The Runaway Viper (Viper #2) (20 page)

“How dare you disobey my orders,” Clara snaps as she advances for me across the room.
“Again!” She stops, the back of the couch separating us, and I see Sam readying to come for me. “You are the most annoying, infuriating Viper Girl I have ever had! You’re so full of morals and expectations that you can no longer just do a simple job! I have tried to comprehend why you are like you and there are so many disappointing reasons why you are my greatest failure!”

“Well, guess what, Clara?” I bite back, my tone sharp. “You’re the reason I’m like I am! You’re the one who gave me the life of a Viper Girl and you’re the one who trapped me back into it. You’re the reason I’m wary of clients and a little skittish with them because the last time you gave me a brand new client it was so he could beat me to an inch of my life and for a purpose!
Your purpose!” I’m seething, pushed to my limits. “You asked Clive to do that to me, that’s on you, and you wonder why I am like I am.” I laugh bitterly. “I’m like I am, because the boss I believed in turned out to be an absolute raving psychopath!”

I see Clara square her
shoulders, puff her chest out and redden in the face. Her lap dog takes a sharp step forward, his fist clenching. In a similar manner, Eli steps toward me, acting as my guard. I feel Sam’s eyes harden upon me, and I react. Much like Clara, I explode.

“What’s he going to do?” I ask, snapping again as I flick my hand to Sam. “Throw me in the pit or chain me up outside
again
? Get me beaten? Oh, no, whip me?” I turn back to Clara, making sure she could feel the weight of my anger. “You’ve done it all. You’ve tricked and played me, you’ve fucking whipped me and branded me with this stupid piece of leather around my neck,” I retort, ripping the collar away and throwing it down. “You’ve beaten me, beaten my husband before my eyes. Threatened me, threatened him, threatened everything I have. What’s your next step, Clara? Because I’m more than curious as to what you have left to use!”

At first I receive no verbal retort, just a round of applause from Clara.

“Ooh, The Runaway Viper has found her voice again!” Clara cheers. “I was starting to worry that the
almost
mother moment you had days ago was much too much for you handle.”

I laugh at her callous
behavior and don’t feel her words stick in my gut like they could have. I’m unmoved by her verbalized attacks now. I don’t know if it was the capture and subsequent life I’ve been living that’s taken its final toll or whether Jace’s kiss of life did it, but I feel stronger than ever.

I can hear my mother’s tone in my voice, repeating the same mantra from when I had awoken in that hospital bed to find out my best friend had passed away –
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
. Apparently I’m a living advocate for the saying, and I will continue to be.

“I was going to come here and offer you some punishment for your wayward
behavior, but clearly you just needed to snap.” Clara always likes her girls with a bit of fire, and when I came back I was submitting to everything on the demand of the threat for Jace’s blood. Now I’ve seen he’s capable of living through the worst of Sam’s attacks, I’m sure he’ll be able to continue doing so. “You could be on the fast track for stealing the head Viper Girl title off Cassidy at this rate,” Clara ponders aloud and surveys my expression, trying to size up whether it’s what I want.

“
Great
,” I muse sarcastically, rolling my eyes and crossing my arms across my chest. I catch Brianna trying not to laugh at my lack luster exuberance at the idea.

“Joely, Dear, do you not want that?”

“What do you think?” I ask and shake my head in disbelief. “Do I look like someone vying for your attention to be top girl?” I retort, again too snappily.

“Suit
yourself,” Clara speaks, somewhat defeated and lost for words. This is a good feeling! “But ultimately, I get the say on the ranking of my girls, and if I want you as my top
dog
, then you’ll be just that, dog.” She tries to stand stoic, but for once, I can see Clara is only clutching at straws, striving to reinstate her power over me. She then bends down, picking up my discarded, and now broken, collar. “I’ll make sure we have a new one of these made for you. I don’t want to forget quite yet how lowly you sit. Just because I can change the rankings, I can keep them, and I’m pretty damn sure I can lower yours.”

