Sweet Venom (Crazy in Love #1)

by Kirsty-Anne Still

  I leave my fingers toying with the handle while I release a low chuckle. “When did you learn such disdain, Uncle Leo?” I ask, playing sweet. “Was it about the time me and Lawson went off the rails or when my father died, and you went off the rails?”

  “If I’m honest, I think it was about the time we thought it was a good idea to bring the newest bloodline into The Firm.” He looks between Lawson and me with such disappointment.

  “That’s what you get for wantin’ to breed an army,” I scold, placing my hands on the counter top. “Only have yourself to blame,” I say, rolling my eyes.

  Shaking his head in dismay, Leo looks undisturbed over his reason for being here. “The black masquerade is tomorrow,” Leo declares, and my heart sinks. “To mark the death of one of our owns.”

  “Convenient,” Lawson scoffs, sitting down on the other edge of the breakfast bar. “You do realize we wouldn’t wouldn't need a black masquerade party if you hadn’t put a bullet between the eyes of one of your most loyal workers.”

  “Correction … your most loyal worker,” Leo admonishes, rolling his eyes. “Has Liam’s death taught you nothing, son?” he asks, placing his hands on the counter to leer at Lawson. “You’re still mine to control regardless of the stunts you pull.”

  “How is Langdon by the way?” I ask deliberately moving the conversation. I won’t allow him to belittle Lawson when we have the power to do the same. I move my head to face Leo and fix him with a deathly glare. “Does he tell you often how his plan went wrong that night? Does he show any remorse at all for my father losing his life that night?”

  “I don’t know what you mean,” he states, playing the innocent party.

  “Oh, please, Leo, now isn’t the time to be obtuse,” I reply, my words bitter shreds. “You admitted right before you killed Liam that you knew about the hit just before it happened … therefore, you’d have known who ordered it. Do you sleep better knowin’ you ruined your part in your friendship with my father?”

  “I will miss your father every single day of my life,” he tells me, grinding his words out.

  I scoff, unable to believe him.

  “He was the only man in this world I trusted,” Leo continues.

  “That’s laughable because if you knew what it was like to have that sort of friendship, you never would’ve killed Liam.” I sit a little straighter, leaning across the counter, not allowing myself to be meek and mild. “You want your son on his knees … you went the wrong way about doing so.”

  “And what do you know, Eden?” Leo asks me, not a single sign of the man who doted on me. “You don’t know Lawson like you think you do … the grudge he bears in regards to you leavin’ will always outweigh the love he has for you.”

  “That isn’t true!” Lawson roars. “You don’t get to stand in my house and tell her things like you have a single fuckin’ clue about me. You don’t know me. Much like you don’t know your daughter.” Lawson rubs his jaw, fighting with himself to calm down. “She won’t be reportin’ for work with you tomorrow or any day after. She’s going back to her life after Liam’s funeral. I’ll make damn sure of it.”

  Leo looks ready to argue the point, but he purses his lips and refrains.

  “You think you’re powerful because you have two girls fawnin’ all over you and men who will bark at every order. That power will eat you whole.” He stands up, straightens his jacket. “You’re playin’ with fire with these two,” he says, pointing to Ashley and me. “And you’ll all get burnt … that’s a promise.”

  He leaves without another word, not saying goodbye. We watch as the door is slammed and we’re left with the silence of the loft.

  “The black masquerade?” Ashley asks, finally breaking the silence. “What’s that?”

  “They only happen when The Firm loses a member,” Lawson tells her, shifting to stand. He leaves us, moving into the main kitchen area. “It’s a way to commemorate the fallen … like a memorial service.”

  “What was my father’s like?” I dare to ask, finding my nerves getting the better of me. I know I’m stealing the attention, but I never got to go, and I never got to go to his funeral to say goodbye. I was robbed my chances to say goodbye to him.

  “Extravagant,” Lawson grouses, sticking a pot of coffee on. “No expense spared. He deserved it.”

  “Yeah,” I say, allowing laughter to emit from me. “He did.”

