smooth and cold. “Your girlfriend looks like she’s not enjoying your company all that much.”

My stomach plummeted. Please no.

Cipher.

I twisted in Valor’s grip, my mind racing. This was catastrophically bad.

“Let me go. Now.” I kept my words hushed and urgent. “Valor, please.”

Valor let go of the back of my neck, but his other hand clamped harder onto my waist as he turned toward the doorway.

“Well, if it isn’t Havoc’s little Nemesis,” Valor said. His voice dripped with condescension. “Shouldn’t you be plotting something predictable in a basement somewhere?”

I knew Cipher’s casual stance all too well. To anyone else, he looked perfectly relaxed with one shoulder propped against the doorframe and his hands hanging loose at his sides. But I could read the tension coiled in his body. His jaw was clenched tight, a muscle twitching just beneath the edge of his mask.

“Valor,” I said, trying to inject some warning into my tone. “Let’s go back inside.”

Cipher smiled. “She wants to leave. I suggest you listen.”

“I don’t take suggestions from League trash,” Valor replied.

“Valor,” I hissed. “Stop talking. This isn’t some junior League member looking to make a name for himself. He’s Havoc’s Nemesis.”

“I don’t fucking care,” Valor replied.

Cipher took a step on to the terrace. “Take your hands off her.”

I shoved hard against Valor’s chest and stepped out of his grasp, putting myself between them.

“You can’t do this, Cipher. Not here. Valor is an idiot junior member who doesn’t know any better. The Alliance would come down on you hard for attacking him, especially at an event like this.”

“Bishop,” Valor warned.

“Shut up,” I snapped. I kept my eyes fixed on Cipher’s masked face. “He isn’t worth it, Cipher. He’s just a Hero with more ego than sense. This isn’t the time or place for whatever you’re thinking.”

I felt Valor bristling behind me.

“Move, Bishop,” he commanded.

I ignored him.

“Cipher, please,” I said quietly. “Walk away.”

“I said move.” Valor’s hand clamped onto my shoulder, his fingers digging painfully into my skin as he yanked me backward.

Cipher moved with terrifying speed. One moment he stood five feet away. The next, he was right in front of me. His fist collided with Valor’s jaw and a sickening, bone-jarring crack echoed across the empty terrace.

The force of the blow lifted the Hero off his feet. His face went slack as he crumpled to the floor in an ungraceful, unconscious heap.

“Oh fuck.” I stared down at Valor’s motionless body.

Cipher tilted his head. “Your boyfriend should really learn some manners.”

“He’s not my—,” I started automatically, then caught myself because it didn’t really matter anymore. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“He shouldn’t have put his hands on you.”