“Okay,” I remark, remaining unmoved.

“I’ll deal with you another day.” She declares defeat without actually declaring it. “I’ve decided a new party is in order. One where we don’t embarrass one another.” She looks straight at me before continuing. “I want a spring ball. I know we’ve just had one, but with the influx of new clients I think it’s time to try the masquerade idea again.”

She’s met with silence. As a bartender, Eli isn’t expected to have input, but Brianna and I should at least have some enthusiasm. To be honest, I just feel like Clara is now running out of ideas.

“Well, seeing as you two don’t seem enthralled by the ideas, I’ll just have to find some way to get you loving the idea,” she speaks, rubbing her hands together as she concocts a new plan. “Await the invites.”

She says no more, just bids a silent farewell to us and ushers Sam and Shads away. As she leaves, I feel something liven up in me, and I have to admit, it terrifies me. Everyone evokes so many emotions in me. I flick between the good and bad, meddle with the evil side and dance with all sorts of desires, and it makes me feel one thing – confused. This is the me
who’s left – this notion of Jekyll and Hyde. And I’m scared of myself. Scared of the me who will be left after I’m freed.

Running my hands over my face, I decide to go to Jace. Allow him out of the closet and spend as much time as I possibly can with him.

“She’s gotten desperate,” Brianna mutters, getting up from her perch at the breakfast bar and taking her cup over to the sink. “She reeks of it.”

I don’t answer as Eli teases back. I follow my ghost steps back to the guest room, finding Jace opening the door and stepping out into the open. He’s now partially dressed. The thought has me thinking he’ll be leaving soon.

“I could kiss you right now,” he says right away.

“Only could?” I ask, giggling some.

“Okay,” he responds with a quick shrug, then makes a quick grasp for my hand. He takes it, pulling me to his body. He kisses me with pride, empowers me with honor and shows me how impressed he is with me. “You make me so proud.”

“Me?” I gasp, not sure what he could be thinking about. I play stupid to the actions I just committed myself to.

“Yes, you,” he reacts loudly. “The way you stood up to her, it was perfect! She needed that. God, Joely, I wish you could see how you’ve grown from the first day I met you to this day. You are incredible.” He watches me closely, then frowns. “You don’t think so?”

“I’m not that strong,” I tell him and look down, embarrassed. “I’m scared,” I admit freely, my eyes become misty with trapped tears, and I just look back at Jace as I admit my ultimate fears. “I’m scared that I won’t come back from this, Jace. I’m scared that you won’t love me if that happens. I’m struggling to love myself, right now, how can you?”

“It’s easy,” he begins to say, his hands taking mine in his. “Struggling is never something I think of when it comes to loving you. Even when times get hard, I could never think allowing myself to love you is ever a hardship. It comes to me freely. I love you when you’re happy, sad, angry, quiet. I love you when you’re out of mind crazy or buzzing with happiness. I love you in every shade, Joely, there’s no excusing that. Being allowed to love you has never been a struggle, so don’t you dare think, for one day, that is.”

“Please, don’t leave me again,” I cry. I shudder into a new breakdown, unable to accept how our fate is still being forced apart by a malignant power.

“Joely,” he breaks in. He holds me close but doesn’t pull me further into his embrace. Not yet anyway. “You have to cope without me just for a little bit longer.” I see his eyes water. This is just as hard for him as it is for me. “Just play it cool. Clara’s days of having a hold over you are numbered.” His statement hits me fiercely. There’s a sense of foreboding marking every word, and I cannot even begin to fathom what that can be.

I’ve grown tiresome to Clara’s parties. They change in theme and venue, but it’s still the same run of-the-mill routine to get us girls ready and introduced – to the same clients.
Yawn
. She fast tracked this one and arranged it within days. I’m not sure why she does it because most of us are now prepared for her. She’s losing her element of surprise in a depressing bid to keep on top of us girls.