  Reaching for his jacket pocket, Lawson pulls his wallet free and opens it, taking out the AMEX card.

  “Can you both get along for a few more hours to get yourself a dress?” he asks, tossing his credit card at me. “There’s going to be a lot of people on my list there. This is prime opportunity to wreak a little havoc.”

  He crosses the room, standing between Ashley and me.

  “And Langdon will be there,” he states, his eyes narrowing on me. “He’ll be sorry for what he did, Eden.”

  My breathing hitches and I struggle not to let tears blur my vision. I finally feel like justice is going to happen. After months of feeling like there was no closure on that attack that night, I finally feel like my father’s death will be avenged the way it should.

  “And Kelvin will be there,” he mentions, turning to Ashley. “He might think himself lucky, but he’s one of the fuckers who had their way with you, and I won’t allow him to think he has that right.” Slowly, a grin starts to form on Lawson’s lips. “My father will regret ever announcin’ a black masquerade.” He rolls his shoulders, standing straighter. “I expect blood to be spilled tomorrow.”

  I guess vengeance is our motive now.

  I haven’t been able to forget about either of them all day.

  And every damn fucking time my cock twitches in response.

  I could just imagine how much Liam would be lapping this up. He’d be sat on the end of my bed while I get ready, riling me up royally over it. He would find such enjoyment in the fact I went from celibacy to threesome in naught-point-five seconds.

  Here I am, getting ready for a party to commemorate him.

  I stare at my reflection, looking at the drawn man I’ve become. I never looked like this when I last went on the warpath. I guess I never had grief as my foundation. I was just rebellious and stupid.

  Now, I feel like there’s reason to everything I’m about to do.

  “Looking good,” Eden praises from the doorway.

  “Thanks,” I say, trying to tie my bowtie, but struggle.

  “You were always rubbish at tyin’ these,” she reminds me, crossing the room.

  I turn, just catching sight of her in her underwear as she stands before me, her hands fighting away mine to get hold of either end of his bowtie. She says nothing else, so I just issue her with a smile full of gratitude as I allow her to finish getting me ready.

  “Whatever happens,” she says, her fingers fixing my bow tie. “Don’t cry for me.”

  “Eden,” I whisper, feeling my forehead creasing with confusion. “What …”

  “Don’t cry for me,” she reiterates, her words a litany wrapped in a soft murmur. “I’ve caused you enough pain, Lawson, so I don’t want you to cry for me. If she wins this, and I have a feelin’ she can win this, I don’t want you to cry for me.”

  “But,” I start.

  “No,” she interjects, shaking her head. “You wanted the best woman to win … for us to fight to the death. You have to realize that means that one of us had to die. One of us isn’t going to make it out of this.”

  “We don’t know that,” I say, lamely, knowing that’s total bullshit.

  She cocks a brow at me, giving me a pointed look.

  “I love you, Lawson, with all that I am, but sometimes we all meet our match,” she starts to tell me. “She’s it … my match for my place in this life … my match for winning your heart. She’s it.”

  I can’t help but let a fine frenzy of fresh grief rip through me. “I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”

  “Stop this,” she r
eplies, unable to let me continue this. “You aren’t some man that weakens for love … let us handle that. You know the rightful one will be left standin’.” I can see how strong she’s being, but I can also see every single chink in her armor. “Go,” she tells me, her hands lying flat against the lapels of my jacket. “Ashley and I will follow.”

  I can tell she’s trying to hold it together, try as she might I can see the girl that came home to me isn’t the Eden I once loved – she feels so much more than the Eden I knew. This girl could steal my breath and heart away quicker than the old one.

  “Wait!” she says, calling out after me.

  “What’s up?” I ask, coming back into the room.

  She stands with her hands on her hips in just her black lingerie, her entire figure lures me back in, and I want nothing more than to take her as she is and be late.

  “We’re allowed to have real fun tonight, right?” she asks, innocence sweeps across her. “Like real fun, right?”

  “Yeah,” I say, stepping closer with curiosity. “What have you got in mind?”

