Page 46 of Angel

“Venom, you and Venom. He drove you home tonight, saved you from a crazy dirtbag, and he was practically going to throw down with Chain tonight. For you.” Tequila tilts her head, expecting me to answer.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. There is absolutely nothing going on.” Sure, nothing’s going on. We didn’t experience a steamy bedroom scene you find in romance novels. Nope. Not at all. And no, I didn’t enjoy it. Lies.

“I got a hunch he is hiding a heart in there somewhere.” Jules smirks, and both Tequila and I snort.

“He may have driven me home and saved me from a terrible fate, but it’s because he didn’t want Chain to come after him. Plus, the guy Mouse is an asshat, and he hates him. So, it was strictly for his own reasons.”

“Mhm, okay, I’ll buy that… for now.” Jules smiles.

Are he and I starting to see each other differently?

Venom

One long-ass walk later, and I attack the screen door to my club, slamming it open against the wall. I’m still fuming as heads turn my way. I meet Mouse’s dead stare as he pushes a hang-around off his dick. I stop cold, without tearing my glare away from him.

He stalks toward me, and I watch him, wanting to rip every limb off his body. He slurs in my face. The fucker is drunk already. Probably still high too. But for some reason, his swollen face and purple eyes make me smile.

That’s my angel. Even though she’s not mine, I guess I believe her to be.

“That little bitch of yours… If I see her back in here, I’ll slit her damn throat right after I shove my cock inside her whore of a snatch.”

That was it. All I needed. All I needed for my blood to turn to lava. There’s a possessiveness I hold for her, one that screams out in vain. With a single heated step, I’m nose-to-nose with him, and he flinches back.

I replay the scene from earlier, grabbing hold of his neck like a fucking pipe, and lift him up. The tips of his boots scrape the floor beneath him as I slam his body hard against the nearest table. Glasses break, the table buckles, and people skid out from their chairs. His face is buried into the wooden surface, and I bend low so he can hear me. I’m so furious my heart beats out of my chest, and my hands shake.

“I thought I already told you: If you ever go near her. Even look at her. You breathe her fucking name, and I will slit your throat right before I saw your tiny dick off with my boot knife.” I pick him up, my fingers squeezing the tendons beneath his jawline as his body leaves the table. “Now give me your patch, because you’re out of my club. Got me?” I snarl at him, then release his bony neck.

After he regains the oxygen in his lungs, he stumbles to an upright position, holding on to the destroyed table beside him. He’s a bigger idiot than I thought if he challenges me. He’ll lose; it’s not even close. I watch him, waiting to make the first move, but the fucker looks like he’s shaking in his goddamn boots.

“You can’t take my patch, not without a vote.” He breathes heavy, still recovering from my hand to his throat.

I smirk. “All right. Everyone except my brothers, out now!” Chairs scrape across floorboards, and voices fill the background. And when all that’s left are my members, I call out, “Church, right fucking now.”

No one asks questions; they just follow behind to the meeting room.

I sit at the head of the table, where Scorpion normally would, and wait for everyone to take a seat. “I called this meeting because I want this fucker out. Maybe we should revisit all the memorable shit he has done over the past year.” I lean forward, all eyes on me. “First, the big one, him getting caught selling dope outside our fucking club, remember that? Got us in real deep with the heat. Took a while for them to get off our asses. Something we clearly don’t need. And tonight, this isn’t about some pussy.” False. It’s all about Angel. Even if I can’t stand this fucker. “This is about the club, and I won’t have this asshole here as a liability. So, anyone in favor of voting him the fuck out, raise your hand. I want a nay or yay.”

I connect eyes with Wrench, and he’s the first to speak up. “Yay, brother.” He nods, and Mouse slams a fist.

“This is fucking bullshit!”

I look around, waiting for the rest to man up. Slowly, hands start to rise, and yays are coming out of the woodwork. I wait for the last member to throw up a palm, and it’s a yay. I slam the gavel down and stand. “There, we voted and you’re out. I want your patch, now.”

“I can’t fucking believe this! I’ve done so much for all you stupid pricks!” Mouse spits at my feet and glares at me. “You can’t vote me out. You aren’t President.”

“Try me, fucker. I told you earlier. Who the fuck do you think is in charge here while he’s not around?” I point to my chest. “Me, I’m in fucking charge.” I tower over him as I growl each word. “Now. Get. The. Fuck. Out.”

He wants to challenge me, but his fear shoots down any half-witted attempts. “Fine.” He rips his patch off, slamming it on top of the table. “But I’ll make you regret this. Fuck you and this club.” He shoulder bumps me as he storms out.

Members turn around, some avoiding eye contact. I shake my head, rubbing a hand over my face. “It was a long time coming. Fucker was a loose cannon we didn’t need.” Wrench backs me up, and I give him a nod of gratitude. Most of the others agree and I’m thankful for that.

After dismissing church, I walk to the bar.

Jesus Christ. What a fucking night. I contemplate calling it, heading home to the peace and quiet, but I order a beer and sit on the damn bar stool instead. I wonder how Angel is doing. I hate that I’m feeling so much for her. I hate that she consumes every ounce of my thoughts. I don’t feel, and I sure as hell don’t do what I’m about to do.

I pull out my cell, find her name, and start typing.

Me: I should have been there. Shouldn’t have left you alone with him.

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