Page 73 of A Love Like Venom

Eyes that are hazel but now a turbulent dark brown meet mine.

And although I may have wished on every star for his return I don't know if the man in front of me ismyReed Carter.

Therefore, I can't trust him. I can't open up to him. I can't run in his arms for safety like I have done plenty times before.

I don't know why he is here. I don't know how he knew I would be here. But more than anything I know I'm too beaten down to go at war with him.

Yet still I find myself opening the door completely. Leaning against the edge for support because I know my legs won't hold me for long.

"What are you doing here, Snake?" I ask him warily. I'm beyond exhausted. Physically and both mentally. Although I have cried all the tears I have left in me I'm sure Snake could manage to sneak more out.

With his unannounced arrival I couldn't even count to ten.

Except I'm so drained mentally I don't think I could’ve made it to three.

In all gods honest truth, I am not prepared to deal with Snake. Not his snide comments. Not his snarky remarks. Not the hate spitting out of his mouth like venom.

His words manage to slash me each time and I have no armor on to protect myself.

He tried to make me feel small and weak. Like I was nothing but the shit underneath his steel boots.

And I refused to feel that way. I refused to feel that way until that very moment. When Razor had me held helplessly against the wall. Where he took what he wanted. Where I couldn't even fight back. How the words he spit in my ear mirrored Snake's.

My arms instinctively fold in on myself as I shrink underneath his gaze. His eyes study me from head to toe andthen travel back up slowly. They linger on my neck with a burning intensity. When his eyes meet mine there's fire in them.

"It's Reed, Alice. My name to you is Reed.” His voice is rough, gritty.

I shake my head back and forth. I can feel the tears that I thought were dried up pressing around the back of my eyes. Because this isn't Reed. This isn't my Reed Carter.

The Reed Carter I knew I would never have to protect myself from. I wouldn't feel at unease or uncomfortable. Never would I feel small or weak.

The Reed Carter I knew I wouldn't be afraid of.

"Not anymore.” I swallow pass the ever so large lump in my throat.

The actions bring his attention back to my throat once more. Narrowing his eyes and with a clenched jaw he grits out, "Did he do that to you?"

I don't answer him. God, I can't find it in myself to answer him back without there being a crack in my voice. Admitting it out loud is so much worse. It makes the horrible nightmare real.

"I'm going to fucking kill him," he growls. Pure rage and fury in those eyes. They remind me of that night when I was seventeen. When I told him what happened.

But how can that possibly be when he's done nothing but hurt me? How can that be when it's been painfully clear that the man he's become hates me.

"Don't do that. Don't act like you care.” My voice cracks at the end.

He takes a step closer to me and I take a step back. He goes to take another one and I take yet another one back.

When he goes to take another step, I have nowhere to go. My back is now pressed up against the wall. Suddenly I feel claustrophobic. The air around me getting thinner and thinner. Pulling in a shaky breath it burns my lungs.

As he looms over me it's not him I see.

I'm back at the club. Back being roughly shoved against the wall. I can feel his hands roaming my skin. I can hear him ripping apart my clothes until he could touch my most intimate flesh.

"Please," I plead to him on a whisper.

Before I can plead with him again, he takes a step back. The air comes back to my lungs filling it with much needed oxygen. My hand clutches against my chest as I try to steady my heart.

I thank the heavens for whatever the reason was for him to finally step away.

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