Page 111 of Toxic Temptation
He nods like that’s exactly what he expected to hear.
Then he punches me in the face.
37
KOVAN
I reel back, stars exploding across my vision.
For a split second, I see three tiny dots arranged in a perfect line. Not the constellation overhead, but the one that lives on Vesper’s cheek. The birthmarks I’ve memorized in the dark.
I hear shuffling, muttering, but I raise my hand to ward them off. “No.” I shake my head, clearing the fog as Pavel and Osip are already halfway into the ring. “Stay back. This is between us.”
Standing over me, Waylen flexes his fingers, rolling his shoulders like he’s just getting started. His face is stormy and furious. “What the hell are you playing at, Kovan? What do you get out of this?”
“My nephew.” I work my jaw and taste hot copper. “I need Vesper to help me get custody.”
“Right. I see. Because a stable relationship makes you look like father material to the powers that be. That’s so transparent and manipulative; I’d call it shameless if it wasn’t so disgusting at thesame time.” His voice drips acid. “Does she know that’s all she is to you? A prop?”
“She knows everything.” I spit blood out. One of my teeth feels slightly ajar. All in all, it was a good punch. “I didn’t trick her into this.”
“You dangled an abused kid in front of her, asshole.” Waylen’s hands curl into fists. “Of course she said yes.”
“She’s getting something out of it, too.”
“What she’s getting isattached. I see it every time I look at her, and it needs to stop.”
I close my eyes for a moment as a wave of unnamable emotion surges through me. Because he’s right. I’ve watched it happen. She looks at Luka like he’s already hers. She defended me against Yana as if she had the right to fight by my side.
She feels like shebelongs.
“That’s her problem,” I force out. “I’ve been clear about where I stand.”
“You fucking?—”
I drive my fist into Waylen’s stomach before he can finish the cross. He doubles over but doesn’t go down, eyes still locked on mine.
“Watch your mouth when you talk to your boss,” I growl at him.
It’s his turn to spit onto the canvas at our feet. “The only reason I took this job was to keep an eye on Vesper, you know.”
“How’s that going for you?”
Waylen roars and charges. I sidestep easily, already reading his next move before he makes it.
“Should we stop this?” Pavel calls from the ropes.
“Not yet,” Osip replies, sounding entertained.
“Both of you stay out of this,” I order. I turn back to the elder Fairfax and lower into my stance. “Go on then. Tell me what you really feel.”
“For fuck’s sake, douche bag, this isn’t about me and you. Stop trying to make it that way.” Waylen circles, breathing hard. “Truth be told, I don’t give a damn what you think of me. The only thing I care about is my sister.”
I’ll give him this: I’m starting to respect the kid. Doesn’t mean I won’t knock him on his ass, but I think more highly of him than I did when we first met.
As he tries to bully his way past my defense, I chop down on the meat of his shoulder with a vicious elbow. He hits the mat face-first but springs back up immediately and dances out of range.
“Nice shot.” He favors his right side now. “Too bad you’re still a coward.”
