Scorned by Venom (Argentium Vampire Hunters Trilogy #2)

6. Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Winnie

Music blared through the night sky as I stepped out of Drag’s truck. I assumed the people here were letting loose and having fun, which was something they needed. It had been rough.

We managed to get all the food and supplies on the list. Hoping to also make her feel more like herself, I got some medicine for Sage, and knowing she loved music, I also bought her an Alexa and a music subscription.

Lyric’s natural scent hit my senses, alerting me she was nearby. My gaze shot in the direction it emanated from and found her heading toward me, radiating pure happiness.

After giving her a quick kiss, I lowered the tailgate so we could unload the supplies. “How was your visit, mama?”

Her amber eyes sparkled. “Amazing! She’s beautiful, Winston. You have to go see her.”

Knowing she felt the happiness many people feel around babies, a happiness I couldn’t give her, caused a knot in my throat. I didn’t have time to respond because Heston tapped my shoulder.

“Are they drunk or . . ?”

Turning my head in the direction he pointed, my eyebrows rose as I caught sight of Vivi and Sage dancing seductively next to the fire.

“For fuck’s sake.” Dropping the big ass thing of toilet paper I held, I immediately headed toward them, and everyone who had gone on the trip followed me.

Vivi grabbed the whiskey from Sage and took a huge gulp, spilling it down the front of her, and I let out a hard breath.

When I approached, I pointed to the speaker. “Turn it down.” Jimmy lowered the music and I glared at my sister. “What are you doing, Viviana?”

“Getting drunk. Want some?” She grinned, holding the bottle out to me, her brown eyes sparkling with drunken happiness.

I shook my head. “No, thanks.”

Sage put her hands in the air and twirled in a circle. “Fucking live a little, Winnie!”

Vivi shoved the liquor in my face. “Fucking live, brother!”

The last thing I wanted to deal with was two broken-hearted drunk women.

With more intensity than needed, I forcefully yanked the bottle from Vivi’s hands. “You two have had enough.”

Sage stumbled to a stop, and her slanted eyes locked on me. “You’re a killjoy, you know that? We’re just having fun.”

Her slurred words made it clear to me that she wasn’t going to last much longer. She resumed spinning in circles, and judging by her uncoordinated feet, she was either going to throw up or fall down soon.

I knew one thing, her ass was going to wake up with a hangover and I wasn’t going to take care of her.

My chest tightened, and everything Marcus had been teaching me went out the window when I hit my snapping point. “So, you can get drunk but not make one fucking phone call?”

Sage came to a wobbling stop and her bloodshot eyes practically crossed. “And that’s a problem for you, Asshole?”

“Yeah, it is!” I screamed louder than I intended.

“It’s not your problem!”

“No, but you giving up on Luka is my fucking problem!”

The pounding of her heart rang in my ears over the music and her angry expression melted away. The pain she had been holding back exploded out of her emotional floodgates.

“He’s dead, Winnie! That’s why I gave up! He’s fucking dead!” She fell to her knees, covered her face with her hands, and started crying.

Fuck.

We knew Sage had been going through some shit, but none of us knew she thought Luka was dead. Mainly because she refused to talk to us, but it still didn’t keep me from feeling like an asshole.

Not wanting to see her cry, I dropped my tough love act and kneeled next to her.