Page 48 of A Love Like Venom

I'm about to beg and plead for my life when he takes out why he was given his name in the first place. With that hand that was just cupping my intimate part he retrieves a razor blade from the inner pocket of his leather cut. Then he takes the blade and presses it down right above my collarbone. Taking the blade, he begins to draw against my skin. I hiss through the pain as I feel the blood bubble then drip down my shirt.

He then releases me completely, taking a step back to admire his handiwork. Unshed tears blur my vision as I gasp heavily for air. I bring my hand to my collarbone to assess the damage. My fingers feel the rough initial of his name.

"You're mine, Alice. Don't you fucking forget it or that won't be the last mark of mine you'll bare," he threatens. Then giving me one last final glance, he turns on his heel and walks away as if he's done nothing wrong.

Clutching my collarbone, I fall on unsteady legs to the floor. My whole entire body is shaking. As I draw my knees close to my chest, I can't help but let a tear fall.

Dread fills my stomach as I can't help but think of all the horrors that will happen to me next. Because make no mistake this is just the beginning.

Snake

"Was the message sent?" Sticks asks Oak and I during Church. All the main members are here and since this isn't a life-or-death situation the old ladies aren't present.

And thank fuck for that. The life-or-death situation, I mean.

This club could really use a fucking break when it comes to murderous psychopaths.

But I know shit with The Crowned Devils isn't going to go down without a fight. Hell, a fight would be too lucky. It's going to be a fucking war.

I'm more than ready to get my hands bloody.

There's also a problem surrounding my little Alice.

Because as much as I hate the girl for reasons no one in this club could possibly understand I don't want to see her dead.

If I'm being fucking honest with myself, I don't want to see her hurt by any of those fuckers either.

Alice Hall is my problem, my demon that I have to face.

She's also more than collateral damage.

I can't lie to myself. Seeing her react the way she did when we mentioned their right-hand man awoken something in me.

She brought back a piece of Reed Carter that I thought I had drowned. Then she came with an outstretched hand and pulled him out. Now he's surfacing above water with just his mouth and nose breaking the surface. Enough to survive but not enough to be out of the murky waters.

And I know it's entirely fucked, beyond fucked that I don't want anyone else hurting her but myself.

The more I try to tell myself that it's justified, that it was her who betrayed me first, that it was her who wronged me, it's becoming more difficult to hear.

These demons that are clawing their way out have no intentions on stopping.

Now it's not just my demons that are keeping me wide awake at night.

It's seeing Alice’s face filled with fear and dread.

The very same expression I saw on her face when she was only seventeen.

Fucking hell!

I hate her, I do. With every fiber in my being. The fire that burns in my veins. Sometimes I hate her so much I can feel myself choking on it.

But my hate for her doesn't make me a monster.

There's a difference.

"The message was sent," Oak responds before adding, "but I do think there is going to be retaliation."

Oak's deep baritone of a voice breaks the turmoil happening inside of my head.

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