Beautiful Venom: A Dark Hockey Romance (Vipers Book 1)

“Honey?”

“Wake up. It’s time to go, Dahl.”

Mom…?

Vi?

They’re both standing in a blindingly white distance, their shadows spilling on the ground, but not touching my feet.

Blood gushes from Mom’s forehead, slides down her arm, and slithers onto her hand that’s holding Vi’s.

My dad appears on Vi’s right and takes her other hand in his disfigured, bloodied one.

I step forward, but I’m jolted in place by invisible chains, unable to move.

They walk in the distance, their tall, distorted shadows retreating until I can only see their backs and the blood trails left behind.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

“Where are you going?” I scream, tears cascading down my cheeks. “Come back. Don’t leave me alone. You promised, Vi!”

They come to a halt and Vi looks back, her face pale, eyes sunk in, her hair having lost its shine. She looks like a ghost of herself with crimson blood dripping from her delicate fingers.

A version of Vi I don’t recognize.

Broken-down.

Decimated.

“Goodbye, Dahlia.”

“No…no…”

“Wake up now, Dahl.”

“Vi, no, don’t go.”

“It’s okay. You’ll be okay.”

“Nooo!”

“Dahlia!”

“Dahlia.”

“Dahlia, wake up!”

My eyes fly open, my breath coming in ragged gasps as hot tears cling to my lashes.

“It’s okay. You’re okay. It was just a nightmare.”

I look up as Kane sits in bed, gliding my damp hair back, his fingers stroking my face gently.

He reaches to the bedside table and offers me a bottle of water.

I sit up and gulp most of it while still panting. Images of Vi leaving with my parents play so vividly in my head, a taste of nausea crawls up my throat and I feel like throwing up.

“You feel better?” Kane’s deep voice sounds soothing. Consoling, even.

Which is a rare version of him.

He takes the water from my fingers and watches me closely as if he can peek into my brain.

I wrap my arms around my knees and rock back and forth. “I had a nightmare that Vi went with my parents. That she…she died and left me all alone. She said I’d be okay. She said her goodbyes.”

“That was only a nightmare.”

“What if it becomes real?” Back. Forth. “I…I’m barely over my parents’ deaths and only because I have Vi. If she…if she…leaves as well, I don’t know how I’ll go on.”

A big hand wraps around mine and gently pulls it, stopping the rocking. I stare at Kane and his handsome, composed face calms my breathing.

There’s a firm yet soothing authoritativeness in his expression, like I can fall and he’ll catch me. No questions asked.

“Violet is still alive, but most importantly, you are alive, too. Besides, you’re not all alone. You have me.” His mouth twitches in a small smile. “Didn’t you promise to annoy the hell out of me? Let’s see whether or not you succeed.”

My lips part.

A warm feeling I’ve never experienced spreads inside me like a hug.

You have me.

Kane said I have him.

God. Who would’ve thought the guy I approached to avenge my sister would be the one consoling me about her?

A part of me feels guilty for ever using him. For lumping him in with the rest of the unfeeling psychos.

Kane is different.

Entirely different.

He’s not the green flag I mistook him for, but he’s not entirely red either. He’s a mixture of colors, and I’m growing attached to all of them.

The red, the green, the black. All.

I open my arms and engulf him in a hug, burying my face in his chest, right on top of his steady heartbeat.

He feels warm.

So warm.

Kane awkwardly pats my back, his body a bit stiff, probably not used to this amount of clinginess, but it doesn’t matter.

I’m not used to it either, but it’s okay with Kane.

I feel like I can let go and he won’t use it against me.

At least, I hope he won’t.

Having raw feelings for someone who’s way out of my social standing is scary, but I’m willing to take the leap.

But at the same time, I feel like I’m losing focus of why I got entangled in this world in the first place, and I can’t seem to find my way back in.

Slowly, my breaths even out and I think I fall asleep in his arms, because the next thing I know, I’m being laid back on the bed.

I blink the sleep from my eyes as Kane stands up and removes his shirt.

My heart burns at the view of the scars, visible even under the early-morning light slipping through the window.

But I also can’t help but admire the sheer strength in his build, each muscle etched and honed as if he’s been carved from marble. Every ridge, every line is sharp and precise, just like Kane himself—disciplined, formidable, almost impossibly defined.

The way he moves with effortless confidence is a natural, unforced power that’s as magnetic as it is unsettling. There’s something in the way he holds himself, like he owns the space around him without needing to declare it. It’s that quiet, commanding presence that makes looking away feel impossible.

