Page 218 of Beautiful Venom
He pulls his hands from his pockets and opens them wide. “Do it.”
My hand freezes on the cool handle.
“Which one?” He stretches out his right hand. “My dominant arm for maximum damage? I’ll give it to you.”
“As if you’d let me hurt your precious arm.”
“I would.”
“What about hockey?”
“Irrelevant.”
“You’re bluffing.”
“Try, then. If you attack me, I won’t move.” There’s no hint of mockery in his voice. It’s firm and grounded, and I know, I just know that if I do attack, he’ll let me injure him.
I let the axe fall to the ground, its clang echoing in the silence. “You’ve…lost your mind.”
“I don’t, usually. I’m actually the calmest person I know and the voice of reason in the middle of a storm. But all those qualities seem to vanish when you’re around.”
His voice isn’t as commanding as it normally is. There’s a weariness to it, making it a bit huskier. Now that I look closer, faint dark circles surround his eyes.
“So it’s my fault?” Emotions rip my chest open and my words come out too guttural. Too harsh.
“Yes. You ruined my life, and I need you to take responsibility.”
I storm toward him and punch him in the chest. “You’re the one who ruinedmylife!”Punch.“Youliedto me.”Punch.“Usedme.”Punch.“Made me trust you, thenbetrayedme!”
Kane doesn’t move, doesn’t attempt to stop or even console me. He lets me drive my fists into him, over and over, until my strength wanes and my eyes sting.
I’mnotgoing to cry. I willnotlet this asshole see me cry.
I’m so mad at myself for not being able to stab him.
Hurt him as much as he hurt me.
But the very thought of his pain only bringsmepain.
Just when the hell will these emotions disappear?
I need to get over him and go back to the life I knew before him, even if I don’t clearly remember it.
“Are you done?” His words are smooth as silk. “Will you listen to me now?”
“There’s nothing you could say that I’d want to listen to.” I step away, my shoulders hunched, all my fight gone. “Just go away and don’t show me your face again.”
“Not going to happen. So either you listen to me, or I’ll stay here until you will.”
This motherfucker.
I glance back at the house and Vi, who’ll probably have a panic attack if she sees him.
Worse, what if Jude is also here?
She becomes so weird when he’s mentioned. I don’t want to think about her reaction if she were to actually see him.
“Make it quick and leave,” I say.
