Page 172 of A Love Like Venom

The storm will not be done until it has obliterated everything. Leaving nothing behind but ruins and decay.

We have been having Church everyday in efforts of being ten steps ahead. But how can you be ten steps ahead when you don’t have insight on what is possibly going on inside their heads?

This isn’t like we are going against a rookie MC. They’re established. They’re not to be underestimated. And they have a hunger like rabid animals. Nothing will sate them until they get what they want.

I wish they would have done made a move already. The last time they did something was when they attacked the strip club. That was a week ago. But that wasn’t a threat, it was a warning.A promise that they will do more damage if they don’t get what they want.

And I’ll never let them have her.

What worries me the most is that they have been sitting back and staying silent. A week is more than enough time to formulate an elaborate plan and steal her away from me.

A week is enough time for the storm to form and then come down to wreck us all.

And then there is also the dark looming cloud that has the name of Jessica Finley hanging over Alice and me.

She has been calling me everyday. Sending me pictures of the pregnancy test with two faint lines that can’t be denied.

Contrary to popular belief I haven’t been ignoring her but at the same time I’m not unnecessarily up her ass twenty-four/seven like she is mine.

With lockdown on the compound she hasn’t been able to come in and speak with me face to face. Sticks doesn’t trust anyone outside of here to not try anything. And honestly I can’t blame the old man. The only people I trust with Alice’s life are right here at this very moment.

Alice wants to meet her. She wants to arrange a meeting with the three of us showing that her and I are a couple. I told her that it’s a bad fucking idea. Her wanting to meet the wildly obsessive Jessica who is unpredictable while we are on lockdown is a disaster waiting to fucking happen. Alice’s identity for now has to be concealed. Hollows Point is a good distance from here but not enough to where word can’t travel. If Jessica even knows about the reward and then meets Alice . . .

There isn’t anything she wouldn’t do to get someone who I love out of my life in order to have me all to herself.

And I’m sorry but that’s too high of a risk that I can’t fucking take right now.

When the storm has passed we will have the meeting that she wants. Until then I have told Jessica over the phone and repeatedly in text that I have someone in my life. Someone who I want to stay in my life. I didn’t give her anymore details than that. Women who are obsessed can find out anything if they put their crazy mind to it. I’m not going to be the one to give her ammunition to fire.

I still can’t believe Alice’s response when I told her.

When she told me she still loved me I was floored. I was elated. I was shocked. I was over the fucking moon that she chose to still stand by my side. I had thought she would leave me. That me having a child with someone else would destroy my future with her.

But I should’ve known that it isn’t like Alice to decide without hearing the full side of ones story first. After all if I had heard her story I would’ve never have left her behind.

She didn’t make my mistake.

One that I still regret every single fucking day. Things could have been entirely different if I had stayed. If I would have taken that risk to be with her. If I had listened to my heart which had known since I was ten that she was the one.

Then she said something to me one night that I can’t get out of my head. “If you hadn’t left you wouldn’t have formed a family with the people here. You wouldn’t have the close bond that you do with Oak because as much as you relied on him he also did with you. I would have never met Grace and Connor. For as much bad, there is still good. There will always be good, Reed. I have to believe good will always triumph over the bad. You and I were bound to cross paths again. We’re destined from the stars. You wised me to come in your life and I wished for you to come back. Nothing can tear us apart.”

Some would say she’s incredibly wise for such a young age but I know better.

Alice Hall is a fucking angel.

I’m the demon who loves her.

And I will raise all of Hell to protect her.

I’ve decided to take a page out of her book. Listen to her wise words and focus on all the good. Wishing to myself that it will far outweigh the bad.

Everyone has been living in harmony here. Gracie Mae and Connor fit seamlessly. It’s as if they have been here all their lives.

Haven especially has taken a liking to Gracie Mae. She’s outspoken and fiery but tamed in comparison to Haven. Out of all the Old Ladies her and Haven have the most similar personalities. The only difference being Gracie Mae has an optimistic heart. It’s clear she wears that poor heart on her sleeve.

She cares for people. Almost naively so. One day that big heart of hers is going to get her in trouble. Unfortunately life will capitalize on that, if it hasn’t already.

For wearing her heart on her sleeve she does give the iciest cold shoulder to those she isn’t quite fond of.

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