He walks into his closet and emerges a few minutes later dressed in sweatpants and a Vipers hoodie.

His eyes meet mine and they darken a little.

I pull the sheet to my chin. “Morning.”

“Go back to sleep. It’s still four thirty.”

“Where are you going? Isn’t it early for practice?”

“Jude and Pres are here. At the front door, I mean. They won’t leave unless I let them in.”

“Is something wrong?”

“They often do this when they’re drunk.”

“So if we hadn’t come back, you would’ve gotten drunk with them?”

“Probably not.”

“Why not?”

“Let’s just say Jude and Pres feed off each other’s destructive energy. I put a leash on mine.” He ruffles my hair and smiles. “Adorable bed hair.”

“Hey!” I push his hand away. “Don’t make it worse.”

“I don’t think that’s possible.” He walks out of the room, the soft click echoing in the space.

For some reason, it feels massive without him here.

I try to go back to sleep or pretend to, anyway. I’m more curious about Jude’s and Preston’s drunken state and whether they can offer me any clues…

I really should stop thinking about using Kane or his close friends. It doesn’t align with the new start we’ve established, so it’s better to focus on Hunter and the DNA testing.

After some futile twisting and turning, I get up and go to the bathroom to freshen up. The first thing I notice is my half-torn dress and my hideous face.

Oh my God. Mascara and makeup have run down my face and turned me into a zombie movie extra.

Jeez.

No wonder Kane said it can’t get worse. How the hell did he even look at me?

Can the earth open up and swallow me?

I take a quick shower and wince with every move. Kane definitely fucked my brains out last night. I can feel him inside me with every step.

It takes me more time than needed to shower, but at least I manage to wash my face clean. I put on one of his hoodies that swallows me and almost reaches my knees, and I have to roll up the sleeves to free my hands. The whole time, I’m surrounded by Kane’s scent, and it feels like a hug.

Or maybe I need to seriously stop being so into the man.

My feet gently pad on the wood as I head to the living room.

“Do it gently, you brute!” Preston shouts.

I lean sideways, grabbing the wall with both hands.

Kane is by the stove, cooking something that smells divine.

Preston sits on the kitchen stool opposite him as Jude stands beside him and holds an ice pack to his cheek.

“This gentle?” Jude asks as he presses harder.

“Ow, give it to me. I’ll do it myself.” Preston snatches the ice pack.

Jude rummages through Kane’s cabinets as if he’s in his own place, produces a few pills, and then throws them at Preston’s head. “Take those.”

Preston groans. “You’re using this to fucking torture me.”

Jude lifts a shoulder. “Shouldn’t have gotten into a fight when I wasn’t there.”

“Fuck off. I can handle my fights.”

“Since when do you even fight?” Kane glances at him sideways.

“Since someone needed to be put in their fucking place.” Preston grins in that manic way.

“Sure it wasn’t the other way around?”

“You should see his face.” Preston laughs. “I turned it into an impressionist art painting.”

“I don’t know about that.” Jude hits him on the back of his head.

“Fucking bitch!” Preston kicks him, but Jude dodges and it barely grazes his leg.

“Enough.” Kane slides a bowl of what looks like soup in front of Preston and another one in front of Jude. “I told you to keep your voices down or I’m kicking you out.”

“Yeah, yeah, Mr. Pussy-Whipped.” Preston mocks as he grabs a spoon.

Is Kane cooking for them? This early?

“Man, this shit’s amazing.” Preston gives up on the spoon and drinks straight from the bowl.

“It’s hot, take it easy.” Jude pulls the bowl away and passes him a napkin. “Wipe your mouth.”

“I made a lot and pizza is on the way.” Kane pours Preston another bowl and places a water bottle by the pills. “Don’t eat fast.”

I frown.

Why are they…treating Preston like that?

I’ve never noticed this before, not even in practice. If anything, I thought Jude and Preston barely get along and always fight, but right now, when it’s only the three of them and Preston has a bruise the size of Texas, they’re…fawning over him?

I don’t know if that’s the right word, but they’re definitely treating him differently.

Especially Jude.

He keeps watching Preston as if looking for something. What, I don’t know.

“Did you at least sleep before or after your nocturnal activities?” Jude asks.

“Nope.” Preston grins. “I found something better than sleep.”

“Catch some in the guest room,” Kane says.

“Nah. I’ll sleep after practice.”

“Can you even survive practice in your state?” Jude says.

“We’ll know once I kick your ass today, big man.”

Jude smiles, but it’s menacing. “Nice dreams to have.”

The scene looks weirdly intimate. I feel like I’m trespassing on their bond or something.

