He didn’t see me as he practically stomped to the counter. He didn’t notice me analyzing the tick in his jaw, the bulging in his eyes, the flexing of his arms with every breath, and the way he appears to be so on edge I could easily piss him off.
Good. Maybe it would lead to information.
The bartender watched him too. She knew too. She saw everything I do. The sudden urge to grab her by the back of her hair and shove her face into the bar counter was strong. He wasn’t mine. I shouldn’t feel jealousy coursing through me, but I’d kill that bitch for looking at him with care, pouring him that poisonous drink, the one that’s the same color of his eyes.
Fuck. Maybe I had too much to drink.
Or maybe I was just going to lose everything. I didn’t know if I would survive this, and I was sure this man will be my perdition.
Absinthe Venom Luther is his name.
Where I’m from, they call him the green-eyed demon.
He’s toxic like the concoction he’s named after.
He’d be better described as the name he’s known as—Venom.
He’s the poison that’s filled me.
The one that kills me.
He’s the sickness that courses through my veins.
The philter to my damnation.
He’s Absinthe, and I’m the hell ‘bout to rain down on him.
After all we’ve done, though, I find myself questioning everything. He’s marked me.
They shouldn’t know his name, but Belén sunk her claws into a prospect.
He didn’t even see her coming. She’s a snake with no honor. What did Danté get me into? Los Desolados has sworn these Vipers are vermin, that they’re worthless creatures. From the loyalty and anger in Absinthe’s eyes, I know that’s not true. He’s trying to protect his people, just as I’m doing with mine.
But is that what I’m doing? I’m not even sure if this is a real battle or if it’s a hostile takeover.
I feel a sudden loyalty for this man I’ve only just met. He broke my barriers and shackles to my family. He’s going to change everything. I’m not sure if he’s spiked my bloodstream with his toxicity or if I’m just a deserter.
I need to leave.
Now.
Luckily at home, they teach us how to escape handcuffs, even the real ones like these. After making a silent exit, I scour the room and then check outside the door. It’s basically a dead zone. I search for the remains of my dress and realize it’s a lost cause, so I take the shirt Absinthe wore, and basically wear it as a dress. He’s a very large man.
Without thinking better of it, I creep up to him. He snores lightly where he had been cuddling me. I kiss him lightly.
“Don’t come looking for me,” I whisper against his lips before turning away.
I’ve made my choice. I’m sticking to my family—to Xo and Danté and Los Desolados.
I’m not worth your life. This was a mistake. I repeat in my head over and over again, hoping what I put out into the world is what I shall receive. Maybe the world will protect him and make him stay away from Esperanza.
Chapter Six
Hel
“I told you not to come here,” Danté barks, leaning against the wall at the compound.
I stare at him, wondering why he doesn’t want me here. It’s been two days, and I’ve seen no sign of Venom or his crew. It’s like they up and disappeared. After about thirty minutes, I went back to the bar for him, wanting to give in, to have him fuck my disobedience away, anything to have him touch me again.
It’s like I’m an addict. I’ve never touched them, but Venom, I didn’t see coming.
“Yeah, well… I needed the distraction,” I argue, closing my eyes in order not to be disrespectful, only opening them as he responds.
“It’s different without Zaely and Silva around.”
He stares at me, a certain understanding in his eyes.
“They need time, hermana.” His haunted eyes make him seem thoughtful.
They haven’t forgiven him for Sy. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t either. He broke this kingdom. He broke this family.
“I miss them,” I choke out, missing my two best friends. We grew up together. In this tiny town where nothing matters but family, it’s unbearable. They blame me too because I’m the catalyst. I got wasted and slipped up about seeing Sy with the twins.
I didn’t know Danté would hurt him, that he’d strip him of his duties and threaten his life. I’ve never felt guiltier for anything… until Venom, that is. He’s in this mess because I went to Cape Hill.
I fucked everything up.
“Me too,” he simpers, bringing me into a hug. “They’ll come back when they’re ready.”
I nod into his chest, hoping he’s right.
“I need you to go.”
“Why?”
“Can’t discuss it.”
My body stiffens. The only time he has me away is when he’s torturing someone. My stomach lurches. It has to be Venom. It has to be him.
I pull away, my eyes searching D’s stony ones. He’s put his crown on, the one that forces any Los Desolados to kneel. Instead, I glare. I’m more than a member. I’m his sister. Not by blood, not by relation by marriage, but his sister by the sense that he raised me and kept me safe.
I never cower.
“Come on then,” he caves, finally waving me into his compound.
We meander through like we haven’t been here a million times in the past ten years. He constantly turns his head, peeking over his shoulder at me. It’s almost as if he knows that I know, and this is my true test of faith, and fuck me, I might fail.
I might lose it all.
My family.
My name.
My cause.
When we step through the doors of the chambers where he generally tortures, my heart leaps, and I’m nearly dropping to my knees in horror.
Five feet in front of me is the remains of the man I’ve only just met, the man who owned my body in a way no one else can. The man that made me feel things I’ve never felt before. His toxic green eyes watch me. There’s no hope, no anger, no sadness. There’s only emptiness, a nothingness that makes me whimper.
He’s broken. His skin is ashen in dirt and sweat. The blood that cakes him has my lip warbling in pain. It’s like I can feel every bruise, cut, and wound on his body. I want to rush over to him, to hug him or kiss him, to love on him make it all go away.
What have I done?
This is my fault. Xo abandoned Danté, and his goal to get to Cape Hill overrode his need to prevent more turf wars. He took the Viper king, the man with death laced in his veins, and now, he’s going to pay.
Once the others find out, if they haven’t already, there will be a war larger than life, and none of us will survive.
If Venom doesn’t live because of me, I won’t either.
He’s taken a part of me. I’ve become his little monster, and now I’m unsure of how to fix it. I don’t know how to save the man I have no right to care about.
“Absinthe Luther,” Danté celebrates. “Motherfucker is mine.”
I watch in horror as Danté bring a knife to Venom’s chest, slicing the skin deep. Blood seeps through, the red and battered skin crying for me to help.
And I can’t.
I’m stuck. I’m immobile and so fucking scared.
For him.
For me.
For this mess I’ve caused.
I’m not sure if I can save him.
“Once this pendejo is gone, I’ll have her back. She’ll be mine again.”
As he takes the knife to Venom’s chest again, I have to bite my lip to keep myself from screaming, from stabbing Danté myself.
Danté’s killing him. He’s killing my green-eyed demon.
My heart aches. It roars for vengeance, for blood. I must save him, but I don’t know how. I don’t know what I can that won’t kill us both.
I stand here, watching Danté slice Absinthe’s skin like a fish. Tears o
f betrayal rush down my cheeks, each one a reminder that if he dies, I die too.
The End.
If you loved Absinthe, start the original series; Cape Hill.
Firsts and Lasts are available now and Forevers is coming early 2019!
One-Click:
Firsts | Lasts
About the Author
C.L. Matthews lives in lala-landia with her husband and invisible friends. She wants to riot the lack thereof authentic Mexican food in her state, but she’s an introvert at heart. She enjoys tacos, Red Bull, and warm water, because she’s crazy. She’s an oddball, and realizes it’s been mentioned before, just go with it. Her joys in life consist of writing unconventional romances, making book covers, causing havoc to her reader’s hearts, and genre hopping when she needs a change of scenery. She’s a special kind of weird and enjoys every moment of it.
CONNECT WITH C.L. MATTHEWS
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Books + Main |
FB group | Join CL’s Book Bitches |
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
About the Author
Welcome to Cape Hill (Cape Hill Vipers Book 0) Page 5