Page 160 of A Love Like Venom

“You quit?”

“Of course I did! I’m not going to stay employed at a place where a man abused my best friend. Let alone that same man with his entire club having a price on your head. Wait, you are aware of that right? Everyone in Hollows Point knows about it.”

I nod my head. “My sister actually told me. She said she wouldn’t mind cashing in.” Speaking of her leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

Her face twists and her eyes flash with fury. “I’ll kill the fucking bitch.”

“You know,” Haven begins, she uncrosses her legs and walls over to join us then continues with a wicked gleam in her eyes, “it’s been a long time since I’ve been in a fight. I’m more than happy to put a bitch in their place.”

“You’re pregnant.” I remind her not gently.

She simply rolls her eyes.

Grace’s eyes bounce between her face and then her stomach. “Seriously?”

Haven snickers. “I’ll be showing soon. In the meantime I can still kick some ass.”

“Absolutely not,” Oak says to her. “Dex doesn’t need to be worrying about you and the baby.”

“Dex?” Grace questions.

“My husband,” Haven answers with a dreamy voice. Her smile serene. The mention of her husband has her turning to mush before our eyes.

“Speaking of your husband he will be here shortly,” Oak tells her.

She raises a brow. “Why?”

Oak glances at me before landing his gaze on Reed. A look happens between them that I can’t decipher but I can tell that it doesn’t mean any good.

“I called for Church. The club needs to go on lockdown. No one in and no one out.” Everyone mutters curses under their breaths.

“Did you not hear what I just said? Connor has to be back,” Grace argues.

Oak meets her stare and his eyes soften. He puts his arm around the young boy protectively. “When the time comes I will accompany the both of you to Hollows Point. Once the social worker clears you I’m bringing you both back here.”

“Oak, it’s not that simple. He can’t miss two weeks of school!”

“He can for a family emergency.”

“What will his social worker say when he sees two weeks of school not attended? I can’t lie and say there is a family emergency when there is none.”

“Then consider me your new bodyguard for the time being,” he simply says.

She places her hands on her hips. “You have got to be kidding me.”

By the look on his face he’s not. “You don’t have to like it, Grace but it’s happening regardless. Your life and Conner’s is in jeopardy by having a close relationship to Alice. If you don’t think for one second that they wouldn’t use either of you to get to her you’re wrong.”

Grace gnaws on her lower lip. She glances over at Connor who is all too relaxed at Oak’s side and then back at him. “It’s Gracie Mae to you.”

Oak smothers a smile. “Is that a yes or no,Gracie Mae?”

Waving the white flag she gives him the answer he wants to hear. “It’s a yes,big guy.”

Amusement lights in his eyes from her nickname. “Good. Snake kiss your girl I need to talk to you before Church.” Oak lets go of Connor and he comes to his sister’s side.

Reed doesn’t question him. He sweeps me back in his arms hauling me to his chest. Low whistles and catcalls are heard as he kisses me breathless. Once he’s done he plants a chaste kiss to the tip of my nose and then my forehead. “I love you, angel.”

“I love you more.”

---