Page 34 of Angel

“What? I can’t see my boyfriend in the morning?”

“I’m not your boyfriend, and we’re not at my club, so I’ll ask kindly. What the fuck are you doing here, Angel? Last night wasn’t an invitation to stop by randomly.”

“I’m ready to start our day’s work, you know, looking for Scorpion. So we can get out from under this so-called hell.”

“Trust me, that sounds like heaven. But it’s eight in the fucking morning. The only people up at my club are the ones who never went to bed. So, get out of my house, and I’ll call you when I’m headed down there.” I hold the door wide open, giving her the hint.

“Are you forgetting these are our rules? You don’t get to call the shots. That’s my and my club’s job.” She grabs a piece of bacon off my plate. “We can end you just as fast as we let you walk.”

I groan again, slamming the door shut. This is my punishment for all the bad shit I’ve done. She is my punishment. I stand there and watch as she downs my orange juice. “Your mother ever teach you manners?”

“Nah, my mother didn’t give a shit about me.” She winces, and I think she said more than she intended. “Anyway, when we leave, we should leave together. It’ll look like I spent the night.”

“You did spend the night.” I cross my arms over my chest, and I don’t miss the way she eyes them up. I smirk, because we might hate each other, but there’s no denying she’s thought about me bending her backwards a few times. She’s looking at me like she did last night, and I think it’s time to remind her that last night was a figment of her imagination.

“Sure, technically. But this way it looks more authentic. Not that it really matters. Honestly, your club doesn’t seem to be promoting a high-intelligence level.”

“Finally something we actually agree on.” I watch as she shovels another piece of bacon in her mouth. “Enjoying yourself?”

“Yes, very much so. You’re a pretty good chef. Although, cooking bacon and eggs is something a middle schooler can do, so I’m not sure how much credit I should give you.”

I snicker. “Funny.” I step closer, placing my palm on the edge of the table. Next to her. And the other on the back of the chair she’s sitting in. I lean forward and she freezes, pausing mid-chew. We share ten seconds of tense silence, staring at each other. She swallows, and lust seeps from her pores. Her scent runs all the way down through my body until it reaches my dick. “I’m not sure what made you think this little thing we have here was anything but business. But we aren’t friends, and we sure as fuck aren’t cool enough for you to be in my house so casually uninvited. I’m not that sort of guy, peach. Don’t mistake that small act of kindness last night for me being a good fucking man, because I’m anything but.”

She lets out the breath she’s been holding, and her eyes twitch with hurt. And fuck me, if that doesn’t cut me deep. I don’t know why she’s surprised. This is me, who I am. She shouldn’t let her guard down. I’m still a snake and can easily poison her.

She stares at me. Any bit of comfort she had when she entered my house vanishes. Good. This is what I want. For the hate to find its way back into her soul. Hate that never really left, but needed to be revisited again. To remind her what kind of man I am, in case she forgot.

“You’re the worst. My bad, for thinking there was maybe a way we could be civil. But you really are the biggest asshole I have ever met.” She gets up so fast we almost butt heads.

I smirk as she tramples past me, getting ready to make her exit. “I am an asshole, peach. Something you should never forget.”

She stops, her hand on the doorknob, and slowly turns. The sheer loathing she has for me burns a hole inside my chest. “Go fuck yourself, Venom. Don’t worry, I could never forget.” She stomps out, anger trailing behind her as she beelines it to her bike.

Her bike? She has a fucking bike? I didn’t actually think she rode her own, nonetheless a Harley. Not with how she’s always driving her flashy car around everywhere... Well, shit. I rub the hair along my chin. “Oh, by the way, my club is having a party tonight. You’ve been invited. Can’t fucking wait to see you there. I’ll try to hide my excitement.”

She flips me off, swings one long, sexy leg over her bike, and starts her up. I’m pretty sure I get a chub as I watch her take off down my drive.

Fuck me. I slam my front door shut and slump back in my chair, picking up my fork still piled high with the eggs I’ve been salivating over. This is what I want. The quiet, the peace, being alone. This is what I’m used to… being by myself, without anyone to hold me back. And I sure as fuck don’t need a woman like Angel traipsing around as if she owns the fucking place. This is my house, the snake pit, and I’m always hunting.

I pause, staring at the food I’ve been desperately craving, and toss my fork down in irritation. I get up before sending the uneaten scrambled eggs to the trash.

Leaning on my counter top, I stare out my back window. If this is what I want, then why does it feel so empty without her now?

TWELVE

Angel

I speed off, fueled by rage as I leave Venom’s. I don’t know what I was thinking, going there. I can’t wait to be rid of him. To be done playing house. The sooner, the better. Because I don’t know how much more I can take. It’s like driving nails through the tips of my fingers.

I stop at a red light, and my phone buzzes. “Hey, girl, where you at? I hope you’re not at the Skulls’ clubhouse,” Tequila asks.

“No, not yet. I’m about to blow off some steam though… Wanna meet me at Larry’s gym?”

“Yeah, give me twenty minutes.”

I hang up and when the red light turns green, I race down the road to the gym, passing the blurred buildings along the way. I can’t help but think about tonight. If Mouse seems to be in frequent contact with Scorpion, then he’s definitely the source of our information. Which can work in my favor, since he’s already got a taste for me. I find it odd that Venom hasn’t reacted much to Mouse being the one kept in the loop. I bet Venom has a plan. He has to have a plan.

Since I have some time to kill, I need to work off this frustration. Yes, we have our own gym, but Tank’s place lacks something this one has: a self-defense class. It starts in about twenty minutes, so I can still make it. I’ve been taking lessons for a couple of years now. It helps fuel my confidence. Diminish any weakness I may feel.

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