Page 178 of A Love Like Venom

“She’s right, champ,” Oak says to him in support of Gracie Mae. He stands by the door with their duffel bags in each hand. Carrying them as if they weigh nothing at all. “Listen to her.”

Connor sighs. “Okay.” Then his face lights up. “Does this mean I get to ride on the back of your bike to school?!”

Oak replies yes the same time Gracie Mae replies no. They both stare each other down and she places her hands on her hips once again. “Not a good idea, big guy. It’s not safe.”

“You really think I would hurt the kid?”

“No but-”

“But nothing. He’ll be safe. I’m not going to let anything happen to him,” Oak promises her.

She’s about to argue again when the loud squeal of glee from Connor stops her. Then with his hands clasped he gives her puppy dog eyes and pleads, “Please sis, please! Please!”

Pretending to contemplate his pleads the rest of us can see her resolve. “Okay.”

Fist bumping his hand in the air he shouts with victory. Then he runs over to Oak and gives him a quick hug.

The kid is sweet. Almost too sweet to be Gracie Mae’s brother. His smiles are infectious and his kid spirit is not to be defeated. For all the struggles he faces you wouldn’t know it and I know a lot of that has to do with his sister.

They wave a final goodbye as they leave.

Alice continues to look at the door. Her arms folding across her chest as she caves in on herself. It’s a habit that takes me back to when we were kids. When everything was too much and she just wanted to be invisible.

My girl is strong, the strongest person I have ever met. The mental abuse she endured from her family, the ruthless kids at school, Chris Blackwell and what Razor did to her never broke her.

Neither did Hollows Point. The town is known for crushing your spirit and killing your dreams. Trying to succumb you in its darkness with no way of escape.

Hell, even what I did to her. Leaving without a word, hating her for all those years and being a complete fucking asshole to her when I saw her again.

She never withered.

She never broke.

Somehow she grew stronger despite it all.

Her wings may be battered and bruised but she finds the strength to fly.

And if her wings ever fail her I will always be there to catch her when she falls.

Walking up behind her I wrap her in my arms. Instantly she relaxes in my hold and rests her head back on my chest. Pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head I tell her, “Oak will protect them. You have nothing to worry about.”

“I know,” she whispers. “Yet I still worry. It makes me a hypocrite you know. I tell you not to worry or fear over me yet here I am.”

I kiss her head again. My arms tighten around her. “When you love people that happens. Some emotions you can’t turn off but having trust in people helps.”

Turning in my arms she tips her head up and stares up at me lovingly. “Romantic and wise.”

“That’s a new one no one has accused me of,” I joke.

“Only for me then?” She teases back.

Bringing my head down my lips brush against hers as I reply, “Only for you.”

As I hold her in my arms there’s a feeling I can’t quite shake. A thought that won’t leave my mind.

It’s always calm before the storm.

Why do I feel like we are about to get hit?

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