Page 184 of A Love Like Venom

He takes my hand in his and kisses the back of my hand before resting it on his lap.

“The world isn’t fair and it fucking sucks,” Haven comments with disgust. Her own way of apologizing on my behalf.

“No, it’s not,” I agree with her. “But as long as we find people along the way to make it better than it can’t be that bad.”

Stella smiles. “That’s my thoughts exactly. Finding all of you, especially you,” her eyes turn to Pax lovingly, “has made my life so much better. I can’t imagine any of you not in it.”

“Well, honey, there will always be a home cooked meal here waiting for you,” Rosa tells me.

My heart constricts. I find myself getting choked up. “Thank you.”

She winks. “No need to thank family.”

I smile back at her but the smile falls from my face when I hear the familiar ring of someone’s phone.

“Speaking of not fair,” Haven begins, pinning Reed with laser eyes, “she shouldn’t have to put up with that.”

He glances down at the phone and sends it straight to voicemail. As soon as he does it starts ringing again. Tense beside me he replies through clenched teeth, “Not much I can do.”

Haven scoffs. “You could set boundaries with the lunatic.”

His eyes go wide. “Boundaries. Do you honestly think a lunatic as you put it knows boundaries?”

“Okay, fine,” she concedes, giving him the win on that round. But if I have learned one thing about her it’s that she doesn’t like losing. In any way shape or form. “You could try and put an end to it.”

“You think I haven’t already?”

“Not enough. Clearly. I mean what does the girl want?”

“Me.”

Haven rolls her eyes. “Yes, thank you so much for pointing out the obvious. I had no fucking clue.”

“Smart ass,” Reed mutters.

She ignores his comment. “What is it that she wants?”

Reeds sighs heavily. “To have a sit down in person and discuss our future.”

Hearing him say those words causes my nostrils to flare. Attuned to my body he wraps his arm around me and pulls me closer to him. Then he whispers for only me to hear, “The only future I care about is ours.”

It helps relieve the tension in my body but my annoyance for the girl doesn’t wane.

“Is that really all she wants?”

“So she says on every voicemail and each time I answer the phone.”

“Then maybe you should sit down with her.”

He balks. “You’re fucking crazy.”

Her husband Dex sends a lethal glare towards him. “Watch your tongue.” Haven then pats his chest soothingly and he simmers down.

“Listen, it might sound crazy but what’s the alternative?”

“Not fucking going. Like I told Alice I’m not risking her safety.”

She narrows her eyes at him. “You wouldn’t be if onlyyouwere going.”

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