Page 37 of A Love Like Venom

"We send the message and then we're out. We don't have time for bullshit, Snake," Oak orders as we stand by our parked motorcycles. His jaw is set hard, and his eyes stay on mine.

Pulling out a cigarette I give him a smile with a playful wink. The old mask trying to conform to my face. "I understand," I tell him. I've learned over time that if you tell people what they want to hear they will drop it.

"I'm serious. None of that shit you did last time. You're fucking lucky I didn't bring it up during Church."

I draw in a puff; the nicotine filling my lungs and blow it back out. "And why didn't you?"

"The very same why you don’t with me."

"So, we are even, then. Is that it?" I question, trying to figure out his motive.

"No, you fucking idiot. You're the only one who gets it. You understand that I don't need a pity party. That I can have setbacks but I'm functional. And you know if Sticks ever did find out I wouldn't be Vice President of Vipers MC. And having this title gives me a purpose, Snake. It gives me something I was missing."

This is why our brotherhood goes beyond way deeper than the meaning of the word. Oak and I have an unusual understanding with each other. Our methods are unorthodox, but they work for us. Beating the shit out of each other and throwing jabs at one another helps us quell our demons. The other boys will never be able to understand that. At the end of the day, I will always have Oak's back and in return he will have mine.

My business with Alice Hall is the one thing that he won't understand. Frankly, I don't want him to.

What happened between her and I will remain only between us. She's my unfinished business. I don't need anyone, including the brother I respect the most meddling.

It's why when Oak warned me, I was quick to assure him.

He is the only one to rein me in when I start to take things a little bit too far.

This one time I don't want him pulling me back.

I have to see this through. It's the only way my fucking demons will rest.

Taking my last drawl from the cigarette I then throw it to the ground. "Let's send the message, Oaky Boy. Then we can go on to the next mission."

He nods his head as I give him the words he wants to hear.

Sometimes it's that easy and it's almost a damn shame.

As we walk in the club the red light immediately bathes us. The music is loud as the bass fills my eardrums. Compared to last time there aren't as many people as possible here. We aren't dealing with a full club. There is still a dancer up on the stage and the women parading around the club appear to be half dead.

You can see it in their eyes, how vacant they are. It doesn't come to a shock to me when I see the track marks on the insides of their arms as they pass us by.

Getting high is probably their only way to survive this hell. It helps when you have the supplier right at your fingertips. A weaker person will take that offer. They would rather find an escape in drugs than find a way to get out in real life.

But this is Hollows Point, how many people really escape this place?

And the ones who did like me are still tainted from the horrors.

You can leave Hollows Point but it will live on forever inside of you.

My eyes search around the club for the one person who I thought would never still be here. She had hope, dreams and a light to her that burned so bright it was hard not to be drawn to it.

Then I find her.

My little Alice behind the bar counter wearing that ridiculous uniform. I hate to even say that she wears it well. Hell, Alice can wear just about anything and still look beautiful. I wasn't lying before when I said her beauty was angelic because it is. She illuminates the darkness in any room.

She stands out from everyone else. But she always has. That was the special beauty about her. Unlike the rest of the lost souls of Hollows Point who succumbed to the darkness Alice rose above it.

And somehow, she's still managing to do just that.

What she doesn't know is those wings she has are tainted with blood. Soon they will be her downfall. The girl who I once thought was an angel turned out to be a demon in disguise.

I'm not making the same mistake twice by being captivated by her artificial light.

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