We’re on a rooftop of one of New York’s most tucked away Midtown venues overlooking the beautifully lit city and the Hudson River. Clara hired the venue, Hudson Terrace, to have a sedate masquerade ball. I have to admit, this isn’t what I had in mind for her when she sent invites out, but it has its perks. The event space is guarded by glass panels, framed with heirloom wood. There’s seating and a dance floor and the set-up is quaint. For once, Clara hasn’t been outlandish with this one.

I look over to my right and see Eli throwing a cocktail mixer around. He’s out to impress the influx of female clientele that have been brought tonight. I don’t know if they’re heiresses to big fortunes or potential girls ready to be lured into Clara’s trap.

“Looking good, dog.”
Cassidy breaks my thoughts with her sarcastic snarl. She has a man latched to her and heads right for the middle of the dance floor. There are few words that really sum up Cassidy’s appearance but hussy works the best. She’s constantly seeking attention from men to reinforce she’s beautiful, and she’ll flaunt herself however and whenever she can.

Even with her mask on, I can see how heavily applied her eye shadow is. The rest of us girls went for subtly because of our masks. Unlike the last masquerade party of Clara's that I attended, this one has a bigger pop of
color. We've all been assigned colors based on our zodiac sign. I'm a Leo, so my colors are red, orange, and yellow to represent the fire side of my sign.

"
If the stars align then it's destiny
," Clara announced when she debriefed her latest idea.

We all thought it was ridiculous.

She’s using this as a compatibility test. She’s using our star signs against us to find perfect clients. What Clara doesn’t realize is that I’m compatible with two of my clients –
old and new
. Jace and Josh are both perfect matches for me, but only one of them stands in this room wearing his designated color. Josh is currently standing by the bar. He’s dressed in a crisp black tux with black shirt. In his pocket he has a red handkerchief, showing him to be a fire sign, which matches the red in my mask. Clara already noticed, asking him his zodiac sign. When he’d answered Sagittarius, Clara had removed herself from the conversation with a satisfied smile. With me being an Aries, we’re highly matched.

If only she knew the truth.

After that, I went off to show my involvement with other clients, but now I’m standing on the sidelines, enjoying the sight of the girls getting dragged around by new clients. Brianna has Spencer and it’s taking all my willpower not to laugh. The two were drawn together by some intrinsic pull and have been inseparable all evening.

My thoughts drizzle away as I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stick on end and my body stiffens when I sense someone behind me.

“Care to dance?” a deep, baritone voice whispers in my ear.

I feel my body respond, the voice has so many familiar elements to it. I see Clara watching me expectantly, and I nod my head. I’m wordless to the unknown stranger behind me. I feel his hand slip into mine, and my heart skips a beat. It can’t be! My mind goes into overdrive thinking Jace is here, but the man who pulls me out amongst the girls is dark-haired. My stomach bottoms, but I’m compelled to follow.

“Is this your first time?” I ask, somewhat nervously.

He turns around, pulling me toward him and beginning to join the others as they dance. “In some sense,
Mrs. Mason
,” he utters lowly, his voice thick with seduction. My eyes widen as they fall upon the perfect blue hues he stares at me with. “Na uh,” he tells me, spinning me around and pulling me close so my back is to his chest. “Don’t give it away.”

As I’m spun back, my hands in his, I feel my breathing falter. “Jace,” I wheeze, unable to give into the undeniable flock of heated emotions. The spark I tried to deny myself flares, riddling my entire body, setting my soul aflame.

“This is to make sure Delvine sees you can be sensual with a stranger,” he whispers to me as the tempo as music changes. The beat slows, the pace weakens and clients take their girls close. Much like Jace does.

“She’ll know it’s you,” I admonish, allowing a wide swept fear burn through me.

