Page 90 of Sweet Touch of Venom

“Nope, let’s do this.” Mal’s voice is eager and ready. She might as well jump around on her toes like Boone does when he’s boxing.

Mal looks at Anita, her eyes landing on my coat tight around her. She stares for a brief moment before pointing. “Why do you look like you’re getting ready to wrestle a sumo wrestler?”

Boone walks around me, but I could’ve sworn I heard him snicker. Anita gives a tight smile, her middle finger raising slowly. “At least I’ll be warm.” Her finger is still up, aiming at Mal, while she walks in Boone’s direction.

I crack a grin, strolling to the doors of the truck.

Mal doesn’t look the least bit displeased. A small smile lands on her lips before she shrugs, walking off too.

I make sure everything is locked before strolling off into the darkness of the forest. Rustling leaves and tree crickets make music tonight as we scrunch on the dry and falling petals. The gap finally opens to a large warehouse. Something is off—we cease movement. The building looks like someone blew it up and then put back together. My senses ring off as we all step forward, vigilantly. Not worried about anyone coming out because we all get the gist.

No one is here anymore.

Chapter 36

Venom

Location:

Dreary Road warehouse

Operation: Scope out the creepy building.

We each keep our guns raised. Wicked and Boone are right behind us, the flashlight attached to their gun circulating around the walls and bricks.

Darkness shields the area with busted out windows and debris all over. It looks like a bomb went off. Inside are folding chairs and a torn red couch that seems like a truck has run it over. Wires hang from the ceiling, dust floats in the air, giving me hesitancy due to not knowing what exactlyisfloating around. It’s obvious the building is recently abandoned because of the cups and torn boxes don’t appear drenched from water vapors or dirt.

Boone and Ronan take downstairs and Wicked and I go upstairs. Steps scream under my feet as I raise my gun, my heart thumping in my chest, imagining a zombie running out and biting my arm.

I get to the top of the steps, the entire upstairs empty. The same way it looks downstairs.

Shit.

I lower my gun, placing my hand on my hip; the thick coat prevents my arm from fully bending because the sleeve on it is so long, it bunches at the elbow. Wicked lowers her gun, examining me.

“If you two are fucking, it wouldn’t surprise me.”

My stomachs lurch as if someone throws a brick straight at it. “What!?” Heat blasts my cheeks and forehead.

“If you two are fu?—”

I place my hand up, stopping her sentence. “Yeah, I heard that. I mean. What are you talking about? That’s not what’s happening here.” I shake my head stiffly. The coat now becomes more like a ten-pound weight than a warming mechanism.

She lets out a yeah-right scoff. “Sure.”

I let out an exasperated breath, rolling my eyes. “Again, what are you talking about?”

She pauses. “I’ve never seen Ro with a woman—ever. So, to see him with you. Treating you how he does, I mean??…” Her voice trails off until I see her looking closer at something behind me.

Oh my gosh, please don’t tell me if it is a ghost. My chest tightens as I squeeze my fist.

“What is that?” She brushes past me, her eyes on the prize. I follow her direction, my eyes still dancing around the eerie place. I’ve killed, but I would never deal with a ghost. Ever.

I seek what she’s strolling toward. An opened chair in the middle of the deserted area. Alarm rings in my head, my eyes scouring from walls to ceiling, watching for anything that may fly at us.

“It’s something taped to the chair.” Her foot going in front of the other as her arms are raised like she’s ready to prowl any minute.

I widen my eyes, pushing my hand out. “Wicked wait, don’t touch it?—”

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