Page 29 of A Love Like Venom

Inside the darkness there is a semblance of home.

That's what people always fail to understand.

If you haven't seen the ugliness in the world, witnessed it firsthand as a child, grew up to only have life constantly knock you down, the darkness life forces upon you becomes home.

And there's a light. A flicker of a flame that teases you what good can be. Giving you a small glimpse of life out of the shadows.

Allowing you to be your true authentic self if only for a moment.

My true authentic self, the good and the bad, the darkness I always carried, the light I knew I had in me, I only truly showed to one.

Alice Hall had my mind, heart and soul.

She knew everything about me. She knew my whole story, even the parts I kept hidden from everyone else. There were things I shared with her that I didn't with my own momma.

Secrets that you confess when you're wide awake at night to your bedroom ceiling.

I gave her everything and in return she betrayed me.

She let me down and I never saw it coming.

So, excuse me for being fucking angry about it. Excuse me for having a hatred so deep that it causes me a pain that I never fucking experienced before.

Alice Hall isn't innocent.

And I'm not saying I am either.

I know what I've done. I know the man that I am.

Alice Hall is the only person who ever hurt me. I only want to return the favor.

Heavy footsteps fall behind me. As I close my eyes, I try to take in a deep cleansing breath. Only it has the opposite effect.

My shoulders strain, my muscles are wound tight, and my hands form to fists by my side.

There's no quelling this burning rage inside me.

There's no concealing the darkness.

I'm unmasked and unleashed.

This fight will only end in blood.

Rolling out my shoulders I turn to find Oak a couple of feet away from me. He's removed his shirt as well. Unlike my athletic shorts and bare feet, he's in a pair of black jeans with combat boots. If he manages to land a kick it's going to cause fucking damage.

Here there is no honor. There is no code. We hold nothing back and don't take anything for granted.

I wouldn't want it any other way.

Oak glances at my bare feet and then to his combat boots with a ghost of a smile on his face.

We don't say anything to each other. As we stand opposite from one another we wait to see who will make the first move.

Nine times out of ten it's never me.

Today makes no exception. I allow Oak to strike first. When he strides my way, I stay in my spot with a vicious glare and a crazed smile.

He lands the first blow from his fist to the underside of my jaw. My head jolts back from the impact of his heavy hand.

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