Page 89 of A Love Like Venom

Her beauty is beyond compare. No one could even come close. With her hair in a messy bun and an oversized tee she appears to be comfortable when I know that she is anything but.

Honey brown eyes show signs of worry and I can tell she's chewing on the inside of her cheeks.

She's nervous around me and I fucking hate it.

Opening the door wide she stands to the side and gestures for me to come in.

For the first time in my life my steps are hesitant as I cross the threshold.

Standing awkwardly in the middle of the living room my eyes watch her. She moves to the couch and sits at the right corner. Taking the thin blanket, she wraps it around herself and looks back at me.

God, she really is a vision.

"Why are you here?" She asks the question with no malice or rudeness.

"Because I need you safe."

She raises a brow. "And you believe you're the person who can do that?"

It feels like a low blow, but her feelings are valid. I can't be upset with her. She has every right to question me after all that I've done to her.

Swallowing, my palms clammy and my pulse pounding I say to her, "Yeah, I do. And I'm sorry for everything that I've done to you. I'm sorry for breaking my promise and leaving. I'm sorry for hating you when I had no right to. I'm sorry for ever doubting you. And I'm sorry for treating you the way I did when I saw you again. I'm not here to ask for your forgiveness, Alice. All the begging and pleading I could possibly do will never be enough. That decision is yours to make and yours alone.” I then drop to my knees on the tattered and rough floor. My shoulders cave in on themselves as I bow my head before her. And while I said I wouldn’t beg for her forgiveness I never said I wouldn’t get on my knees before her. In this position I feel as if I’m offering myself as a sacrifice. And I am. I had done sacrificed my soul whenIwas the one who betrayed her. And now I’ll sacrifice everything to get her back. Rip out my heart and hold it in mybloody hands. “But I am here telling you that I will do whatever it takes to atone for my sins. I swear it."

My heart pounds heavy. My pulse pounds loudly in my ear. There's this nauseous feeling in my throat as my stomach churns.

I wait with my breath held for her response.

Raising my head, I see her eyes have turned glassy I don't know what that means for me.

She could tell me to turn around, leave and never come back.

Alice Hall holds my fate in her hands.

She raises a brow. “And if I want you to leave, will you?”

Fuck.I feel my heart break in to thousands of pieces. The ache fucking debilitating.

I lost her.

I swallow, but the lump stays lodged in my throat. “I’ll leave.” It pains me to say it. But if that’s what she wants I’ll give it to her. “I’ll do anything you ask of me, Alice. Even rip out my heart and place it before your feet so you can stomp on it. Anything you want, I’ll do it.”

Softly, her voice a hairbreadth above a whisper she says, "We need to talk."

Alice

Ihave never seen him look like this.

His brows are furrowed and worry lines etch his forehead. Hands that are by his side are shaking ever so slightly. Broad shoulders that were once pushed back with confidence are slumped.

In fact, his whole body looks as if he is caving in on himself. Bracing for an impact meant to do major physical damage.

Hazel eyes that I always thought were magical have nothing but turmoil swimming in them. He can’t even keep eye contact with me. Almost as if he’s pained to see all the damage that he has mentally caused me.

And I can’t help but think how awful this is for the both of us. We were once so close. He brought such happiness in my life. I could endure living another day of torture because I knew I would be able to see him.

Reed Carter was everything to me.

When he left he nearly destroyed me.

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