Page 26 of Poison Ivy
“The kind Vex likes to mess around with.”
I groan. “Oh, you have got to be fucking with me!”
“Wish I was, Ives. He has a spell that can burn him from the inside out, half an hour after you’ve already left. I wouldn’t suggest it, you know I wouldn’t if there was another way, but as your Handler, I have to.”
“Fuck.”
He eyes me up. “What?”
“Things didn’t end well earlier when he removed the rune from me. There was a thing, and now he is probably not going to help me.”
“He works for the same people we do. Hehasto help you if you have nowhere else to go.”
“Not helping! Fuck!”
“Sorry, babes. This was passed along from Vera. She knows you can’t do this without help.”
“Vera? Why would she help me?”
His gaze turns serious. “I don’t know. But if she is giving you a way to complete this job, then you need to take it.”
“Vex. Fuck.” I close my eyes and breathe out heavily. This is going to be a fucking disaster.
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“Okay,”I say, opening my eyes and pulling my Poison knickers up. “This is fine. Whatever. I’ll go and tell him Vera said he had to help me, and all will be well.”
“You hope,” Ramsey mutters. “What happened earlier?”
I sigh. “He was a bit creepy. Nothing I can’t handle, but then Tate fucking Blackwell decided to show up and give Vex aggro. It was not fun.”
“Tate?” Ramsey says with a frown. “Interesting.”
“That’s one word for it. Anyway, I?—”
“Knock-Knock,” Josh’s voice calls out, and then he raps on the door.
“Come in, Josh,” I say, giving Ramsey a look, and he slams the weapons box on the bed shut.
“Hey,” Josh says, leaning in the doorway. “Everything okay up here?”
“Yeah, I’m heading out for the night,” I say. “Was just filling Ramsey in.”
“Oh, where are you going?”
“Club Nox,” I say truthfully. I hate lying to him, but he isn’t part of this. It must be worse for Ramsey, who grimaces and doesn’t say a word.
“Oh, eww,” Josh says. “No offence,” he adds hurriedly.
I snort back a laugh. “No, eww is about right. But a friend is a having a thing, so I have to show my face.”
“Well, have fun. Rams, pizza is on its way.”
“Be down in a sec,” Ramsey says, aiming for a bright smile.
Josh nods and leaves us alone again, and I sigh. “I hate this.”
