Page 177 of A Love Like Venom

Amused she replies, “Uh-huh.”

“Forget that. He’s more like sex on legs,” she comments and I hold back a snicker. There’s something I have never heard about Oak before.

My phone rings in my pocket pulling me away from their conversation.

As I glance down my face falls flat.

Jessica.

No fucking thank you.

The phone keeps ringing and it burns in my hand.

“Jessica again?” Slater who sits on my right asks. He’s been keeping tabs on her but nothing suspicious has come up. I’ve been thanking him for his efforts but he always comes back disappointed when he has nothing good to tell me.

I nod my head in reply.

Slaters sighs heavily. “I’m sorry, Snake. I wish I had news to tell you. The only place she goes to is work, the local shops and then home.”

No one is more disappointed than me when it comes to that. I want to believe with every fiber in my being that she has to be lying.

Eventually the truth will come. If it’s today, tomorrow or months from now when the baby is born I will know if it really is mine or not.

“I appreciate the effort.”

“If there is anything more I can do just let me know.” He offers me a smile and nods his head before leaving.

Glancing down at my phone it reads that I have three missed calls and four texts from Jessica.

Muttering a few expletives under my breath I read the texts she sent me.

All asking the same questions from the days prior. More begging me to give “us” a chance. Her wanting to meet with me and trying to reason with me. As if there is anything to reason with.

She knows I’m in a relationship.

She knows that nothing will transpire between the two of us.

And she knows that the club is on lockdown. Her request to meet is impossible yet that doesn’t deter her. Three days ago she came banging on the steel door demanding to be let in.

I catch a glimpse of Alice hugging Gracie Mae and Connor fiercely. Her eyes are teary as she lets them go.

“You’ll call me every day?” Alice asks of her.

“I’ll FaceTime you everyday. Trust me, Connor and I will be okay,” she assures her. She hugs her again, squeezing the life out of her.

Gracie Mae then wraps her arm around Connor and smiles warmly at the rest of us. “Thank you all for treating us like family.”

“Oh honey,” Rosa begins smiling back at her, “you are family. The both of you are welcome back here any time.”

Haven then adds, “And you have my number. Use it.” Her own personal way of saying to stay in touch.

Gracie Mae chuckles. “I will. We will be back Saturday. Then Sunday we will have to leave again so this one doesn’t miss school on Monday.” She ruffles his hair and he immediately tries to start fixing it.

“I could always miss,” he innocently suggests.

“Yeah, no way. You already missed enough. School is important, Connor.”

“But-”

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