While I think Kane has a way better personality than both Jude and especially Preston, I’m starting to think the three of them share something a lot deeper than Vencor or even hockey.

Standing here seems like I’m intruding, so I clear my throat and walk in.

Three pairs of eyes zoom in on me, but only Kane watches me with that edge. The one I feel would consume me on the spot if given the chance.

His eyes size me up, stopping and narrowing at where his hoodie stops at my thighs.

“Look who we have here.” Preston whistles. “Deborah. The Wolves’ spy.”

“It’s Dahlia, and I’m not a spy.”

“Looked like it when you were rubbing yourself all over their captain a few hours ago.”

I bite my lower lip. “I did that to make Kane jealous. There was no spying whatsoever.”

“I vote a spy.” Preston raises his hand. “A la guillotine.”

Kane knocks his hand down. “Behave yourself, asshole.”

“Pfft, you just don’t want guillotine action. Jude, let’s all boo him again.”

Jude says nothing and focuses on eating.

Weird. I would’ve sworn he’d jump at the idea of dragging me through the mud with Preston.

Actually, Jude hasn’t been antagonizing toward me at all lately and even pulls Preston away when he starts.

Kane rounds the island and comes to my side, wrapping a possessive arm around my waist, then whispers in my ear, “What are you wearing?”

“Your hoodie,” I whisper back.

“It barely covers anything.”

“Are you kidding? It covers everything.”

“I don’t like the idea of other men imagining you naked, Dahlia.”

“You’re being ridiculous. Pretty sure Preston would rather chop my head off instead.”

“Touché, Dakota!” Preston claps his hands and points a finger at me. “Are you interested in testing my experimental new execution device?”

“No, thanks?”

“Aw, and here I thought we could be friends.” He wraps an arm around Jude’s shoulders. “What about you, big man?”

Jude throws his hand off him. “Hard pass.”

“Ouch, you pierced me right where I don’t give a fuck.”

Kane drags me to the stools and helps me hop on one. “I’ll pour you some soup. I also ordered some pizza so the drunks can have something to eat before practice, but you can have some, too.”

“Ew.” Preston makes a face. “I’m getting diabetes.”

“Fuck off, then.” Kane goes to the other side and pours me a bowl.

“And miss seeing you be a domesticated dog?” Preston grins. “Here, little doggie. Who’s a good boy? Is this the part where we give you a treat⁠—”

Kane whacks him with a dish towel. “Shut your mouth.”

“Juuude!” Preston whines. “Did you see that?”

Jude smacks him upside the head. “Take your medicine.”

“You fucking—” He takes a deep breath, then smiles at me. “See how they can’t live without me?”

“I don’t know. Looks like you’re a troublemaker.” I take a sip of the soup and it tastes better than it smells. As expected of Kane.

“Me? Ha. Have you seen Jude on the rink? He’s the troublemaker whose ass we all have to clean up after.”

I lift a shoulder. “Doesn’t look the same off the rink.”

“Even she can tell,” Kane says. “You’re like a bad investment that keeps haunting the rest of the portfolio.”

“Bitch, please. Your lives would be boring without me.”

“I’d take that chance,” Jude says.

“The betrayal is sending me.” Preston smiles again at me, but it’s fake at best and menacing at worst. “Never mind them. Tell me, Daniella. You’re not by any chance fucking both Kane and the Wolves’ dog at the same time, are you?”

“Preston…” Kane warns.

“Shut it. I’m doing this for your sake.”

“Not that I have to explain myself to you, but I’m not.”

“Good. Because if you do betray my man, I might truly chop your head off.”

I swallow as that cloud of bloodlust hits me again. Preston remains still, but his eyes are cold, and the purple bruise makes him look monstrous.

For a moment, I think he’ll reach out and crush my face like the other time, but Kane grabs him by the hair and jerks his head back.

He glares down at Preston. “Threaten her again and we’ll have serious problems. Don’t ever think about hurting her.”

“Oh, I will, but only if she betrays you. Now, let me go. That hurts.”

Kane releases him with a shove and comes to sit beside me. “Ignore him.”

I try to.

But even as I swallow, the soup gets stuck in my throat.

I’m not betraying Kane in a sexual or romantic sense, but is previously using him—or attempting to—considered betrayal?

While Preston is scary, it’s Kane who frightens me.noveldrama

He might be calm and collected, but I know, I just know that if I fuck up, he’ll cast me out of his life as if I never existed.

And that leaves me shaking with anxiety.

Is it truly a new beginning if I have too many skeletons hidden in the closet?