CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

As her sister parked her car in the lot outside their complex later that day, Ella pulled in a steadying breath. Throughout her shift at work, she'd thought about her little chat with the blonde descendant, wondering just how truthful she'd been when claiming she wouldn't expose Ella's arrangement with Viper.

Ella wasn't ready to talk about it with others yet. She knew her loved ones would pressure her to end it. She also knew that Luka would pressure Viper to end it—especially since he was currently in full-on protective mode due to the notes.

Ella didn't believe that Viper would cave to her anchor's demands. She certainly wouldn't. Luka would be pissed, and he could strike out at Viper. Then there'd be fighting. She didn't want that.

But she might not have the option of continuing to keep her fling with Viper on the downlow. Not if the blonde intended to blab. So maybe it was best for Ella to be the one to tell her loved ones. They'd only react worse if they heard about it secondhand. She needed to start with someone, and her sister was the least likely person to overreact and call up Luka, banking on him ensuring the fling came to an end.

So when Mia went to exit the car, Ella blurted out, "Before we head inside, I have to tell you something."

Her sister blinked, her eyes lighting with interest. "Ooh, I'm all ears."

"You can't tell anyone, though. Not even Mom or Jocelyn. I need to do that myself."

"It's a secret? Awesome. I'm even more intrigued now. What gives?"

" Promise me you'll keep it to yourself."

Mia lifted a hand, palm out. "I solemnly swear to guard your secret—I will tell no one."

Ella exhaled heavily and twisted in her seat to better face her sister. "Quick warning, you probably won't like this. I don't think you'll judge, but you might well call me all kinds of stupid."

Mia's expression registered surprise. "I would never call you stupid."

We'll see. "You know how this past week you kept insisting I was definitely getting laid on the regular?" Mia hadn't bought her denials, but she hadn't pushed too hard.

"Yeah," Mia replied.

"Well, you were right."

"I know that. I just can't figure out who's been doing the laying."

"It's the same guy I hooked up with at the Red Rooms." Ella drew in a preparatory breath and straightened her shoulders. "It's Viper."

Mia's lips parted. "Viper as in the president of the Black Saints Viper?"

"One and the same," Ella confirmed, studying her sister's face; picking up nothing. "I didn't tell anyone—well, until right now—because I know there'll be stern looks and lectures. I also know Luka will be seriously against it. And, yeah, those reactions would be perfectly understandable. But … but I like Viper, Mia. A lot."

On pins, Ella nibbled her lower lip as she waited for her sister to speak. Only … Mia didn't. She just stared dumbly. Ella frowned. "Say something."

"Uh … "

Ella leaned back slightly. "You're not gonna be all judgy, are you?"

"As your baby sister—"

"You're the oldest."

"Well, I like to pretend I'm the younger one. Getting old scares me." Mia flapped a hand. "Anyway, as your sister, I should tell you that this isn't wise and point out that it could go tits up big style . But if you like Viper and enjoy being with him … then I'm happy for you."

"Why?"

Mia's brows snapped together. "What do you mean, why?"

"I mean why would you be happy when he's one of the Fallen?"

Mia bristled. "They're not only the Fallen . They're people. Not bad. Not good. Just some of both, much like everyone else. And, well, I'd be a hypocrite to lecture you."

"A hypocrite? Why a … " Ella trailed off as the pieces fell together. She gawked at her sister. "Oh my God, that dude you slept with, who fucked your frustration out of you—it was one of the Black Saints, wasn't it?"

Squeezing one eye shut, Mia scratched her cheek. "Yeah."

"Which one?"

"Dice. And, uh, we didn't just do it that one time."

"It happened again?"

Mia gave her a sheepish look. "That was sort of an accident. But the times after that, well, they weren't so accidental. It's basically become a regular thing for us to meet up for sex."

Ella gaped again. "Why didn't you say anything before?"

"I thought you'd lecture me and I didn't want to hear it. Sound familiar?"

Ella's mouth snapped shut. To think she'd been nervous of her sister's response when, in actuality, Mia would have taken it well.

"I was going to tell you. I kept meaning to. But after what happened with Joe, I'm enjoying what I have with Dice—it's simple, casual, no expectations or demands. I'm not ready to walk away from it yet, and if there's anyone who could talk me into doing that it's you."

Ella let out a long breath. "I don't know why Viper didn't tell me about you and Dice."

Mia's nose wrinkled. "Uh, Dice hasn't yet told him. He plans to do it today."

"Oh. And he didn't tell you about me and Viper? He definitely knows I'm sleeping with his president—I see the VP at the compound often."

"He said nothing about it to me," she said, shaking her head. "But in his shoes, I probably wouldn't have either. The messengers are never thanked. And I would have worried it would cause trouble between siblings if they found out secondhand."

Yeah, that made sense. "Dice probably thought it would hurt you to not hear it from me. Are you guys exclusive?"

