Page 95
Chapter 95 of "Tempting Venom" opens with suspenseful action: Iâve seen something similar on Prestonâs index finger, but his had a sun and half-moon... Keep going!
Iâve seen something similar on Prestonâs index finger, but his had a sun and half-moon engraved within while Serenaâs has a lionâs head surrounded with gears.
They represent each familyâs crest, I believe. Something the heirs would wear.
My thirty-year-old sister is trying everything in her power to keep the ring from somehow finding its way to me.
And honestly, I donât care about rings or status. I definitely donât give a flying fuck about the Osborn legacy thatâs rejected me since the day I was born.
But Serena doesnât need to know that. She believes sheâs keeping me in check, so I wonât vie for her position as the de facto heir to the Osborn empire. Itâs why she sends frequent texts and shows up out of the blue like today.
And that guard she sograciouslyprovided? Heâs basically a spy hidden in plain sight whoâll report back to her if I meet up with Dadâs people behind her back.
I donât blame her for attempting to protect her hard work, and I wouldâve done the same if I were her.
But if she believes she can use me without my using her in return, she has another thing coming.
After all, sheâs my insider into their depraved world and a way for me to get access and information, as unreliable as that might be.
Iâm not really opposed to her ambition, but our goals are worlds apart. She wants to rule over Dadâs empire; I want to ruin it.
But again, she doesnât need to know that.
âI just wanted to start a conversation.â She drops her arms to her sides. âYou know, I miss having younger brothers.â
âDo you?â I raise a brow. âThe only reason youâre at the top is because those younger brothers died.â
âI still couldâve fought my way to the top even if they were alive.â
âHighly doubtful with a family like yours.â
She laughs again, but this time, itâs strained. âIt wouldâve taken more effort, yes, but I wouldâve gotten here no matter what. Besides, poor Leo and Lance were sick most of their lives, so maybe itâs better theyâre no longer suffering.â
âYouâre no longer living in their shadows either.â
Her lips purse before she smiles. âNeither are you. How does it feel to finally be recognized?â
âIt feels like nothing. That man stopped being my dad the moment I realized he doesnât give a fuck about me.â
She tsks, shaking her head. âThatâs not how you should consider things, Marcus. Dad doesnât care about anyone or anything except for his legacy. You believe he gives a fuck about me, Leo, or Lance? No. Join the club. He only recognizes us because weâre useful for his legacy. So the smart thing to do is to go along with his wishes in order to access power.â
âNot interested.â
âWell, you should be. I told you, didnât I? You need power to keep yourself and your mother safe.â She juts her chin in the direction of the coachâs office. âThose NHL deals lining up for you canâŚâ She snaps her fingers ââŚpoofâdisappear in the blink of an eye if you end up in a nasty accident that kills your career.â
âAre you threatening me?â
âJust painting the picture in your head so you understand that without power, you havenothing.â She pats my shoulder. âDonât be another powerless Patient X.â
âPatient X?â
âOh, right. Dad wouldnât have told you about it, because you were useless to him.â She steps back and whispers, âYou see, our family has a curse.â
âA curse?â
âYeah, a rare genetic bone marrow failure syndrome called aplastic anemia.â
âAm I supposed to know what the hell that means?â
She laughs. âIt means the marrow doesnât produce enough healthy blood cells. Patients who have it need periodic transfusions or marrow infusions to remain alive. Leo and Lance had it. Iâm three years older than Lance, and unfortunately, I was compatible, so I was used to keep Lance alive with constant transfusions from the time I was a child. That shit hurt, by the way. I can still feel those long, thick needles probing in my spine when I go to sleep at night.â