Page 198 of A Love Like Venom

The Sheriff’s eyes, Blake, widen with fury. His jaw which is covered in a close shaven stubble hardens. “Under control?” He echoes mad. “You have a kid close to death and you think you have shit under control?”

“He’s not a kid.”

Blake snorts. “Twenty-two is pretty fucking young to me, Sticks.” I decide to take a good look at the Sheriff. He doesn’t look old. If I had to guess I would say early to mid thirties. The same age around Oak. Blonde hair that is tapered neat to his neck with a short cut. Taller than average but not colossal.He’s broad in the shoulders and has a stature that is slightly intimidating. But it’s his hard green eyes that have me wanting to back away. There is so much power there. Yet I stand my ground and keep my hand in Slater’s.

“I am not going to argue with you.”

“Well that would be a first, wouldn’t it? Ever since I became Sheriff you and your club just can’t seem to fucking listen.”

Sticks nostrils flare and his jaw ticks. “Watch it,” he warns tight lipped.

“Not when people’s lives are in danger and they were today. Innocent lives were at risk because you can’t fucking cooperate with me and tell me what the fuck is going on. This isn’t your town, Sticks. It’s mine, too. It’s my duty to protect these people.”

“We have been doing a fine job of keeping peace in this town. You’re old man saw that.”

At the mention of his father Blake flinches. “And my old man is dead.”

Sticks face falls. “Fuck, I’m sorry-”

“I don’t want your apology. He died because he was in the dark. Because he let your club do whatever the fuck it wanted. He let you have the power. That’s not me. What I want is your cooperation. We work together. We do that than everyone doesn’t have to face the same fate.”

Everyone stays silent and then Sticks says, “Okay.”

Blake nods his head. “Good. Now because he refused a hospital what’s the plan?”

“I already called Dr. Garvey,” Rosa informs us. “He should be here shortly.”

“Okay until then I need him lying down and pressure on his leg wound. The kid is fading quick and if we can’t stop the bleeding he’s not going to make it.”

“Follow me,” Sticks orders. Blake does so without arguing. Slater keeps his hand limply in mine the entire time. He beginsmumbling incoherently again. Over and over. Finally a tear sheds from his eye but I gently wipe it away.

There is something heavy that sits upon my chest. Making it hard to breathe. The weight of it unmeasurable.

And I realize what I am feeling is guilt.

Heavy drowning guilt.

As Sticks opens the doors to a room I have not been in before I barely take in my surroundings. But what I do notice is the medical supplies that are here. And it doesn’t take much for me to figure out this is their medical room. One designed for serious injuries like this.

Blake lays him down gently and then immediately grabs supplies.

I stay by Slater’s side, his hand still in mine.

“Alice.” His voice is weak and faint yet I hear him clearly. “Alice.” He tries again stronger but fails.

Leaning down I bring my head close to his. “I’m here, Slater. Everything is going to be okay.”

“I’m sorry. So so sorry,” he apologizes profusely.

“Sla-”

“Couldn’t . . . couldn’t . . .”

My heart jumps in my throat. “Couldn’t what?”

“Protect him,” he finishes and I can feel my heart breaking into millions of pieces. The lump in my throat increases by tenfold and this time I can’t suppress the cry that escapes my lips.

My hands begins to slip away from his until I feel him grab ahold of my pinky with all the strength he can muster. “He said . . .” His breaths come in ragged and shaky. I want to tell him to save his energy, to rest yet I desperately want to know what Reed told him. “Wouldn’t break . . .” He inhales a long breath that sounds horrid. “His promise.” Only then does his hand let go of mine.

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