Page 26 of A Love Like Venom

“Forgive my ass,” he mutters under his breath. But it’s loud enough for me to hear it. And I know it was deliberate, too.

The man he is now, Snake, this man wishes to cause me nothing but pain. It shows with each look he gives me. It proves true how each word he speaks is spoken with venom. His verbal lashings crack against my already worse for wear skin.

Reed Carter was the last person to break my heart.

Snake wants to be the first to destroy my soul.

“What kind of business?” My voice is shaky at best.

He gives a shake of his head. “Can’t tell you, Alice. It’s club business. I wouldn’t want you to be in the middle of it.”

“You know, I don’t exactly have a problem with that,” Snake says darkly. It earns him a hard pointed look from Oak. A warning. Snake then rolls his eyes and sighs heavily. Before taking another sip of beer he huffs, “You’re no fucking fun. I was only joking.”

Oak raises a doubtful brow. “Were you?”

He winks playfully at him, pointing his beer towards him. “Ah, you got me.”

Asshole.

This time Oak sighs heavily. And I can hear the disappointment in it. He runs an exasperated hand down his face. Blowing out a breath he says more to himself than anyone else, “Honestly don’t know how I fucking put up with you.”

Snake smirks and finishes the rest of his beer. Out of instinct I’m about to take it and replenish him with another before I hear a familiar voice call my name.

Grace stands at the other end of the bar with eyes full of concern. She’s gnawing on her lower lip. The telltale sign of her worry. Subtly, she tips her head backwards twice and I see why she’s so worried.

Bathing in red light with a dark blue menacing stare with a rigid spine and a clenched jaw is Razor. His lips are drawn in an angry line and his hands are fisted by his sides. The tendons in his neck strain. I can feel the heat of his stare from here.

I would rather prefer the fires of Hell than the heat of his eyes devouring my skin.

As our eyes meet, I suck in a horrifying gasp. I’ve seen that look before. Iknowthat look.

My heart begins to beat ferociously. The beat of it so loud I can hear it pounding in my ears. Fear spreads through my body like ice. Freezing me in place. My legs tremble but I don’t fall. My mind is screaming at me to run for my life. To snatch my keys and get the hell out of here. Except I stay where I am. Pathetically frozen.

As I watch his hand move to the back of his waistband, I suddenly move into action.

Leave it to my adrenaline to make me fight wherehe’sconcerned.

Whipping around I look between Snake and Oak, pleading them with my eyes. “You both need to go,” I urge them.

Snake laughs while Oak’s brows furrow in concern. “What’s going on?” Oak peers around the club before meeting mine again.

I swallow thickly. My palms become clammy as sweat beads at my temple. Dread hits the pit of my stomach. “Please just go. Please.” My voice cracks.

Snake tilts his head to the side, and I can feel him studying me. He then challenges, “And if we don’t?”

My heart lurches in my throat, too afraid to voice what will happen. With my tongue like lead in my mouth I plead with them one last time. “Please.”

Recognition,thank god, flashes in Oak’s eyes. “Okay, we’ll go for now, but we’ll be back,” he assures me. He stands from the bar stool, and I finally see how massive he is. He’s a mammoth of a man.

Clapping his hand over Snake’s shoulders he orders, “Time to go, Snake.”

Snake stays rooted in his spot. In fact, he places his elbow against the bar counter and rests his chin on his hand. With an impassive face and looking rather comfortable he replies, “I think I’ll stay.”

The blood drains from my face.

“Another time, brother. Let’s go. Now,” Oak barks at him. A tone not to be denied or questioned.

Snake reluctantly removes himself from the bar counter and stands besides Oak. He’s not as large but he isn’t small either. No, Snake is the perfect balance. Tall, yet not overpowering. Muscles that are cut and defined instead of hulking.

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