"Oh yeah, he was pretty insistent on it. And I saw no need to object, because I didn't want to."

"Then we're in very similar situations."

"Crazy, isn't it," Mia marveled. "So, this is how you know Neta, then?"

"Who?"

"The blonde you were talking with earlier. Dice and I once bumped into her, and she made no bones about eye-fucking him. He told me her ultimate goal is to be claimed by Viper."

Ella felt her eyelid twitch, possessiveness clutching her chest. No happier, her demon cricked its neck. "I see. That explains why she wants me off the scene."

"So she's aware you're doing the sexual rodeo with Viper?"

"I think it's more of a guess on her part. She didn't threaten to tell people. Actually, she said she wouldn't tell. But I'm not sure I believe her."

"She might mean it. If she revealed stuff she shouldn't, it would piss off Viper in a mega way. She won't want to do that. It won't actually endear him to her," Mia pointed out.

"She said he'll never commit to me because he has the kind of secrets only descendants and celestials would understand. I don't know what exactly she meant by that."

Mia nibbled on her lower lip. "Dice admitted to me that he is keeping secrets. The club as a whole are secretive. I've asked him to part with at least one, but he says he can't. And really, why should he? We're not serious. We're just having fun."

"I've asked Viper some personal questions. He often teasingly blows me off. Which would annoy me, but I don't get the feeling he wants to hold me at a distance; just that he's not in a position to share easily."

Mia hummed. "I can't complain, because I know all about keeping your own council and holding your secrets close."

"Yeah, you don't go round dropping secrets like they're candy. You share them with people you know will stick around. And I don't know if Viper even wants me to stick around."

"All you can do is see how things play out. Fingers crossed they play out in your favor."

"Fingers crossed."

Hearing a knock on his bedroom door, Viper slipped on his jacket as he called out, "Come in."

Dice stalked inside, an uncharacteristic uncertainty in his gaze. "You got a minute?"

"Sure. What's up?"

He planted his feet, flexing one hand. "You should know that this might piss you off, but … I've been seeing Mia."

Both Viper and his inner entity went still. "Mia?"

"It ain't anything serious, but—"

"As in Ella's sister Mia?"

Dice notched up his chin. "I first slept with her shortly after you fucked Ella at the Red Rooms. I can't even tell you how it happened. It just did. I never lose control. But every bit of rationality I had went out the damn window," he grumbled.

Viper blinked. It was true that his VP was always in complete control of himself. "And it didn't stop at one night?"

"I meant for it to, but no. Like I said, I'm not all that rational around Mia. I do shit I shouldn't. Like refuse to give her my dick again unless she agreed to an exclusive arrangement." Dice shook his head in a kind of resentful wonder.

Viper ran his tongue over his front teeth, amused despite himself.

"I like what we have, but I can't say it will go the distance. I'm not built for relationships, and Mia's not looking for one anyway. If you want me to walk away from … Why don't you look pissed?"

"Why would I be pissed?"

Dice's brow creased. "I can think of several reasons."

"I don't like that you kept this from me. I don't like that you slept with her regularly knowing her connection to Ella—if things had gone badly with you and Mia, she might have told Ella, and that might have made it harder for me to get on my woman's good side. But I'm the last person who's in a position to judge someone for going after the woman they want."

"I know, but I'm your brother. Your VP—"

"When I pursued Ella in her previous life, I did it knowing it would piss off a lot of people—some of whom I considered family." He just hadn't thought they'd hide her soul from him. "I knew I was breaking every rule there was; knew there'd be people who'd be upset, or angry, or disappointed. I did it anyway. Nothing could have stopped me."

"I still wouldn't blame you for being pissed."

"How can I be, when I know you wouldn't have gotten even slightly entangled with Mia if she hadn't snagged your interest in a major way? No woman has done that in a very long time."

"You're not worried that if I hurt Mia it'll lead to Ella not wanting anything to do with the Fallen?"

"You wouldn't hurt Mia or any other woman." Viper took a step toward him. "Look, I want you and the rest of our brothers to find some fucking happiness in this life where we subsist partly on the life-force of others and have to randomly suffer bouts of bloodlust. If Mia can give you that, even temporarily, I'm not going to stand in the way."

Dice cleared his throat. "Appreciate it. Not sure I'd have been so reasonable."

"Well, you're not me."

The angel's lips curled.

"Now I gotta go, I'm heading off to see Ella."

Dice tipped his chin. "Later."

"Later."

Viper teleported straight to the living area of Ella's apartment. And there she was, tucking a hoover into a closet. "Hey there, baby."

She jumped a little and then put a hand to her chest. "Yeah, we're definitely putting a bell on you."

Feeling his mouth curve, he crossed to her, hooked his hand around her nape, and planted a quick kiss on her lips. Or that was the plan. But the kiss fast turned deep and wet and wicked.

She hummed against his mouth. "That was a promising start to the evening."

His entity fully agreed. "I plan for it to end on an equally good note."

