Page 232 of A Love Like Venom

She then pinches his chin between her fingers and makes him meet her stare. Lowly, menacingly she says, “I told you that you would never own me, and you never did. Now you’ll die knowing that you never had me and you never will.” Letting go of him she takes a step back and nods her head at me.

Crossing the room, I grab the gallon of kerosene. Finally putting its purpose to use I unscrew the cap and douse the flammable liquid all over his body. He moans and writhes in pain as the liquid glides over all his wounds.

I pour the kerosene down on the ground in a line as I take a healthy two steps back. Once the kerosene is empty, I throw the can across the room.

For dramatic flair I take out a box of matches. There’s something about striking the flame rather than flicking a lighter.

“I told you I would do to you what I did to the last man that touched her.” I smirk maliciously, my eyes darkening. Keeping my eyes on his I hand the box of matches over to her. His eye widens and he begins squirming restlessly.

Honestly, it’s hysterical. I can’t help but snicker.

Alice takes the box of matches from my fingers. Once she has his attention, she strikes a match. He thrashes against his restraints. He doesn’t budge an inch.

She extends her arm and goes to throw the match but at the last second blows it out.

He sags with relief.

Except I know the game Alice is playing so it doesn’t come to a surprise to me when she strikes up another match and does the same thing.

“It makes you anxious, doesn’t it?” She asks him while striking another match. His eye focuses on the tiny little flame. “You’re afraid of what I’ll do.” The match dies out and he expels a breath. She narrows her eyes at him. Her voice is hard. “That’s how you made me feel. And all I wanted was to be free of it.” A slight pause. “But I can forgive you for what you’ve done to me,” she says to him.

His eye lights up with hope. He moans, mumbling unintelligible words that I’m sure if he could speak would be pleas.

That hope in his eye dies quick as soon as Alice strikes her last match. “What I can’t forgive you for is what you did to him. Hurt me all you want but you don’t get to hurt the ones I love. You showed him no mercy. I’m extending you the same curtesy.” She drops the lit match on the beginning of the kerosene line.

We both watch as the flame reaches its destination.

Within a matter of seconds, if that, Razor’s body becomes aflame.

His moans are loud and agonizing. Music to my fucking ears.

Alice’s hand intertwines with mine. I squeeze hers tighter.

“I’m ready to leave, Reed,” she softly whispers.

Turning towards her I find her already gazing at me. She’s completely oblivious to what is happening in front of us. But she came here for what she set to do. Now that it’s done, she has no reason to be here and neither do I.

I nod my head and lead her away from the past that once haunted her to a future that will be nothing but a dream.

We stop in front of my bike. You can hear his wails from here.

“One more thing, angel, then we can go.” From my inner pocket out of my cut I take out a small detonation device.

Placing Alice in front of me I wrap my arm over her chest and bring her flush against my front. Her fingers hold onto my forearm with a gentle grip. Her head rests comfortably back on my chest.

Then, raising the detonation device so we both can see, a single red button that will detonate each explosive I have armed in the building, I press the button.

It’s like watching the grandest of fireworks. An explosion of epic proportions. You can feel the heat from the fire blazing high. The roar is a purr more pleasant to the ears although I throughly enjoyed his screams.

And I can’t help the genuine smile that splits across my face from ear to ear.

This is the end to a new beginning.

“Do you regret it?” I ask Alice. She knows what I’m asking without even flat out saying it.

She shakes her head from side to side. “I don’t regret a single thing.” Her voice sounds calm, peaceful. If I was worried what weight the action of killing someone held on her shoulders I’m not at all now. She needed this. She needed to be the one to do it. Just like I had to be the one to kill Chris Blackwell. “Do you ever regret it?”

I hold her tighter to me and press a kiss to the top of her head. “Not even once.”

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