Page 15 of Savage Possession
“Just watchin’ the show.”
His smile makes me think Venom has a bit of crazy in him. Venom steps from the shadows of the bookstore entrance and presses the barrel of his gun to the back of Grudge’s head. The click of the hammer is loud enough to make everyone flinch.
“You know that guy?” Isa whispers, her nails biting into my arm.
“Yeah, angel. You’re in good hands.” I keep my eyes locked on Grudge as the whites of his eyes grow big.
Venom is a lethal motherfucker on a good day and the Vulture president knows it.
Put a gun in Venom’s hand and a reason to pull the trigger and the crew's medic turns into stuff that nightmares are made of. He says he had a good childhood, but playtime in a sandbox and cool birthday parties do not put ghosts in people's eyes like his. The man has suffered. He just won’t share, but that's okay. I need his darkness tonight because one way or another my angel walks out of this little standoff, even if it takes my life and my entire brotherhood.
Venom gives me a curt nod as a silent confirmation that we’re in this together.
I raise my voice, cold and clear. “Toss your guns in the gutter, get back on your rides, and get the fuck out of Haven. You so much as twitch, Venom will paint the pavement with your rotten brains.”
Venom slides a second gun from his holster, leveling it at another Vulture. Even in the poor light, I see panic bloom across the punk’s face.
Grudge glares and thinks if he heaves like a beast one of us will cower. “You think this is over, Draven? You think you can keep her? She belongs to me. Her father gave me that bitch and I plan on collecting her.”
“Not tonight,” I say, grinning. “Tonight, she’s under Savage protection. You come for her again, you’ll leave in a body bag.”
The tension hangs in the humid air.
Then, Venom fires a single, deafening shot and I swear I see Grudge’s soul leave his body for a second. His scream echoes off the brick, blood spraying as the bullet tears through the top of his ear. He drops to his knees, clutching his head, howling.
I welcome the instant satisfaction of drawing blood. I only wish it was with my gun. “Get moving or the next one will pierce your heart.”
The other Vultures break, scrambling for their bikes. Within seconds, engines snarl and they roar off, red taillights swallowed by the night.
I don’t move. Not until the silence is absolute, and the scent of burned gunpowder drifts away in the humid air.
Venom holsters his gun, turning to me. He looks Isa up and down—white dress streaked with dirt and blood, skin pale but unbroken, wild hair tumbling like moonlight around her face.
“I thought you were at Storm’s wedding,” I say, clapping Venom on the shoulder.
Venom shrugs, casual as ever. “Yeah, well. They’re official now, but I ducked out early. Had a feeling you’d need backup.” His eyes flick to Isa again, lingering on her trembling hand, then back to me. “Crew’s worried about ya, man. I thought I would take a ride through town and head out to the docks.”
I nod. “Reaper tell you where to find me?”
Venom pulls out a pack of gum and pops in a stick. “Yep. He pulled me aside after the “I Dos” for Storm and his woman. I didn’t get far before I caught this little face-off going down.”
When we go out on assignment, we keep location and details strictly a need-to-know basis for plausible deniability. The downside to that is you can’t get help fast if you need it.
I give another nod. “Appreciate it, brother.”
He clasps my hand and we bump shoulders—a silent promise, old as blood and bone.
“You need an escort back to the compound?”
“Nah.” Isa, who has stayed quiet all this time, is too rattled for company right now and I want to give her all the time she needs before I throw her in the middle of the Savage compound on a Saturday night.
“Copy that.”
Venom disappears as fast as he arrived and then it’s just Isa and I, standing alone in the middle of the street. She still hasn’t let go of my arm. Those delicate fingers dig in like I’m the only thing keeping her tethered to the earth.
She swallows, chin lifting when I turn and wrap my arms around her trembling body. “You know he will return and next time he will bring an army. My father doesn’t like to lose either.”
I give a half shrug. It’s not that she’s wrong, I just don’t want to worry her when nothing else can be done tonight.
