Page 81 of A Love Like Venom

"I never saw him that way, though," I mumble.

"It doesn't matter what you saw, Alice. It's whathesees. Even with you he saw himself as a monster. Having someone tell him that you saw him that way, and then hearing you say it when he believed he was better with you changed everything for him."

Hearing it said out loud with emotions aside I can see it from his perspective. I can see how he thought I would have betrayed him.

I always knew he carried a darkness inside him, but I never knew how much he let it consume him.

Suddenly my heart breaks for the boy who believed he was nothing but a monster when in my eyes he never was.

Why could he not see what I did?

At the age of seven I saw it, the good in him. A boy who became my protector. When he turned in to a man, he became my savior.

Where there was darkness there was also light.

How could he not see that?

"I used to think that I was worthless," I begin half heartedly, "that I wasn't deserving."

Reaching across the table she takes her hand in mine and squeezes lightly. "You don't need anything to be deserving of love and happiness. You are enough, Alice." Her voice is firm, confident.

Blinking back the tears that threaten to fall I mouth, "Thank you."

I really don't know what I would do if I didn't have Gracie Mae in my life. I thank the stars everyday that they have allowed this one wish to come true.

The wish of having a true friend.

Leaning back in her chair she regards me carefully. "Now you have to decide what you want to do."

"Meaning?"

She glances back at Connor and a genuine smile appears on her face. It's clear as day to anyone that can see that her little brother means the world to her. All she wants is a better life for him. A life with possibilities and dreams. Here in Hollows Point it's hard to be a kid. She wants for him the childhood she was denied. The childhood all of us were denied by living here.

Working at Hell's Gates is a small price to pay for the both of us.

But for me I'm wondering if the price has become too high.

With Razor having claimed me I don't know how I can possibly escape him. Not without his brothers and President breathing down my neck.

All I know is I have to get out of here soon before it becomes too late for me.

"You need to decide if you want Snake in your life or not."

Do I want Reed Carter out of my life? To not see him again? To not hear his voice again? Do I really want to live in a world where there is no him in it?

In my heart I already know.

"I never wanted him out of my life. He was the one who walked away." I remind her.

"Then you need to talk to him. Don't make the same mistake. If you guys don't have an honest conversation, then both of you will never be able to move forward."

Releasing a heavy sigh I ask her teasingly, "Since when did you become so wise?"

Flipping her blonde hair to the side she pins me with playful eyes. "I have always been this wise, thank you very much."

"Says the girl who got so drunk that she-"

Her eyes go wide as she quickly interrupts me, "That is not to be repeated. Especially with Connor a couple of feet away." I suppress a smile as she attempts to scold me.

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