The Viper's Nest (Kit Davenport #4)(55)

“Why?” I inquired, running my fingertip over the expensive-looking silk bow tied around the box.

He shrugged, but looked sly. “We all missed your birthday and Christmas. While I know they were a while ago, I have been meaning to get you something anyway. When I went out for a walk earlier, I saw the perfect thing and had to buy it.”

Curious, I tugged the bow undone and carefully unstuck the Scotch tape on the white wrapping paper. It was a weird thing of mine that I hated tearing wrapping paper. Once the paper was removed, it wasn’t hard to recognize the familiar red box with white writing on it.

“Vali,” I gasped, looking up at him with a grin. “You bought me Louboutins?”

“I did,” he confirmed. “You seem to have a liking for them, and when I saw these, I knew you had to have them.”

Opening the box, I saw what he meant. They were perfect.

Black leather with a peep toe and signature red sole, these pumps also had a gold zipper running down the back of the four-inch heel. They were without a doubt sexy as hell and the perfect present from Vali.

“I flove them,” I gushed, then realized I’d mashed my words together. “I mean, I fucking love them. Thank you.”

Moving them to the side, I scooted closer to Vali and kissed him gently. To my surprise, he didn’t try to push the kiss any further than the thank you I’d started it with and quickly pulled back with a tight smile.

“You’re most welcome Regina mea. But you’d better get dressed, as River and Cole will be getting anxious. The twins have already been to the restaurant ahead of time and scouted it, so you’re all set.” His thumb stroked across my cheekbone, and he made no attempt to hide the scorching hot lust in his eyes, which was reassuring. For a split second, when he hadn’t engaged in that kiss, I’d worried he’d lost interest.

“Still working on Cole, huh?” I murmured, not bothering to ignore the elephant in the room.

Vali sighed, running a hand through his thick, dark hair. “We are making progress, I think.”

My lips pursed, but I didn’t say any more. It was up to them to sort their shit out, and my interference was not going to help, no matter how badly I wanted to move things along with this sexy-as-sin Romanian.

He stood from my bed and dropped a chaste kiss against my hair. “Stay safe tonight, my queen.”

I watched him leave the room, then stroked a loving finger over my new shoes again. They were the perfect thing to wear with tonight’s outfit too.

Hopping off my bed, I stretched, unkinking my spine and rolling my stiff shoulders before hurrying to get ready. While we wanted Jonathan to get there first, it wouldn’t do to be too late and make him think we’d changed our minds.

Despite the gnawing anxiety in my belly about what tonight might bring, I really did want to hear him out. Foolishly, I supposed, I was clinging to the thread of hope that there was a good reason for everything he’d done. That he hadn’t tried to kill us, and that he wasn’t using me like a fucking weapon to further his own agenda.

Slim chance, I know. But a chance, nonetheless.





21





The restaurant we had arranged to meet at was really only a five minute drive from our hotel, but we took a roundabout route to get there, as one can never be too careful when dealing with spies and magic. By the time we arrived, we were almost half an hour late already, and my palms were sweating like crazy.

“Deep breath, Kitten,” River advised me, placing a comforting hand on my knee as we pulled into the valet in front of the restaurant. He’d hired a swanky black Maserati and was dressed in his usual impeccable suit. He was unbelievably sexy, but I was too far gone inside my head with worry to fully appreciate the view.

Cole had arrived separately on a motorcycle so that we would have two options for a getaway vehicle if we needed it. I could already see him waiting for us near the entrance, decked out in his faded black jeans, motorcycle boots, and dark gray T-shirt with a leather jacket over the top. Seeing him dressed like that broke me from my anxiety briefly. It was such a fuck you to the ritzy restaurant, and it was so Cole.

“You good, love?” River asked, tipping my face gently toward him with a fingertip under my chin. “You don’t have to do this.”

“I’m fine,” I reassured him. “Just... nervous, I guess. Let’s just get in there and rip the Band-Aid off.”

River held my gaze with his steady golden eyes for a moment longer before nodding tightly and getting out of the car. I took the extra moment as he came around to open my door to suck in another deep breath.

You can do this, Kit. You’re tougher than this. Just listen, keep your cool, and don’t blow anything up. You can do this.

My door clicked open, and I swung my legs out, taking River’s warm hand with my own to stand from the low car seat. My dress and stiletto heels didn’t make it an easy task to get out of a Maserati, but I was no novice.

“Vixen,” Cole greeted me when we reached him under the ivy-covered entrance way. “You look fucking unbelievable.”

A laugh cracked through my panic, and I gave him a grin. “Thanks, Cutie. You look hot yourself. You both do.” For a brief moment I ran my gaze over the two of them appreciatively and considered what I might do with them both later as a reward for this shit show with my adoptive dad.