Page 83 of A Love Like Venom

"Good. Remember you deserve to be happy."

"You do, too Gracie Mae."

"Maybe one day we will both get the happy ending we always wanted. You out of Hollows Point and me finding a better life for Connor," she tells me with a dream like sigh.

"It will happen. One battle at a time. At least we have each other, right?"

Pulling me in for another hug she jokes, "Bitch, you have me for life.” We both laugh at that. “And Alice?”

“Yeah?”

“Make the fucker grovel.”

We laugh again as we pull apart, I then walk her out of the small trailer and make sure she safely gets inside her car. When the headlights turn on and I see her pull away I then shut the door and lock it.

Still feeling like my mind is racing a mile a minute I decide it might just be best for me to try and go to bed. I have a long day tomorrow and soon I will have to show my face at work again. IfI don't I know they will only come here. That's the last thing that I want.

Seeing that it's already pretty late I decide I'll clean the kitchen table in the morning. A few more hours won't hurt.

As I lay down on the couch and pull the blanket I have thrown over it I snuggle in.

Just when I'm about to turn off the lamp light my phone begins to ring.

Thinking that it might be Grace and that she left something behind I go to answer it.

An unknown number is calling my phone and I almost let it go unanswered. But I answer it on the final ring, hoping it’s just some dumb telephone collector.

"Hello?" I answer on a breath.

"Alice, thank fucking hell. You alright?" Reed fucking Carter somehow managed to get my number. And he sounds worried which is unlike him. Causing suspicion, I rise from the couch forgetting about trying to get some rest. Now I want to know what has him acting like this. Something must have happened. Why else would he be calling after all these years?

"Why wouldn't I be? Snake, what is going on?" I try to hide the panic in my voice but it's hard.

"Reed, it's Reed, Alice. I just needed to hear your voice and know that you're okay," he tells me, but I know there is more to the story.

"I'm okay now tell me what's going on," I demand.

"I told you I wouldn't let anyone else hurt you, you remember that?" He asks me.

"Yeah, I remember," I reply softly but still confused as to what's going on.

"Just know that I'm making good on that promise. Keep your door locked, lock all the windows and stay in a safe spot," he orders.

Now my heart is beginning to beat out of my chest. "What in the hell is going on? Why are you acting like this?"

"Because I need you safe until I get there to take you back with me," he explains without telling me anything at all.

My voice rises. “What does that even mean?"

"It means I'm making sure Razor, or any other fucker doesn't lay a hand on you. It means you’re mine. It means I'm righting a promise I broke to you. Love me or hate me Alice Hall I am going to protect you." He hangs up and I am left trying to process everything he has said to me.

But there is one thing that is clear, Reed Carter made me a promise and this one he intends on keeping.

And it doesn't matter if I forgive him or not. It doesn't matter if I want him in my life or not.

He's coming for me.

Snake

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