“I’ve introduced myself to her already,” Jace speaks with such mirth, I feel my fear disband at how amused his voice is. “She has no idea I’m anyone but Stefan Merriweather.”

“
Ahh,” I acknowledge, and then grin at him. This has been the easiest act to play in what feels an eternity. “In that case,
Mr. Merriweather
, what brings you here?”

“The Runaway Viper,” he states as he leans in toward me. “Couldn’t let her get away and aren’t I glad I attended,” he murmurs softly to me. “You look
ravishing
tonight. Absolutely beautiful in that gown.”

I blush under his compliments and feel like I’m cast back to the days when we were the Viper Girl and her
enamored client. It’s as we sway to the music, my eyes drifting shut, I feel like we’re transported back to those days, or to the days it was just Jace and me.

“This feels so right,” I sigh heavenly. No other man feels right touching me, and even though I’ve achieved not feeling like their touches hang upon me like dirt, I am still disdainful for every man who has danced, touched, and groped me tonight.

“It always will,” Jace replies in a soft voice.

“I have one thing to say,” I break the moment. I’m not ready to get wrapped up with a short-lived moment of romance at a rooftop party. “I prefer your blond, just got out of bed hair.” I feel Jace chuckle, and I hold on tight. There’s something so uplifting about the sound, but I know I need to see how long I have with him. “When do you leave?”

“When the party is over,” he comments coolly. “But Josh recommended it might be wise to not outstay my welcome.”

“Good idea, on one condition.” We break for a moment, our distance grows, but Jace keeps us moving in time with the music. “I want a kiss before you go.” I giggle after that. My one request passed onto him to fulfil.

“Deal,” Jace smirks and looks over my shoulder. “I see men are watching you. Shame I’m the one dancing with you right now,” he observes, clearly amused. “I love the jealousy.”

“You never used to,” I counter, remembering how it nearly drove us miles apart.

“You never used to be my wife,” he admonishes, keeping the amused look on his face. “It’s like a stamp of claim.”

I laugh at him. “That’s exactly how I saw it.”

There’s a moment of silence settling around us, even with the music resonating from the multiple stereo speakers. It’s just Jace and I, and if there is one thing my time at The Viper Rooms has taught me, it’s that I love slow dancing in a crowded room.

As the song draws to a close, Jace holds me a little tighter, relishing the seconds before we’re cast apart, forced back to our secret and dark phantoms. I have no idea if I’ll see him again this evening, but right
now, walking the line with him is all that inspires me to enjoy the evening.

“I’ll see you around,” Jace whispers.

The song hasn’t ended and already he’s keeping his side of the act up. He’s courteous to me, stepping back, my hand in his, he bows, kissing my knuckles tentatively. His gratitude to me is met with equal admiration to him. I might hate him disguised behind a mask and a wig, but the eyes that bear deep into my soul are captivating and empowering. As he releases me, I’m left with a sense of euphoria, an ethereal impulse to carry out my time left in the clutches of the she-devil. This is our wildest moment, but he’s made me into the greatest being I could be – The Runaway Viper. It’s time I continue to be what I know; disobedient, courageous, desirable, untouchable.

“Good job, Joely,” Clara comments from behind me. I jump, swirling around on the spot – Jace pushed to the back of my mind. “Maybe you aren’t damaged goods. Whatever would that husband of yours say?”

“He’d tell me to do my job,” I mock, praising myself for not losing my nerve. “Like he used to.”

As I see Clara’s lips begin to quiver, tightening with anger, I turn and leave. She won’t make a scene, but I’m not ready for her to destroy any good mood I have, not tonight. I free myself of the crowd promptly, looking in all directions for the nearest restroom. When I spot it, I make a beeline, excusing myself as I pass multiple clients and girls.

Before I make it, I’m grabbed and pushed against a wall. Clive has me pinned, one hand resting on my hip, the other clutching the top of my arm. I gulp, trying to maintain the fight Jace has helped bring back to me. I won’t allow Clive to diminish what I’ve come from. Even as he steps in, I keep my cool and just allow him some fun before I have my chance to bite.

