Page 27 of Pretty Poison

The halls feel quieter than usual. There’s nobody around wreaking havoc like there usually is. Remi’s probably busy in the soldiers’ house as per usual. Ciro’s back at his house off the compound. Maze is comforting Kat while nausea and cravings kick her ass. God knows where Silas and Cass are—I’m sure they’re trying to kill each other in the training house. And Red is most likely kissing Dario’s ass, still complaining how he’ll never have kids because of me. I’ve never been alone in a house of this size; there’s always at least one other person around. But I don’t hear anything.

I walk into the kitchen and grab a small snack from the fridge before pouring myself a glass of orange juice. Then, I return to the main hall. Only now can I hear the muffled voices from the right end of the hall, intriguing me, begging me to inch closer.

The closer I creep, the louder, more audible and distinctive, the voices become. Dario, Red and Vincent, are yelling back and forth, spouting profanities and spitting venom like it comes from the mouth of the snake itself. I can’t quite make out the topic of the conversation, but whatever it is has them all heated, all of them divided in their opinions and thoughts, most likely believing they’re the one in the right while the other two are significantly in the wrong. Either way, it sounds like a treacherous discussion, one I want no part in.

Retracing my steps, I make it only a few feet before Dario’s office door is yanked open. The loud voices flood out into the hall, followed by Vincent and a thunderous slam of the door as it closes again. As soon as his eyes meet mine, he pauses momentarily, composing himself by releasing a deep breath.

“Liana, did you need my son?” he asks, inching closer.

I shake my head. “No, I heard yelling. I thought… I don’t know what I thought, but I wanted to see if everything was okay.”

He smiles, walking closer. “Everything’s just fine, Lia, don’t worry. Dario’s got a lot on his plate right now and he’s taking it out on anyone within reach. For your own good, wait until tomorrow to see him. He’s nobody’s friend when he’s worked up like this.” Placing a comforting hand on my shoulder, he offers a soft rub of his thumb against my skin before leaving.

Doing as he says, I make my way back up to my room again, trying my best to ignore the incoherent voices from below. It’s like they’re calling to me, itching for me to be a part of it.

My house wasn’t easy to grow up in. My father would invite his business associates over, and they drank too much. The yelling isn’t something I’m a stranger to, and what I wouldn’t give to be a part of something, even an argument, to take the edge off for a second. But on the other hand, I’d rather not make Dario any more angry than I already have. That’s a line I’m not willing to cross yet. And definitely not when he’s already worked up like this.

Thirteen

DARIO

I’m losing my fucking mind, I swear. I’ve been terrorising anyone who comes close since Liana went off on me. Nothing seems to quell the anger she ignited twelve hours ago.

I should be glad that someone finally stood up to me, but Liana’s poor choice of words got to me. I know I’m responsible for Natalia’s death, but to have it thrown in my face is giving me a sobering dose of reality. Natalia’s father made her a target. However, our engagement has increased its value.

While we never got along, Natalia was a great woman; someone who deserved more than me and this life. Now, she’s six-feet deep, buried in some crypt amongst the same family that she hated. She wanted a sense of freedom… freedom I could offer. I should’ve known it wouldn’t be as easy as I led her to believe. This life comes with responsibilities, and they are the difference between life and death.

“Would you stop moping around?” my mother questions upon entering my office.

I look up to find her leaning against the doorway with her arms folded across her small frame and her legs crossed. “I’m not moping, Mama, I’m just avoiding everyone. There’s a blatant difference.”

“Difference my ass,” she scoffs. “You need to get a handle on your anger because isolating yourself in fear of lashing out again isn’t helping anyone, especially not yourself.”

“Do you have a better suggestion?” I ask, my tone sharpens as the angry heat begins to spread throughout my body once more. “For starters, therapy.” Her words take me by surprise. “Anger management is something you should look into.”

“I don’t need anger management, Mama. I need everyone to understand the shit I go through to keep them safe, and the stress that comes along with it. They need to understand that sometimes I get angry when people don’t choose their words carefully.”

“I’m not saying you have a problem; I’m calling you out on your bullshit, Dario. I won’t have you disrespecting your father the way you did last night. And I’ll be damned if you continue wreaking havoc on everyone around you just because you can. It’s not acceptable. Not now, not ever.” She takes a breath, advancing towards me. “Your upbringing taught you better than to ever take anything to heart. You transform their words into a weapon and use it against them. What happened to that version of you, huh? What changed?”

“Whathasn’tchanged?” I sigh, sarcasm dripping from my words as I drag my hands down my face. “Natalia died only six months ago, Mama, and yet, here we are in a similar situation, dragging another innocent woman into our bullshit. Liana could be an assassin’s mark even as we speak. How can you expect me to be okay with that?”

She releases a short breath, seating herself on the arm of my chair. “You’ve never once not been okay with our way of life; why the sudden change of heart?”

“I think I’m failing, Mama.” My voice catches in my throat, a quick cough escaping me to cover it up. “Liana’s different from Natalia. She’s a spitfire, a feisty little thing that makes it fun to be around. She makes me feel… things. I don’t know what it is about her, but she’s changing me.”

She laughs. “Not every change is a bad change, Dario. The world we live in comes with uncertainties that not even you can predict, change or reshape… You have to embrace that. While you’re conflicted and sifting through your thoughts, searching for an outcome where you don’t get hurt, there’s a woman out there who knows exactly who you are and what you do. She’s holding her head high while knowing she could be killed at any time. I guarantee you, her mind is racing more than yours.”

“So how do I go about this? I—”

“I can’t tell you how to act or talk to Liana, all I can do is wish you luck. She’s a woman, not something you can control or manipulate to do things exactly how you want her to. If you have feelings for her, then face them like a man and tell her. The last thing you want to do is leave her in the dark, doubting everything. Women aren’t mind readers; we need a little push, just as much as men do.”

“That was very vague, mother,” I tell her as she stands from my armrest.

Glancing down at me, she cups my face in her hands and tilts my head up to her. “Not everything is easily explained, and if I have to do everything for you, you’ll get nowhere in this relationship. You can do it my way and tell her, or yours, but just know, if you choose to disregard what I’ve said, you’ll have no real shot with her.” She lowers her hand.

Do Ireallywant to have a shot with her? I mean, if I said this to anyone else, they would’ve encouraged me to keep my distanceto ensure she doesn’t cause my downfall. If I were to get any closer than I am now, I could be dead or worse—in love.

“I’m not made for love, Mother. If I continue down this path, she’ll be the one to suffer. I will leave her a broken mess. I’m a bad person who does decent things, but breaking her heart has never been on the agenda.”

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