Page 49 of Venom
Chapter 18
Raya
“Raya, are you a firefighter?” Venom asks in shock, his eyes wide.
Blade, whose attention was on Venom's neck for reasons I have no idea why, looks my way quickly, also wide-eyed as he takes in my outfit.
Well, safe to say the ladies kept quiet about my profession despite my not keeping in touch. Not that they haven’t tried to contact me wanting to kick my butt for blocking them out. Heck, the lecture Lake gave me all the way here, despite screaming in pain, was terrifying.
Her eyes were all crazy, though that could have been the labor pain.
I have no idea how Luna gave birth to twins a few months ago because watching Lake, I thought she was going to pass out.
“Holy shit,” Blade gasps as he eyes my uniform for a second time, and I sigh.
“Is it so hard to believe a woman can be a firefighter?” I ask with a bit of force, annoyed at how shocked they appear to be.
Are they shocked because of my profession, or are they shocked that the little rich girl crap they used to spew was just that, crap?
Wonder what they’d think if they knew I was studying family law…
I sigh as more brothers come into the ER, all pausing to see my outfit, all eyes instantly widening.
I wasn’t even supposed to be working today. I was ready to go to Mama and Gregory’s to celebrate their wedding anniversary when I got the call about a large fire breaking out. I called Mama and let her know about my unfortunate encounter with Venom and my little payback of kissing Medic to piss him off, which made her laugh. Then I mentioned the emergency warehouse fire, which was actually already out by the time we got there, meaning I basically had my evening ruined.
We were driving back to the station when I recognized Lake’s car with the hazards on and got Liz to pull over, thinking maybe she’d broken down, only to see she was in full-blown labor.
I’d quickly, with the help of Liz, got her in the passenger seat before bringing her to the hospital.
The whole ride here, she gave me the biggest lecture and actually threatened to kidnap me if I went MIA again.
“It’s not the fact you’re a firefighter, darling, it’s the fact everyone thought you lived off your trust,” Psycho admits, and I shake my head and lock eyes with a quiet Venom, the one who shouted the loudest about my family’s money.
Without breaking eye contact, I say to everyone, “You all put me in a box, all because of my family name, a name you never even put two and two together with my father. I never saw a cent of the money. I was brought up to respect what was in the bank account. I didn’t have lavish parties, or expensive clothes and if I wanted a shopping spree which was barely ever, or even have a day out with Ives, I had to earn it,” Venom doesn’t blink while I feel the men around us look away with shame and I finish, “My father, Chase Wilson, was a respectful fireman who loved the MC and never once did any of you question his background despite the name Wilson being well known no thanks to my grandparents and Uncle's gloating, so maybe it’s about time you stop questioning me!”
“What about your trust?” Psycho asks, and I look at him with a raised brow, but he shrugs with a smirk.
Jackass.
“Is untouched,” I admit, shocking everyone while Psycho smiles widely. Shaking my head, I state, “Maybe you brothers need to stop judging a book by its cover. That money was my father's, and he’s dead, so I don’t want it.”
I raise a brow at Venom, whose face doesn’t change, before I turn and head to the family room to wait for some news on Lake.
For an hour, I sit in the corner of the waiting room that is full of brothers and their women while Venom stares at me and Ivy glares.
She’s definitely pissed, and the fact that I moved to the other end of the waiting room when she arrived made her anger heighten and cause the brothers to wince but it wasn’t because I didn’t miss her. It was more for my own safety because well, she looks ready for murder.
Two months, and I have managed to dodge her calls, and I know she is fully aware it isn’t about Angel and the baby any longer. She knows I’m pushing her out because I haven’t stopped trying to take down Hayden.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still hurt she didn’t give me the courtesy of finding out what Venom did from her mouth, but I can’t have her in the middle of what is going to go down eventually.
I don’t even know if I’ll come out on top.
“It’s a girl, Grace,” a voice announces, causing cheers to erupt, and I look up to see a proud-looking Viper standing near the door and I smile widely as he looks around the room and holds his hands up and states, “Mama and baby are both good and healthy. Thank you, everyone, for being here, but for tonight, no visitors except for Raya, please.”
My mouth parts in shock as everyone begins to complain while Viper looks my way and grins widely as he admits, “Lake wants you to meet your goddaughter,” shutting everyone up.
Oh damn.
