Page 58 of A Love Like Venom

"And maybe if you had stayed, he would've hurt you, too. I can handle him hurting me but not someone innocent like you."

Her eyes flash with anger. "You're innocent too, Alice. He has no right to do what he did."

I smile sadly at that. "He doesn't but that doesn't mean he can't. Look where we are, Grace. We have no power here. Fighting back is useless." It's a harsh reality but it's the truth, nonetheless.

"So, we just let him do that to you again? You have to fight back.Wewill fight back," she fiercely tells me.

Pulling her in a hug I whisper in her ear, "I will when the time is right."

When she pulls away from me a frown mares her face. "And when will that be?"

"I don't know," I answer truthfully. "I don't know."

She curses under her breath and groans with frustration. "I fucking hate it here."

"I know but at least we have each other, right?" I echo back the words she has said to me before.

"No matter what," she promises and then holds out her pinky.

I look at her pinky for a moment too long remembering how Reed and I would do the same.

I interlace my pinky with hers and promise back, "No matter what."

After our promises we both start to prepare the bar. Before opening the members all come for a drink. Inside I want to run and hide. I want to cower, but I know that I can't. I have to face this.

I feel him before I even see him. A dark looming presence with eyes that burn my skin. In my hand I have his scotch onthe rocks prepared. When I turn to give him the tumbler full of alcohol his fingers graze mine. It takes everything in me not to throw up from his touch.

Dark stormy eyes hold mine prisoner. I watch as he tips the tumbler back and rests it with a hard clink against the counter. He licks his lips as he stares at my neck. Then they gleam with a dark excitement as they travel to my covered wound. "Alice, Alice. What a sweet moment we shared. How is my girl?" His voice is sinister and so is the smirk on his face.

The blood that flows through my veins boils as I clench my teeth. Grace subtly moves closer to my side. Enough for me to know that she has my back but still some distance so that Razor will not be aware.

"Your definition of sweet is different than mine," I reply bravely. Knowing that Grace is here gives me confidence.

He raises his glass and takes another swallow of the alcohol. Narrowing his eyes, he leans in closer. I have to tell myself to not shrink away. "I could do so much more with you if I want to." His threat lays heavy in the air.

"I would never let you," I fire back.

He laughs but it's hollow. "You're mine. I can do what I fucking please."

And I know what I'm about to do isn't smart. I know I should keep my mouth shut and nod my head in agreement. But I'm tired. I'm tired of men thinking that they can do whatever they want with me. I'm tired of being a punching bag.

"I am not yours and I never will be.” My voice comes out dangerously low.

His nostrils flare and then his jaw ticks. I see the fire flash in his eyes as I watch his muscles grow tense.

From the way his fingers are gripping the glass tumbler I know in my very soul that I made a grave mistake.

"Alice," I hear Grace call my name anxiously.

With his brothers surrounding him Razor rises from the bar stool and stares menacingly down at me. He takes the glass tumbler that's half filled and slams it down on the counter. Glass shatters as liquid spills.

Across from the bar counter he grabs me from the throat and pulls me towards him. I hear Grace gasp in the background. "How about we make it official. Is that what you want?" He sneers. Pulling back slightly but with my throat still in his hands he announces loudly, "Alice Hall is mine! She's my Old Lady. You were mine the moment you walked in this club." His eyes never leave mine as he seals my fate in his hands. Both literally and figuratively. "And now I can do whatever I want with you."

"You can go to fucking hell you bastard.” My voice has grown hoarse.

“Sweetheart, you're already in Hell and I'm your motherfucking king.” His voice is deadly calm. Too calm. It frightens me to my very core. This time I can't suppress the shudder that wracks my entire body. He smiles triumphantly.

And I want nothing more than to rip that smile off his face. "I will bow to no one."

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