  “Well,” she starts, a slow easy smile grows on her lips.

  She turns on the spot and rushes into the bathroom. I can’t help but follow. Reaching the door, I find her digging through the medicine cabinet. When she stills, she starts to laugh, shaking her head.

  “Mr. Matthews, you need to find new hidin’ places,” she says, shaking a little white pot at me. “Can I bring them?”

  “Depends on who you want to use them on …” I trail off, fixing her with a curious look.

  “Depends on who I meet first,” she remarks, grinning wickedly. “Never know … may get to slip them into Langdon’s drink before the night’s over.”

  “Like you did Jay’s?” I ask, remembering how he collapsed.

  “Exactly like I did with Jay’s,” she adds, her smile not dwindling. “Can we?” she asks, closing the gap, so she grabs onto my jacket. “You said you want Leo to start realizin’ how stupid he’s been with his actions … and there are so many people who don’t deserve to breathe after all the shit they’ve done.”

  “This isn’t going to be some ballroom massacre,” I grouse, imagining anarchy ripping through the party.

  “No, I know,” she tells me, giving me her best angelic look. “It’s more a black masquerade massacre,” she remarks, applying a new twist on the evening's event. “Go on, Lawson … let’s not waste any more time.”

  “Fine,” I relent. “Make sure Ashley is well aware how you’re wanting to play this and don’t be late.”

  “Just my make-up to do and put my dress on and I’m ready,” she says, putting her hands up. “I promise we’ll be there dead on eight when it starts.”

  “Was it wise lettin’ the two of them come alone?”

  “They’re not alone,” I grouse, looking at Frazer. “They have Tess and Nate. They have a buffer between them, so they don’t kill openly one another.”

  “Don’t think killin’ is an option after last night,” he jokes with me, nudging me. “Do you?”

  “Just because they kissed doesn’t mean anythin’ at all,” I tell him, rolling my eyes. “They both know what they want, and they both know they couldn’t bear to share. They’re both too strong-willed for that.”

  “So, how does this play out?” he asks, cocking a brow and folding his arms over his chest. “You just let them do shit until one of them gets killed?”

  “Basically,” I say, shrugging.

  “And you’re really not going to resent the other when one of them finally does die?”

  I hadn’t thought of that. I hadn’t thought about anything outside of letting them fight between them. Not wanting to concern myself with the details, I never once thought of the aftermath of one of them dying. Both girls had become so important to me, both bringing to the table something new and fresh to me.

  If Eden died, I lost all chances of healing the fragile relationship we had and feeling all the ways she could love me.

  If Ashley died, then I lost any hope of feeling a new type of love. I’d lose the chance to start again.

  I was a screwed man either way, but I couldn’t admit that.

  “I guess we’ll cross the bridge when we come to it,” I mutter, looking at my friend. “Liam would’ve thought this was a stupid idea, wouldn’t he?”

  “Yeah,” Frazer quips, laughing. “He’d have rained down hell on you before you’d have had a chance to issue them with an ultimatum.”

  “He was biased,” I mutter.

  “Yeah, we all are,” Frazer agrees, looking at me. “We will always fight for one of our own. Regardless what she has done, she’s proven that the love she has for you never changed in the time she was gone.”

  “I feel like she’s already givin’ up on me,” I admit, taking two glasses of champagne as one of the servers walks by. I hand one to Frazer and down my own. “She said somethin’ to me before I left that made me think that she’s realized she isn’t going to be the one to win.”

  “You don’t go through what she has without growin’ a conscience,” Frazer states, looking through the crowds. “Maybe she thinks Ashley’s good for you because she’ll be a little more cutthroat and Eden’s all about the façade now.”

  That catches me unaware. I know the way my father divulged her secret to me was horrific and she begged him to grant her mercy, but surely everything we’ve seen from Eden isn’t all just for show. I can’t believe she can wear a mask so thick and not hide the cracks.

  “They’re here,” I remark, spotting Eden as she comes to stand at the top of the staircase. “Fuck me.”

  “She always was the belle of these balls,” Frazer quips, nudging me.