“I wanted that last dance,” Clive breathes at me. His breath is hot against my skin and the stench of it dares my stomach to reject its last meal. His hand on my arm is sweaty, probably clammy from watching me dance so intensely close with another man. “Can I have one now?”

“I’m about to be a little indisposed,” I reply sweetly, trying to free myself.

“I can wait,” he grunts at me, pressing further against me. “I waited nearly a year for you again, Joely.
What’s a few more minutes?”

“I’m pleased you want to dance with me, but there’s a queue of other men you’ll have to wait behind,”

“I don’t see them,” he counters, leaning in and planting a kiss to my jaw.

Instinctively, my hands come up, pushing against his chest to get him away. I raise my head, making sure he can’t get to my lips, and I struggle against him. I don’t care how heavy he is, I will not be subjected to this without putting up some sort of fight. My fighting stops when he grabs my jaw in his hand and forces me to look at him. Even then I struggle to turn my head away, not willing to allow him the opportunity he had before. I close my eyes as he stares at me, the look so similar to the one he had before he attacked me.  My mind screams for help, but the words don’t come out verbally.

“Get away from her.”

Clive looks over his shoulder, his evil leer still wiped over his mouth. I see Spencer and feel Clive laugh. His body jolts with each menacing chuckle, pushing me further against the wall. “Why should I?”

“She’s my girl,” Spencer spits predatorily.

Clive sniggers. “Well then, we both have something in common where Joely is concerned.” He releases me momentarily, only to snakes his arm around my waist, again digging his fingers in to keep me at his side. I wince as he adds pressure, and I wiggle free. Clive forgets about Spencer and applies his attention back to me. “Don’t disappoint me again, dog. We know how that ended before.”

“Yeah, but the difference this time is I’m not scared to retaliate,” I remark, seeing his eyes lighten with joy at my resilience. “I won’t allow you to do what you did before.”

“Nor will I,” Spencer interjects, stepping forward. “I think you’ve had enough time with Joely, so I suggest you go and find another Viper Girl to intimidate.”

“I’ll have you soon,” Clive vows mercilessly, brushing his hand against my face.

I recoil, and he leaves. I look at Spencer, timidly ashamed at allowing Clive to have some sort of power over me for a moment. He doesn’t say anything at first, just puts his hand out for me.

“Let’s get a drink,” Spencer recommends and takes my hand. He leads me over to the bar, and he takes the remaining two seats at the end. We sit and await Eli to finish with his current client to come to us. “Something strong for Joely.”

The moment Eli looks at me, I smile and wave his concern away. “Clive cornered me, but Spencer stepped in.”

“About that,” Spencer starts, giving me the most overwhelmingly curious gaze. “Explain, please.”

I know I can’t keep him in the dark now. “Back before Jace helped me escape,” I begin the tale and see Eli stay near while pouring us a glass of champagne each. “I was given Clive as a client. He took me to my room and beat me.”

My brother’s face doesn’t change, he remains stoic as he listens. “Is that why Josh is so angry you’ve been assigned him again?” Spencer asks and as I nod, he releases a low chesty growl out. “Do you not even think about your own wellbeing?”

“He won’t be beat me again,” I admonish in a mess of uncertainty.

“How can you be so certain, Jo?” he asks and leans in, closing the proximity. “What do I tell Mom and Dad if he does?” His question is filled with unaddressed angry. “How do they respond to that? What about Carrie too?”

“They don’t have to know anything,” I state sharply. “I’d rather they knew nothing about what I was doing here this time around.”

“Well, Dad already does,” he snarls at me heartlessly. I know he’s being his normal bull-headed self, always wanting to be my protector, even if I’m three years old than he is. “Dad is working closely with Jace and you best believe, he is not looking to take any prisoners when the time comes.”