Page 157 of A Love Like Venom

There is light inside him.

Even if that light is buried deep down inside it still finds a way to shine.

Reed slips out of the headlock and comes back to stand besides me. Wrapping his arm around me he kisses the top of my head. The simple act of affection never fails to cause butterflies in my stomach.

“Why are you guys here?” He then asks everyone.

“What, you don’t want us here?” Haven sasses back.

He gives her a pointed look. “It’s almost ten o’clock at night.”

“You can read time. I’m proud of you, Snake,” she snarks. She then sits down on the bar stool and crosses her legs. If there wasn’t a smile on her face I would think she wasn’t joking around with him.

What I have learned of her personality is that she is heavily sarcastic.

“The only reason all of you would be here this late is if Sticks called for Church but he isn’t here and neither are your men.” He points his finger to Haven and Stella.

“We are here because Oak told us a new girl is coming in and he wants her to feel at ease,” Stella answers him.

“And I’m all too curious to see who has Oak so protective,” Haven chimes in.

Rosa scoffs. “Oak is protective by nature.”

Haven shakes her head. “Did you get the same text that I did?”

Reed snorts. “Probably not. They aren’t as bitchy as you.” She flips him off and then rolls her eyes.

The dynamic between the two of them very much relates a sibling relationship. Watching them interact it’s easy to pick up that he has a tighter relationship with her than the other women.

Truthfully it doesn’t bother me.

I know that he loves me.

I would never doubt him on that.

Besides, I am not insecure.

“The girl is Gracie Mae,” I begin. All their eyes land on me with curiosity and interest. “She’s a dear friend of mine. The only one I had in Hollows Point. She’s also bringing her younger brother, Connor.”

Rosa is the first to speak. “She’s important to you?”

I nod my head. “Very much. So is her brother. Gracie Mae helped me through a lot.” Reed kisses the top of my head again. “She really is like a sister to me.” She is the sister I wish I had.The only good thing about starting my job at Hell’s Gates was her. She was there for me from the very beginning and she never stopped.

“Then say no more. If she’s important to you then she’s important to us,” Rosa declares.

“Really?” I ask mind boggled.

Haven laughs at my reaction. I blink my wide eyes towards her. “You’ll get used to it. We really are one big family here. It took me awhile to adjust,” she admits.

Stella then says with a warm smile, “And it’s the best family to be a part of. No offense taken to your own of course.”

“I don’t, I . . .” My words are hesitant as I try to explain the family that I do have. A mother who only had me in a last attempt to keep my father. A father who never wanted me and left days later. Finally a sister who has no problem seeing me dead.

I don’t have a family.

Wow.

I have never thought of it like that before.

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