Page 28 of A Love Like Venom

He points an accusing finger at me. “And you ruined the fucking plan last night.”

Well, would you look at that ladies and gentlemen, I’m getting a reaction out of the greatly composed Oak.

I lean back in my chair, folding my arms over my chest. I then kick my feet up and rest them on our renovated bar counter.

I know what Oak and I are itching for. And it’s been well overdue.

In our gym at the compound, we have a sparring area that takes up the middle of the gym. Oak and I hash out a lot of shit on those sparring mats. At the end we are both a bloody fucking mess but our problems, whatever they might be that day, are always resolved.

The way he’s glaring at me right now has me itching for a fight.

Tilting my head to the side I examine him. “What would you say it’s been, Oak? Three weeks or four?”

“Four,” he replies tight lipped.

I raise a brow and nod my head, pretending to be impressed by the information. “A new record for us.”

“Would’ve been longer if you didn’t fuck shit up last night,” he grunts.

A grin pulls at my lips. “But where is the fun in that?”

He doesn't say anything back and he doesn't have to. We both know where this is headed. With a manic smile on my face and a dark glint in my eyes, I remove my feet from the bar counter and rise from the chair. Craning my neck one way and then the other I then crack my knuckles.

Turning on my heel I don't wait because I know Oak will be close behind.

He craves this as much as I do. Unleashing everything we keep buried inside. Unveiling the mask to let out our inner demons.

Ever since I saw Alice Hall last night my demons haven't been able to shut the fuck up. They're pesty motherfuckers that keep me up at night and plague my mind during the day.

There's no escape.

You can only suppress your demons for so long before they begin to claw their way out.

I've learned over the years if you let them have a taste, albeit small, it can satisfy them for a short while. Enough to slip the mask back on and continue with the charade.

Here within lies a problem. My demons want more than a taste, they crave a whole fucking feast.

What's about to go down isn't going to cut it. Not by a long shot.

Fuck me sideways.

Entering the gym, I pull off my shirt and take off my socks. By taking my socks off I will have more traction with the mats. Unlike Oak, who has been up since the crack of dawn he's dressed for the day. I only slipped into some athletic shorts this morning to eat breakfast.

Low on sleep, breakfast ruined and the restless demons inside I'm not in prime fighting shape. My mind is too fucked to think about strategy. My body feels heavy from not getting enough sleep. These demons inside are tearing at my soul making me want to lose all self-control.

Disadvantages aside I have an anger inside me, a burning flame that courses through my veins. It's that anger, enough to make my blood boil that keeps me going.

I wasn't lying when I told Haven last year to kill that look I saw in her eyes. A look I knew all too well about. I told her to kill it. For that taste of blood and anger not to consume her. Itwas more than just anger. There was hatred, too. I saw it in her eyes that day. The need to ruin. Wanting to watch the chaos you created. It's intoxicating. Far more seductive than anything else. But then sin always is. And this sin is far worse than any of the deadly seven. Wrath doesn't even come fucking close.

Every god damn day I face it in the mirror. I see the man looking back at me and I'm not scared by the darkness. At the age of ten I've learned to live with it. It's a part of who I am.

Lately it feels like the darkness has swallowed me whole.

That mask I have perfectly crafted, one that has been molded to my face suddenly doesn't fit.

It's cracking. With each crack I'm finding that it's becoming easier to breathe.

I no longer feel like I'm suffocating.

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