Page 30 of A Love Like Venom

A metallic bitter taste soaks my tongue. Meeting his eyes, I then spit the blood that fills my mouth on the ground in front of him.

Before he can think better to react, I kick him square on the abdomen, pushing my leg out in front of me with great force. He falters backwards and I watch as his muscles contract with pain. Not even a grunt or whimper leaves his lips but his jaw clenches. That's enough for me to know that I hurt him.

His demeanor sharpens. Eyes are dark and focused. Jaw is tight.

Predator assessing predator.

Which one will come out as victor?

This time he charges at me, and I block his punch with my forearm. Countering I throw a punch of my own. With his abdomen already hurting that's where I target. My punch lands where my foot did previously.

Retreating away I keep myself moving. Constantly bouncing on the balls of my feet as I circle around him. You never want to stay still. You never want to lose momentum.

You also never want to let your guard down. I keep my one hand below my eye and the other by my chin.

Oak comes at me again except this time he goes for a kick. I see it happening and catch his leg. Grabbing his calf, I throw his leg down causing him to stumble forward. With him bent over trying to regain his balance I bring my knee and shove it up against his face. His head snaps back as blood begins to drip from his nose.

"Come on, Oaky Boy. You're making this child's play," I taunt him.

When he rises his blue eyes turn to ice. He wipes the blood from his nose with the back of his hand before he turns them to fists.

He goes to throw a punch, but it ends up being a fake out. While I'm too busy trying to block it, he lands a kick straight to my kidneys.

Motherfucker. That's going to leave a fucking shiner.

Instead of grimacing or wincing I smile wider, baring my teeth for him to see.

"Who is she?" He asks while going for a right hook.

Blocking it I narrow my eyes at him.

No, this isn't what we do.

We don't fucking talk.

We fight until we are exhausted. We fight until one of us drops to the ground.

We. Don't. Fucking. Talk.

Ignoring him I jump into a roundhouse kick that lands on the middle of his chest. He grunts but that's it.

"Who is she, Snake?" He repeats the question.

Blowing out an annoyed breath I reply, "Alice Hall. You already know this, dipshit. Now fucking hit me and shut your mouth."

Annoyed and frustrated with his sudden questioning I make a mistake of punching with all my weight. Oak catches my fist and twists it sideways. Then he quickly grabs a hold of my arm and forces it behind my back.

With his face close to mine and my arm in a comprising position he rephrases the question, "Who is she to you?"

Tight lipped I answer, "No one." Then I head-butt him. His grip on my arm loosens and I'm able to wriggle myself free.Shaking out my arm I wait for the sting of pain, but it never comes. My fucking sorry excuse of a father would be proud.

Pain means nothing to me.

Unless it's coming from Alice Hall.

Fuck her.

He raises a brow pursing his lips. "Just like Jessica Finley is no one to you?"

---