Page 18 of Venom
She’s now bringing out the big guns, huh?
I swallow and choke, “I would have thought you’d already know it was my birthday, you know, with the extensive search you’ve done on me.”
I hold my breath and wait for his reply, but don’t look at him. I knew he was good with computers growing up, and I always hated that he’d read my medical report but still thought I was using his sister.
“I never did a search on your name, Raya. I don’t know why, but a big part of me knew not to break that kind of trust with you,” he admits, and I look at him in shock, my eyes connecting with his, and all I see is the truth.
Damn, that kind of explains it, huh?
“Thank you,” I whisper before I turn my head to look at the view again and murmur, “You don’t need to be here, Cale, I’ll watch the sunrise, then go home.”
I use his legal name without a thought, but instead of snapping at me like I’d expect, he admits, “Well, then I’m staying here until you leave. I’ll follow you back to the apartment block so I know you got back safely. Then I’ll let Ivy know you are okay because I don’t know if you’re aware, kitten, that girl loves you something fierce, you’re her family.”
My bottom lip trembles, and I quickly clamp my teeth down on it, his words sending warmth through me. I move my legs from the crossed position they're in, and I bring my knees to my chest, wrapping my arms around them.
“Look, I don’t know why you don’t celebrate your birthday, Kitten, why you won’t allow Ivy to treat you, but I couldn’t go on with my day without saying, happy birthday,” Venom whispers as he gently lifts my right wrist and then places a silver bangle on it and my eyes tear as I eye it without looking his way.
It’s the same pattern as the silver chain my dad gave me the morning before he died.
How did he…?
Venom pulls back as I slowly look over the bangle, a bangle that cannot be removed without cutting it off and I notice 'Kitten' engraved on it.
And there goes my heart again.
Swallowing hard and as if on instinct, I gently lean to my right and lay my head on his shoulder, choking out, “Thank you, Cale.”
Without a word, he wraps his arm over my shoulders and holds me tightly to him as we watch the sunrise together, all while my heart pounds so fast I’m afraid it’s going to jump out of my chest.
My whole body is lighting up, the tingles rushing through me, and for the first time since I lost my father, I feel at home again. And for that reason alone, my tears fall as a sob leaves me, causing his arm to tighten around my shoulders before I feel his lips on my head, and I slowly close my eyes, letting my tears fall and my emotions to come out in his presence.
He has no idea what he’s just done for me, and if I’m being a little honest, the love I’ve tried to squash for him is shining through, becoming the light at the end of the very dark tunnel I can’t seem to escape.
Chapter 7
Venom
I sigh as I lean against Raya’s apartment door, keeping my eyes on the elevators as I begin to get angsty, the patience I’ve had since being here slowly dispersing. I know I’m about to fucking blow if she doesn’t get here soon.
She doesn’t have a job for fucks sake, so where in the fuck is she?
My jaw tightens with frustration. I’ve been here for about an hour and she’s yet to show up, and despite the several messages from Blade asking where the fuck I am when I’m supposed to be at Dark Angel’s Nights interviewing new employees, watching them dance, I still won’t move. Even knowing I’m in the shit with my Prez, not until I’ve got eyes on her.
Does she have a boyfriend? Is that why she’s not home at eight in the evening?
Shit, why did my heart skip at the thought?
I don’t really know why I am here, okay, that’s a lie, I’m here because I know deep down I’m in love with her. I need to know she’s alright. I need to understand why she doesn’t celebrate her birthday when I believed her family threw her a big party every year, my sister sneaking out each time. I need to know everything I’ve decided to ignore about her.
I sigh as I lean my head back against the wood and close my eyes, suddenly feeling like a stalker.
After finding her yesterday morning at Rose Meadows where Ivy said she’d be after demanding I find her because she was hiding from her birthday. That shocked the living shit outta me, Raya spent an hour watching the town slowly wake up with her head on my shoulder, quietness surrounding us, peace even, before she decided to ruin my fucking peace and got up then climbed into her small fiat without another word. I just, fuck, I felt like I was missing a piece of me, my body suddenly cold and the need to follow her had nearly wrecked me.
I swallow hard as I look at the elevator doors again. I need to know why she doesn’t celebrate her birthday.I need to know she’s fucking okay.
It’s not normal, right? Someone not wanting to celebrate?
The elevator dings, gaining my attention, and my heart races as my palms sweat, nerves, something I never feel, hit me, but I try to squash them, refusing to focus on them. I quickly stand straight and watch as the doors open before a vision I've always seemed to look for when I knew she was around comes into view.
