Page 247 of Tempting Venom
“In a sense, yes. I don’t want you to get hurt, but I also won’t allow her to use you against me.”
“Then I’ll letyouuse me, Dad.”
He raises a brow. “What do you want in return?”
“The identity and location of the person who shot Preston.” My throat closes around his name, but I force the lump down.
I truly hate asking my father for anything, but I did today because I needed to be at the funeral, and now I need to avenge the man who changed my life so drastically, I don’t know how I’ll live without him.
“Lawrence wouldn’t like it.”
“Can you do it or not?”
“Possibly.”
“I’ll also need the identity of whoever hired that hit man. The name of the person who sold them the guns and anyone who aided them, whether it was those who deleted security footage or facilitated their movements. I need everyone related to this. And I meaneveryone.”
“Give me some time.”
“How much?”
“A week.”
I shake my head. “Three days or I’m switching to Serena.”
His lips purse.
“I have no loyalty to either of you.” I release a breath. “In fact, I’ll be on the side of whoever gives me the information I need first.”
“You’re playing a dangerous game, and for what? A dead man?”
“Get me those names and locations, Dad. The sooner I have them, the better it is for you.”
He releases a sigh. “And then what?”
“Then?”
“After this, what happens, Marcus? Will you be throwing away your life for a man who gambled with his and lost?”
A quiet fire starts in my stomach, growing hotter and wilder by the second, but I choose to turn that energy against my father instead of forcing it inward. “Let me ask you something, Dad.”
“Go ahead.”
“On my seventh birthday, after you didn’t show up to babysit me, and Mom took me to your house, you said you wanted her to abort me. It was her choice to keep me against your wishes.” I pause. “It just doesn’t make sense to me, especially after what Serena told me concerning the immunity disease. Isn’t it in your benefit to have as many children aspossible to ensure a male heir or at least to keep your then existing male heir, Lance, alive? Why didn’t you want me?”
“Because of that very reason. If you were born, I’d need to use you, and you probably wouldn’t believe me, but I truly have a soft spot for June. She’s the only person I chose outside of responsibilities and need for power.” He smiles softly, staring at where she disappeared. “So I didn’t want her to get hurt, which would’ve happened if you were compatible with Lance or, later, Leo. Because I would’ve ripped you from her arms and probably broken her forever. I was actually relieved you weren’t a match.”
“You called me a useless child when I was a kid.”
“Did I?”
“Yes.”
“Huh. I suppose I was frustrated that I couldn’t save Lance and Leo. Maybe I wished you were compatible at the time.”
“Even if it hurt my mom?”
“Perhaps.” He lets out a breath. “There was a time when I considered taking June and leaving this world, but I couldn’t do that.”