"You're my favorite angel. Just sayin'."

He felt his lips quirk. "I'm the only angel you know well."

"I am getting to know your brothers, though. Speaking of them … did you have a particular talk with Dice today?"

Surprise plucked at his brows. "I did."

"I confessed to Mia that you and I were sleeping together, and she then confessed that she and Dice were also regularly doing the dirty. She said he meant to share it with you today."

"He did. It took me aback, but I'm glad. He's been on his own too long. Even something simple and casual will be good for him. What prompted you to tell her?"

She hesitated. "I was approached by that blonde from your club. Mia said her name is Neta."

At the reminder, anger zipped through both him and his entity. He felt his face go hard. "Ghost mentioned it earlier—he was watching over you today. What did she say?"

"She wasn't hostile or anything. Just said she's of the opinion that you'd only ever commit to a fellow celestial or descendant."

Viper's entity growled. "The fuck?"

"Something about you having secrets you wouldn't be able to share with any other race."

Son of a bitch, she'd tried manipulating Ella into walking away.

"Is that true?" Such a deceptively casual question.

Viper gave her nape a light squeeze. "No. If I trusted someone all the way, there's nothing I'd keep from them." One day, he'd tell her everything. It just wouldn't be any time soon. "Which she'd know if she knew me , but she doesn't."

"She still seems intent on having you."

" You have me, so she's wasting her time. She'd be wasting it even if there was no you. I don't want her."

"Shame she's not getting that." Ella paused. "She said she wouldn't tell others that you and I are involved with each other, but I worry she might. Not that I'm ashamed to—"

"I get it, Ella. You already explained what happened to some of your ancestors at the hands of the Fallen, so I know why your family isn't a fan of my kind; I understand why you'd hesitate to tell them. And of course you'd rather they heard it from you, if they ever hear of it at all. I'll talk to Neta, I'll ensure she keeps her mouth shut."

Ella eyed him, her face soft. "I'm not sure I'd be so nice about this if I were you. I'd feel at least a little offended that you're intent on keeping me a secret from those around you."

"As I told you, I get it." And it worked to Viper's benefit that they hadn't made shit public, considering it was vital he keep her off the strix's radar. It might already be too late to keep the Uppers' attention away from her, unfortunately. "Does your whole lair have that opinion of the Fallen?"

"Most."

"Is it hard not living near the majority of its members?"

She gave an easy shake of her head. "I wasn't close to any of them."

"Not even any of your relatives there?"

"Nope. And I actually prefer living a distance away from my father. He's a complete tool."

Viper was well-aware of that, because he'd looked into her background, but he couldn't say as much. "In what way?"

"Turns out he had a ‘secret family'. They're humans. We didn't find out until he one day announced he was leaving us for them. Mom wasn't heartbroken, she was furious. She would have left him years before; she'd only stayed with him thinking it'd be best for me and my sister. So for him to up and leave us on revealing he'd actually built another family elsewhere? Yeah, I'm surprised she let him live."

Viper nuzzled her neck, holding her close. "I'm sorry, baby."

"I wasn't cut up about him leaving, I didn't really know him. He never had much time for me or Mia. Was always ‘at the office'. Or so we thought. But I was upset to hear about his other family. Honestly, though, we're better off without the idiot around."

For certain. "Do you have contact with him?"

"No, I have no time for him. Neither does Mia. And he never asked to stay in touch with us anyway."

Yet more proof that the guy was, in her words, a complete tool. "Want me to kill him for you?"

Her lips twitched. "Nah. For some people, the punishment is in letting them live."

"If you're sure."

"I'm sure. I think maybe … " She trailed off, her brows drawing together as her gaze dipped to the collar of his jacket. "You have blood on you. What the hell?"

Viper silently cursed. It had to be blood spatter. "So, keeping to my word, I gotta inform you that I had another run-in with strix."

Her eyes flared. "Tell me."

"One of my brothers tracked a bunch of them to a carnival. The bastards had their eyes on some of the children there. We teleported them to another location and killed them."

"So, they're all dead?"

"Not the entire colony. There'll be more."

"How many more?"

"Depends. Could be thirty. Could be forty. Could be more. Strix colonies aren't small."

Damn. Ella knew a fair bit about some hell-born demons, but not all. With others, like strix, she merely knew of them and possessed few details.

"We'll keep working to track them, and we'll eat at their numbers until they're all gone."

"They really go after little kids?"

Viper gave her a grim look. "They prefer the blood of children."

"Then they definitely need killing." She took stock of him. "You aren't hurt?"

His expression softened. "No, baby, I'm good."

"I'd rather see that for myself."

"Yeah?" His lips tipped up. "Feels more like you're just trying to get me naked so you can take advantage of me."

Busted. "You have a problem with that?"

"No."

"Good."

He lowered his head to hers. "Turn around. Bend over. Hold onto the arm of the sofa."

Gladly.