Page 167 of A Love Like Venom

"That's the problem, angel. I tell you and then you might leave."

"I'm not going anywhere. I love you, Reed Carter. Forever," she promises me with passion and love in her eyes. It's bittersweet to see knowing that I might kill it.

"Forever," I echo back questioning it. "You really think so?"

Her brows furrow as her face twists with anger. Her eyes, a beautiful honey brown now hold a fire in them. "How could you question that? You have always been the love of my life."

"And you will always be the love of mine."

"Then talk to me! Tell me what is going on. What ever it is we can figure it out. Together."

"Together," I breathe.

Reaching up on her tip toes her lips come dangerously close to mine. She doesn't care about the streaks of blood on my face. She only stares at me dearly. Her lips brush against my own as she whispers, "Always."

My arms wrap around her and pull her closer to me. I close my eyes breathing her in. The scent of vanilla fills my nostrils. Her touch, her scent, it soothes my soul and silences the demons. It's her light that sparks hope within me.

"What I am about to tell you," I begin hesitantly, "I need you to understand this was before you came back in my life."

Tilting her head back she gives me her eyes. They allow me to see everything. Even the things she wants to keep hidden. Except Alice and I can never hide from each other. Not when she's woven so deep in my soul that she's become a part of me.

"I understand. Just tell me."

I take a deep breath in and exhale slowly hoping that the nerves will pass. "Okay. I'll tell you everything."

Alice

He exhales slowly, the nerves eating away at him. I want to comfort him. Pull him in my arms and take away the look of distress upon his face. I want to assure him with all the breath that I have in me and say until my last that I will always love him.

I want for so much yet I don't do a thing.

I simply wait patiently.

Ever so patiently that the silence is becoming painful.

And it's painful to sit here and wait to hear what he has to say. To wait and hear what has him believing that my love for him will vanish. That our love that was supposed to be enough to survive the fight against The Crowned Devils MC has suddenly been weakened.

What could he have done for him to believe such a thing?

And what is there that I wouldn't forgive him for?

As I stare at him, my beautiful darkness, I wonder if the moon will shine as bright after tonight.

He swallows thickly. Then he runs a shaky hand that is stained with blood through his hair.

His chest is smattered with it. Parts of his face are painted with it and his knuckles are still dripping.

My heart squeezes inside my chest as I feel the pain for him.

I take his battered hands back in mine and smile up at him sadly. "We need to clean you up."

Hazel eyes bore down on mine unreadable. And I hate that. I hate that I can't see what's going on inside that mind of his. He replies gruffly, "I want to talk to you first."

I pat the back of his gently aware of his busted knuckles. "I know and believe me I want to hear all of it but I don't want you to be in pain."

He stares down at me like I'm the eighth wonder of the world. "I don't feel it. I never do."

My brows furrow with confusion. "You don't feel pain?"

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