Page 5 of A Love Like Venom

Nothingis ever going to change that.

“The word,‘no’, isn’t going to stop a man like him. You’ve seen what he’s like. You keep telling a man like that no and it’s only going to make him want you more.” Her piece of information isn’t lost on me.

Sighing heavily, I reply to her, “I know how the game works. I’m just not participating.”

Her face scrunches up and her nose wrinkles. “I hate to even say this,” she begins with a voice that’s trying to hold back disgust.

I interrupt her before she can continue. “Then don’t.”

Grumbling, she removes herself from the bar counter and comes closer to me. As she walks towards me her eyes scan the area for any possible ears that might listen. The club hasn’t opened yet but that doesn’t mean any of The Crowned Devils aren’t here. Besides their compound one could call this their second home. Or rather our personal Hell.

When she reaches me, her head is cast downwards. She finishes her thought from earlier. “What if you gave into him? Let him have what he wants for one night. Maybe then you’ll be an itch he’s scratched, and you can finally leave.” The thought is beyond ludicrous. And I hate that those words have even left Grace’s lips. As I look at her, she appears to be sorry. Her lowerlip is being gnawed on by her teeth. A telltale sign of her being worried.

In the end I know Gracie Mae is only looking out for me. And as much as it pains both her and I there might be some truth to the disgusting suggestion.

But I know men like him. They take and take until they bleed you dry. Perhaps that’s what’s intheirDNA. There is no itch to scratch. No one time fling. Men like him take everything from you without remorse.

Men like him are exactly like my mother and sister.

I shiver involuntarily at the thought.

Grace watches my reaction and immediately winces. Pain crosses her face as she rushes out, “I hate myself for even suggesting that. I’m so fucking sorry, Alice. I swear I won’t ever mention it again. I pinky promise.”

Pinky promise.

He pinky promised me, and he broke it. He left. The only thing I ever asked of him, and he couldn’t deliver.

Maybe along with heartbreak abandonment must be in my DNA, too.

Why else would everyone leave me?

Pushing the depressing thoughts away I take Grace in my arms and wrap her in a hug.

Assuring her I say, “I know you meant well. It’s okay.” And it is. I’m not lying. The truth is even the thought has crossed my mind.

The thought died quickly when I saw how The Vice President of The Crowned Devils operated.

There is no surviving him.

Like this very own place, being anything to him is signing your death wish.

Grace releases herself from the hug and holds out her pinky. Still, she wants to redeem herself. Rolling my eyes, I interlock my pinky with hers.

The action brings an onslaught of emotions as my mind drifts back to memory lane. . .

Reed releases me to stare in my eyes. Magical eyes meet my wide ordinary ones. His eyes always calm me. Bring me comfort. I could be having the worst day but as soon as I see his eyes it all fades away.

His eyes are magical.

“Pinky promise?” He questions my request.

“A pinky promise is the strongest one. You can’t break that.”

He smiles. Reed’s smiles are the world’s greatest gift. The most beautiful treasure. Every time he smiles, I mentally take a picture because of how rare they are.

But he smiles for me.

It makes me feel even more special.

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