I gently chew my bottom lip as I watch the little ray of sun peeking out from behind the buildings in town, my mind going haywire, and I cross my legs, ignoring the dampness of the grass sticking to my jeans.
Three fires, one in a house, another in a store, and the third, a car fire with a man still inside, and no, it isn’t a coincidence either or an accident.
Two Hyena members were watching, confirming the person inside died, but unfortunately for them, I pissed them off when I dragged the guy on fire out and forced him to drop and roll.
I gently squeeze my hand, the burn mark clear as day on the side, and it was so damn well worth it, even though they threatened me, recognizing me from the photo Hayden shows them now and again.
Apparently, I’m the big bad wolf who could ruin their gang, and he’s right, just not in the way he believes. To him, I’m a loose end that needs exterminating before I speak to the cops, but to me, I’m his worst nightmare, ending his men one by one.
Lake’s dad, Randy, the only person other than the girls who knew about my revenge, stopped in the club's truck before a greasy ass man tried to touch me, and they soon skedaddled, seeing the logo.
Randy wants me to tell the club, to ask for their help, but to me, it’ll just be another thing for Venom to use against me, and I won’t have that.
We have this weird thing going on where he’ll take the piss me off, mainly to get a reaction, and I always bite, which unfortunately for me is a habit now. Sometimes I believe we’re actually flirting, but then he’ll bring up my dad, still adamant I’m only friends with Ivy to piss him off. I will then get pissed off because my daddy is dead while the man I see as a dad is fully aware of my feelings for Venom and thinks it’s hilarious. He actually believes he has feelings for me in return, but that is just bullshit. Though my heart wishes it were true, which just makes me an idiot, considering he’s tried to split my friendship up with his sister, who is like my sister.
I’ll never get the club involved because, as far as I’m concerned, this is my battle, not theirs and definitely not Venom’s.
My phone beeps, and I grab it to see two messages: one from my Mama and another from Ivy, but not on our girl chat, which confuses me and I quickly check it, but my eyes tear up when I see why.
Ivy:
I know you don’t like to celebrate, and I know you’d rather not have a birthday, but I cannot sit back and not wish you a big, happy birthday, my best friend. I love you so much, and even though you had a night shift last night so that you couldn’t celebrate, Hudson and I will still be around later with some chocolate cupcakes.
Mama:
Happiest of birthdays, my sweet, sweet little girl. I am so proud of the young woman you have become, and I'm sure your father would agree. I love you, my little ray of sunshine, but please, celebrate today - don’t mourn.
A few tears fall, and I quickly wipe them away and put my phone down, not answering back. I can’t. I won’t let them feel bad because I don’t want to celebrate.
How do you celebrate a birthday after losing your father on said birthday? Answer, you don’t.
My nose twitches as my tears continue to blur my vision, the need to sob pulling hard, but I push them back just like I always do, as picture after picture of my dad pops into my head like always on this day.
I should be with my Mama, I know this I just, I can’t.
A roaring of a bike echoes in the distance and my heart picks up at the thought of it being Venom which is just a stupid thought and I shove the feelings away or well I try but the clearer the roaring becomes the more my heart quickens because deep down, I know, it’s him. I don’t know how he found me, I don’t know how he’d know I’d be at Rose Meadows, the place I always come to this time of the year but a little part of me doesn’t care. While the bigger part hopes he drives past, not needing him to piss me off right now.
I don’t care how angry he gets me, I know I’ll burst into tears instead of hitting him.
I don’t look away from the view even as I hear the crunching of gravel as little revs echo as the bike pulls up before silence becomes me again, and then heavy footsteps echo, and I swallow hard.
“Hey, Kitten,” Venom rasps as he takes a seat next to me on the grass, but I don’t look at him as I try to ignore the goosebumps running down my spine. His voice suddenly soothes me which is confusing as anything.
Okay, so seriously, how did he know I’d be here.
“You're out and about early,” I whisper, not knowing what to say because I don’t know why, I just know he’s out here for me.
“So are you,” he retorts, and I hum, not willing to explain that I’ve not long finished work.
He thinks I’m this spoiled princess with thousands in the bank and while yeah I have thousands, well, millions, actually that I don’t want to touch, the rest of the fortune going in this morning because I’ve hit twenty-five. Money I know my dad’s family will want if they find out, I’m not spoiled and I’m not a princess.
My daddy didn’t want me to rely on his money. He raised me to be independent and to live on the basics with a few special things once in a while.
“You shouldn’t be out here on your own, Raya. It’s not safe,” he says after a few minutes of quietness, and I hum, then reply, “I like coming here, it’s quiet, and you get to watch the town slowly wake up.”
Venom sighs before he whispers, “Ivy messaged me late last night. She mentioned you’d be here around this time. She mentioned that it is your birthday, but you never celebrate it.”
I bite my bottom lip hard.
