Page 190 of A Love Like Venom

Shrugging I reply, “I don’t know. Do I want to believe that she wouldn’t? Fuck yeah but I also can’t underestimate her. The fact that I’m fucking here is still blowing my mind.”

“Then be quick so we can get the fuck out of here. The quicker you are the sooner you’ll be home to Alice.”

Alice.

Hearing her name calms me. I see her beautiful angelic face, the light surrounding her, and those honey brown eyes I can lose myself in.

I made a promise to her and I intend to keep it.

Nodding my head at Slater I finally walk away from him and towards the last place I want to be.

As I open the doors and take my first step inside it almost feels as if I’m entering Hell. Scanning the crowd I notice no one from The Crowned Devils MC. The only people here are a few teenagers who decided to skip school and our local residents. I see a few familiar faces and they smile at me as I pass them by.

Vipers MC is very much involved with the community. When we can we do our best to pay it forward. Put money into the schools. Help those who are struggling. Most importantly trying to keep our town of Stonesville clean.

With them moving in on our territory we have noticed the hard drugs coming to this town. The fact that they are preying upon young kids is disgusting. Getting them hooked to kill their dreams just like Hollows Point.

There’s opportunity here. Dreams to be fulfilled. Success waiting to happen. Every kid has a chance.

This town is everything that Hollows Point is not. It’s filled with hope not despair.

Fuck them for trying to destroy that.

Fuck them for destroying everything they touch.

Weaving between the tables I finally catch sight of Jessica. She’s at the last table closest to the emergency exit. Red flag number one. The red glow of the sign casts behind her like she is satan herself. And maybe she is.

Her long dark hair is loosely curled and cascading over her shoulders. Lips are painted a scarlet red. An outfit that reveals her assets, a deep V plunged top that maybe once upon a time would’ve had a reaction from me. Seeing her now, what men would throw themselves at only makes me want to run in the other direction.

Beauty is more than flesh. And as far as I’m concerned her beauty is only superficial. There’s nothing there. Nothing with meaning.

Jessica is artificial light whereas Alice is the sun.

My beautiful radiant sun.

So as Jessica rises from her chair and goes to hug me in greeting I effectively dismiss with a hard glare and my lips in a firm line.

She frowns slightly, rejection swirling in those green eyes of hers before sitting back down.

Taking out my phone I place it on the table and read the time. Seventeen minutes past noon. She only has thirteen more minutes of my time before I’m out of here.

“I’m so happy to see you, Snake. You don’t know what it means to me that you are here. That you broke club rules to be with me.” She looks at me with awe and adoration. I even hear it in her voice. The sound makes my stomach churn.

“Let’s get one thing straight here, Jessica,” I begin saying her name firmly, “I didn’t break shit for you. I’m here to talk. That’s it.”

“So you say,” she replies not convinced.

I grit my teeth. “I’m serious. We are only talking. Nothing more than that. There will never be anything more to us.” I make myself very clear.

“Because of your girlfriend?” Venom enters her eyes. She doesn’t even try to hide it. And that right there is why I didn’t want to bring Alice. She’s suffered enough in her life.

“Yes.”

Crossing her arms she narrows her eyes at me. “This girlfriend of yours, why isn’t she here? Did you not tell her about me?”

“Why wouldn’t I tell her about you? I have nothing to hide from her,” I tell her bluntly. This dream of hers that we will be together one day has to end. Haven is right. I have to be the one to kill it.

“Then why wouldn’t she be here? If you two are as serious as you claim-”

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