Page 150 of Craving Venom

It’ll be Faith.

If she wants me alive, I’ll fight.

If she doesn’t?

I’ll let the needle slide into my veins and leave this world like I walked into it.

“You’re such a fucking waste of potential,” she snaps clicking her fingers when she realizes I’m not paying attention.

I grin. “And you’re still the same uptight bitch who lost my case.”

She doesn’t rise to the bait. Just stands, brushing imaginary dust off her expensive suit, giving me one last look before she heads for the door.

She moves toward the door but pauses, glancing back, “You never asked me why your grandfather reached out to me even after I lost your case.”

“Probably because I don’t give a fuck.”

Yvette watches me, tapping her fingers lightly against the doorframe before sighing as if speaking to a particularly dense child.

“Because I was the only one who believed your bullshit story.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

THE BEAUTY

“Mr. Valehart, let’s go over your whereabouts the night of the murder again.”

I increase the speed on the treadmill as my pulse pounds in my ears, not from exhaustion or effort but from rage. The recording plays in my ear while Zane’s cold and taunting words cut through my thoughts like a serrated blade.

“I was with Ella and Luke that night”

Luke.

His name was never part of the official reports. Not in anything released to the press, not in any of the redacted transcripts. I only know of him because I have access to the restricted files. Even in those, Luke’s testimony is missing. Apparently, he’s the one who sold Zane out.

“And were you aware that Christopher Valehart was at your grandfather’s estate that evening?”

“Didn’t know, didn’t care.”

“And yet, you ended up there that night?”

“Sure did.”

I increase the speed again as my breaths come faster, sweat slides down my spine, and my body coils with barely restrained fury.

“What were you doing at the VonKrauss estate?”

“I went to see Ella and Luke at Luke’s apartment. It’s closer to my grandfather’s house.”

“Why?”

“Because Ella was pissed at me,”

“Why was she pissed at you?”

“She was pissed at me for dodging her calls.”

“Why were you dodging her calls?”

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