  I watch her turn her head, looking at Harrison as he puts his arm out for her to take. She’s wearing the diamond hairclip her father got her for her eighteenth birthday. I see her curls are pushed over her shoulder, leaving one side of her face free of being hidden. Even from here I see how simple her makeup is with a pop of red lipstick. Her mask is intricate, glittering almost as much as her dress is.

  “She looks beautiful,” I say, my words barely audible.

  The dress she picked is black, the top half embroidered with diamonds and beading, the bottom a simple flowing skirt. The sight of her causes my mouth to dry, and I feel like all the time apart is a distant memory.

  “True to form,” Leo starts, coming to stand beside me. “She was always the biggest beauty at any of the events we threw.”

  “Why would this be any different?” I ask my tone holding no inflection toward him. “She’s one of The Firm’s biggest members … she knows how to do these parts perfectly.”

  “And Ashley?” my father asks, nodding up the stairs. “Seems she’s doing a class A job of fitting in.”

  True to his word, Ashley takes to Harrison’s other side. Her dress is simpler than Eden’s, clinched in at the waist with a thick gold belt. Her makeup is darker than Eden’s, her mask simpler. The fact doesn’t diminish her beauty in any way.

  “They are truly two different girls, aren’t they?” Leo asks, looking at me. “However, will you pick one?” he asks, issuing me with a severe look. “Or will you do what’s best and let them both go?”

  “Oh no,” I say, chuckling at his comment. “There’s too much fun to have before one of them goes anywhere.” I lean in, my shoulder barely touching my father’s. “But you knew that already, huh, pops?” I ask, smirking hard at him. “You got an eyeful of it this mornin’.”

  My father releases a low growl, unwilling to accept my choices and unwilling to allow me to continue them apparently. His reaction only adds to my enjoyment.

  “Might want to watch out,” I start to say, looking around as people start to notice my father and me together. “Wouldn’t want to cause a scene now, would you?”

  “Your actions will catch you out one day, Lawson,” he tells me, a threatening tone hitting out at me. “Mark my words.”

  “Same to you,
dad,” I mutter scornfully. “Don’t you worry … there’s not much I know in life, but the simple fact that our sins will always catch up to us.”

  Without another word, he leaves, and I calm.

  “You’re gettin’ better at standin’ up to him,” Frazer drops into the moment, bringing back the fact the girls are here. He points to the crowd to Eden kissing Harrison’s cheek. “They both look pretty hot,” Harrison comments as Ashley now comes into full view. “How will you ever choose?”

  I laugh. “That’s why I’m lettin’ them have it out between one another.” I look to my left, watching my father put as much distance between us. “And my father will hate every minute of it.”

  “That’s true,” Frazer chuckles as he agrees. “If I take Ashley to dance, you can have your first one with Eden,” Frazer offers, giving me a keen smile. “Call it for nostalgias sakes.”

  “Okay,” I agree, a little more willingly than I should. “Tell Ashley the next dance is all for hers.”

  We walk, cutting through the crowd with ease. Both women notice me, and I hate to choose one over the other. Frazer makes it easier however when he puts his hand out and asks Ashley to dance before I can say a word. As she agrees, allowing him to lead her away, I focus on Eden.

  “Care to dance?” I ask, putting my hand out to Eden. “It’ll really piss people off,” I remark, giving her a wink.

  “Okay,” she says, her emotion unreadable.

  I notice a hint of hurt, but she doesn’t allow it to overtake her. She just takes my hand, and I pull her into the middle of the dance floor, lost in the sea of people dancing, and near to where Ashley and Frazer are. We stand face to face with one another before I bring my left hand to her hip, taking her right hand in and mine and join the dance everyone else is doing.

  Eden says nothing, but she can’t hide the small smile drawn on her lips.

  “Do you ever wonder where we would be, right now, had I stayed around?” Eden asks suddenly, gazing up at me. “Because I think about it every single day.”

  “Not a day goes by I don’t wonder,” I reply, unable to hide the dark notes to my voice that show I still hurt over what happened.