Page 48 of Sweet Venom

“That,” Verali added, her voice dripping with dark humor. “Besides, you’re a Nicolasi, and we don’t take kindly to rejection or assholes.” She winked. “Now stop the pity party, take a shower, and get your shit together. Show him he’s wrong. Show him what you’re made of until you get everything you want—and don’t stop a moment sooner.”

My asshole cousins could be so sweet when they wanted to be.

“Wow, that was… too nice,” I muttered, feeling a bit suspicious but knowing their words came from a place of love. “It’s just—after so many rejection emails, to finally get this once-in-a-lifetime chance by my own merit means so much. I don’t want to mess it up. And when he said it was boring, it stung.”

I flopped back against the couch, groaning in frustration. “I just want it to be perfect. I want to write a story that touches the readers’ hearts but also proves to myself that I can do it. That I can live my dream.”

They exchanged knowing looks, then Allegra spoke up gently, despite her teasing tone. “If anyone’s gonna turn a dark romance into a bestselling masterpiece, it’s you. So, stop second-guessing yourself. The book doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be yours. Don’t give up on it. And if the Russian terrorist doesn’t think so, someone else will.”

My frosty heart had melted a little at that. My cousins might have been ten shades of gray, but when they wanted to be, they could be so sweet and pink. Maybe I’d been so focused on getting it perfect, on seeking approval, that I’d forgotten what really mattered.

My dream and my readers.

“You guys are all a bunch of terrifying, cynical assholes, but I love you.” The words were half teasing, but there was only sincerity behind them. My cousins didn’t just lift me up—they made me feel like I could stand on my own against anything, always. Just like our family.

Verali chuckled, eyes glinting with mischief and affection. “We know, Poe. We know.”

“Thanks, guys. Really. I didn’t know how much I needed to hear that.”

“You’re welcome,” Artemis replied, her voice laced with a casual confidence that only someone who truly didn’t give a damn could have. Out of the four of us, she was the one who least believed in love—even though her parents had loved each other since they first saw each other during their teen years. “But seriously, don’t let Azariel get in your head. You’re better than that.”

Verali leaned back in her chair, her face suddenly serious. “Art is right. Don’t let him mess with your head too much. If he doesn’t get it, screw him. You’re better than that and will get many more opportunities to succeed. And if he keeps being an asshole, just call me or Daddy, and we’ll handle him.”

Oh, I knew. Verali was her father’s child, and my Uncle Enzo was terrifying to anyone who didn’t share his blood. To me, though? He was my bear of an uncle, who had spoiled me rotten with love and gifts from the moment I was born to now, when I was fully grown. He called me every day to check up on me—which reminded me that I needed to call him back before he got on a plane with Daddy to check on me for ghosting them the past two days.

I smiled. “Yeah, you guys are right. A little messed up, but still right.”

“Of course, we are,” Artemis said, winking at the screen. “And we’re the best kind of fucked-up, after all.”

“That we are,” I whispered, smiling.

Then, a thought crossed my mind, and I sat up, suddenly curious. “Wait, how do you guys know I’m working for Azariel?” I was fairly sure I hadn’t told them anything about him—just my parents. And I swore them to secrecy. No way they’d spill, though, right?

I loved my mom dearly, but she couldn’t keep a secret to save her life. Well, she could if it was something no one should ever know about her kids—but if it was something she was proud of, then she’d tell her best friend, Aunt Andrea, and the news would travel fast.

Allegra smirked, leaning back in her chair like she’d been waiting to rat someone out. “Daddy,” she said, winking.

Uncle Lucan? So… if he knows, then he heard it from Aunt Andrea, which means Mom definitely blabbed.

“Uncle Lucan blabbed fast, but by the time he got to Dad, Uncle Valentino had already told him. Dad’s not too thrilled about Azariel sniffing around you.” That came from Verali. I blinked, thrown off for a moment.

Allegra shrugged, her expression too innocent to be taken seriously. “You’ll have to excuse, Dad. You know at his age, hecan’t keep a secret for shit. Besides, he loves to torture Uncle Enzo and Uncle Val. He was practically giddy when he told us you were working on a dark romance for none other than the most wanted man on your father’s list.

Dad doesn’t hate Azariel, he hates anyone who isn’t family. Okay fine, he might have an aversion for the Russians.

I rolled my eyes, suppressing a smile. “I find it too funny that Uncle Lucan loves to gossip.”

“Oh, he does,” Allegra replied, mock sweetness in her tone.

Verali, who had been staring at the screen with amusement, suddenly grinned wickedly. “Just as much as Aunt Andrea and Dad.” I laughed out loud, leaning back on the couch. “God, we’re the worst. This family should start its own gossip magazine.” Allegra raised her hands in mock surrender. “Don’t insult the messengers. Mom and Dad are the ones dropping your juicy bits everywhere they go. It’s their old age.”

They weren’t old. My cousins were exaggerating, like they exaggerate about everything.

“True,” Artemis chimed in. “But in all fairness, we’re the ones making fun of your fake outrage.”

“Fake outrage?”

“You heard me.”

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