Page 112 of A Love Like Venom

God knows she deserves a man in her life who is far better than me.

This time I’m going to make things right.

With her I am going to do the right thing.

A girl like her deserves to be wined and dined. Cherished and shown affection. She needs someone to win her love, not take it.

And you know who is going to do that for her?

Me.

Alice

While Reed has been in Church I have been getting to know the Old Ladies.

They all have vastly different personalities.

Personalities that you would think would clash with each other if you didn’t get to know them. On paper their friendship doesn’t make any sense.

But witnessing it, seeing how they all interact with one another it’s like they have known each other their entire lives.

In a short amount of time I have learned a lot about each of them. Or at least what matters most.

Rosa is the most nurturing out of the three. You can see it in her eyes, how she genuinely cares for each and every person here. It’s also in the way that she speaks. Asking how you are doing. Wanting to know if you are okay and if there’s anything she can do to help the circumstance. She truly wishes the best for everyone who deserves it. I imagine she is what every mother is supposed to be like. One who cares deeply. One who wants the best for their kids. One who loves.

A mother I was denied.

Talking with Rosa, watching her interact with Haven, Stella and even Slater makes me wish I had that motherly affection.

Stella, the girl who blushes at almost everything is definitely the shyest. Reserved would be too severe of a word considering she does let loose with the club. It’s just getting the girl to open up to really see her personality. And when she does you can see she has the most beautiful heart. She would give the shirt off her back if it meant it would better someone else. Although she might not be the most talkative she’s a great listener. When she does talk her words are genuine. She shares a genuine smile and holds a warmth that is hard to come by.

And then there is Haven. Haven is certainly the most outspoken of the bunch. Wait, I take that back, she’s the most outspoken person that I have ever met. She’s a girl who is not afraid to say what’s on her mind and she doesn’t care if the truth hurts your feelings. The hard truth is better than a pretty lie. Her very own words not mine. With a blunt mouth and perceptive eyes no one can ever cross her. To some her attitude could be considered abrasive but I take it as a breath of fresh air. She is in no way malicious and her words mean no harm. Her face may be made of steel but in her eyes you can see the vulnerability. There are more bricks guarded around her heart is all. But it is nice to have someone who you know will never bullshit you. And I know if I ever want the truth no matter how harsh it is to hear I can go to her.

Haven and Stella are the polar opposites yet still they hold each other to the highest regard.

With all their vastly different personalities there is one thing all these ladies have in common: love for their family.

It is clear to anyone who walks through those steel doors that these women love this club and they love their men ten times more.

There is unity here.

Loyalty that cannot be bought.

Love that cannot be manipulated.

A family that cannot be broken.

They show to prove that blood is not necessarily thicker than water.

After all look at how my blood treats me. A father who never wanted me. A mother who never once loved me and a sister who learned not to care.

There is a saying that you should stick with your family no matter the consequences. But what happens when your very own family is toxic? When they try on more than several occasions to inject you with their poison?

What then?

It boils down to the good vs evil and right vs wrong debate that I have been battling for my entire life.

Does my not wanting anything to do with my mother and sister make me an evil person?

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