The Gender Game 2 by Bella Forrest (audio ebook reader .TXT) 📕

pulled out Lee’s letter. From what it stated there, it was clear that Violet had no idea what his true intentions were. In fact, it appeared that Lee had played her.

However, this didn’t change the fact that she had to have been aware of the bombs in the laboratory. That she had played a part in setting me up. Though at some point, Lee had started to have difficulty with controlling her. That brought a small smirk to my mouth: The idea anyone could control Violet was laughable. She was far too headstrong.

Lee had mentioned giving her pills—did he do it to make her more compliant? If so, when did he start giving them to her? What kind of pills were they? Were they the same ones I had found in her bag? If so, would giving them to her make her more inclined to answer my questions when she woke up?

So many questions, and the source of any answers lay unconscious a few feet away from me. I ran a hand through my hair and sighed again.

Lee was behind the attacks. And now he was dead. Did Violet kill him? If so, was it in self-defense, or born of a desire to take the egg for herself?

I looked at the egg. I still hadn’t tried to open it—I wasn’t sure I wanted to know what was inside. I knew that I had been fed a lie by King Maxen now, who had said the egg was Patrian property, but it was clear from the letter that it had been stolen by Patrus from Matrus. And, given how desperately both countries wanted it, I actually found myself agreeing with Lee—maybe it was better that neither found it.

I had no illusions about the depths of depravity both countries would drop to in the name of the “greater good.” Whatever was in that case was dangerous—dangerous enough to kill for and spelled nothing but trouble for both nations. A part of me was seriously tempted to hike over to the river and toss it in so that no one could have it.

Violet stirred and I set aside my thoughts, watching her. She was looking much better, albeit haggard and dirty. She gave a deep sigh and then continued to sleep, and I frowned, returning to my thoughts.

The egg, created by Matrus, stolen by Patrus, stolen back by Lee and Violet. Only, Lee had then betrayed Queen Rina, killed her and her advisor, and fled the palace. He’d planned to kill Violet as well, or for her to take the blame for the murder at least, but somehow she had stopped him. Then she’d headed to The Green… Why? She had the egg. All she had to do was go back and explain, right? Especially if she could use the egg as leverage.

Then again, Violet had been on the wrong side of the law for a long time. Maybe she just didn’t trust the government anymore, and planned to do something else with the egg. Although what that could be, I had no clue.

Also, who was Desmond, the person the letter was addressed to? Whoever he was, it was clear that he and Lee were close. Maybe he was part of a terrorist faction? Lee was an anarchist against both countries, but would he go as far as to join a terrorist group?

It wouldn’t surprise me if he would.

“Viggo?”

Violet reclaimed my attention. She was sitting up, looking at me, her eyes wide behind her mask. An immediate flash of anger slid into me. How dare she look so innocent, I thought with disgust, my mind turning back to the bombing.

I leapt off the root, my legs bent to absorb the impact. “Mrs. Bertrand,” I drawled sardonically, offering her a little bow.

She grew pale and flinched. “Don’t call me that,” she whispered.

“Oh? Why not? It might have been a ruse, but you were legally married, after all.”

Violet shook her head. “It was for the mission,” she said hoarsely.

“You mean the mission where you planted bombs and killed people?” I asked. I was being intentionally cruel, but my anger needed an outlet, and the source of my anger was here in front of me.

“I didn’t want all those people to die,” she rasped. “Lee planted extra bombs that I didn’t even know about until it was too late. I had no choice. You have to believe me.”

“Believe you? After you set me up to go down for your crime?”

Tears were starting to form in her eyes. “I tried to talk Lee out of it! I swear I tried. I was trapped.”

I scoffed at her. “Like I should believe you. I’ve seen your file, Violet. I know about all the people you hurt or killed before you even started this mission.”

Violet swallowed, tears still spilling from her gray eyes. “I know,” she said. “I’m a murderer… and even those I don’t murder who are involved with me end up dying. The queen, Alastair, Lee, the girl in school and in the prison… everyone who touches me dies.”

I frowned, unprepared for her response. She continued, staring at her hands. “I’m toxic. I’m poison. Y-You need to stay away from me!”

I shook my head. “Oh no, Violet. I’m here to bring you back to answer for your crimes.”

Violet stood up, her knees shaky. “I’m not going back with you,” she exclaimed. “I may be responsible for those lab deaths, but I didn’t actually commit them. I’ve been a pawn in someone else’s game for too long. I’m not going back.”

“The hell you aren’t,” I growled.

She took a step back, raising her arm. “Don’t, Viggo! Please, don’t.”

I examined her. She was trembling, probably still weak from the venom and the lack of food. I hesitated, feeling a thread of disgust worm in through my anger. I was scaring her.

Instantly, I wanted to kneel down in front of her and comfort her. She looked so afraid, it was hard for me to believe that it wasn’t an act. I turned