“What’s that?” he asks in a panic, trying to free himself.
“This—” I slowly remove the first needle. “—is the venom from an Inland Taipan.” He begins to struggle, but the guys have him locked down. “Not the most dangerous snake in the world, but certainly the most venomous. It’s said that the venom from one bite is enough to kill a hundred humans.”
Razor whistles, impressed.
“Hear that?” Crow asks. “One bite, a hundred motherfuckers dead.”
They both laugh, the taunting making James turn green. “You can’t… you can’t do this.” He swallows hard, eyes glued to the needle.
“Sign the papers.” I close the hood of the car he was working on, dropping the papers and the pen on top of it.
“My lawyer’s gonna hear about this!”
“Answer’s still no?” I ask, raising a brow. Without hesitation, I stick the needle in his neck. He cries out, thrashing from side to side. “The hyaluronidase enzyme in this venom increases the rate of absorption.” I remove the other needle from my pouch and wave it at James. “Sign the papers and I’ll give you the antivenom. Don’t, and it makes no difference. You’re out of Emily’s life.” I only gave him a microscopic dose, but it’s enough to do some damage.
“Who the hell are you guys?” he demands.
“You’re wasting time, Jimmy,” I singsong. He has about fifteen minutes before symptoms start showing, but I don’t intend to wait that long. I need to hurry this up. “You got about five minutes. It’s gonna start off simple: sweating, headache, vomiting, blurred vision. Then”—I rub my palms together, a maniacal grin in place—“respiratory arrest. That means you stop breathing, by the way. The rest of your body follows, shutting down. You wanna die, Jimmy?”
He eyes the papers, and I dangle the needle once more.
“Fine! I’ll sign the stupid papers!”
I nod to the guys and they release him. He scrambles toward the car, feverishly signing everywhere he should.
“There. Now just give me the antivenom. Please!”
I inspect the document, making sure everything is okay, then turn to James once more. “This is it, you understand? Don’t call her, don’t text, don’t even think about her. I hear you’re harassing her again, I’ll bring more than a needle on my next visit. Got me?”
“Yes, yes!” He nods impatiently. “I can already feel it. Come on!”
“You don’t breathe a word of this to anyone—cops, lawyers, your momma.”
“Yes, yes,” he repeats, hurrying me along.
I jam the needle into his arm, watching him slide to the floor in relief. I pack up my pouch, gather the documents, then leave the asshole behind.
“Hope I don’t see you around, Jimmy.”
In the parking lot, Razor turns to me. “Wanna tell us who Emily is?”
“She the one got your nuts in a vise?” Crow asks.
“Let’s just go.” I ignore their questions, only one thing on my mind—getting back to Emily.
I only need to make one stop first.
CHAPTER 7
***Venom***
I resist the urge to ride straight to Emily’s, heading home instead for a shower since I’ve been on the road all day. However, I do call her the moment I get in.
“Hi,” she answers, her voice low and sultry.
“Hey, darlin’.”
“How’d it go?”
“We’ll talk about it later. I’m coming to get you in about thirty minutes. That good?”
“Yeah. I’ll be ready.”
“Cool. See you in a bit.”
Before my shower, I head to my room in the back to check on my babies. It’s locked, constructed to keep them in. It would be a shame for them to get out, and then I get killed by my own pets or some shit. Well, not all of them are my pets. Some of them are for occasions like today, when I need to hurt. Or when I need to kill.
I’m no saint. The first man I killed is so far in my rearview mirror, I can’t even see him. I’ve had to end lives for my country and my club. Most of the guys in the MC think of themselves as basically good guys who have to do bad shit occasionally. Me? The Army trained me, but I like the taste of blood. I thrived in the war. Maybe I was working off all the angst and anger from my childhood and teenage years, but I loved it. I have no regrets about the lives I’ve taken for the MC because there’s a reason for those deaths. They died so I could live. So my brothers, my family could live.
I inspect the glass terrariums in the room, making sure everything’s okay. I once told Raven I had twelve snakes and that’s why my road name is Venom. If she saw this room, she’d freak. There are actually twenty, and I was given that name because it’s my preferred method of killing.
Doom, the first snake I ever got, slithers to the front of the terrarium when I approach. I open it, carefully lifting him out. He’s a ball python, and I’ve had him since he was a snakelet.
“Hey, boy. What you been up to?”
He curls around my arm, forked tongue darting out. I slide my fingers over his skin, loving the silky smooth feeling. I’m always at home in this room, and tonight’s no different. How ironic is it that one of the places I feel safest is a room filled with snakes?
Chuckling, I make another sweep of the room.
Snakes get a bad rap. Even in the Bible, they’re depicted as evil—the serpent who got Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden. They’re not dangerous, just driven by instinct. They’re what humans would be like if we didn’t let emotions cloud our judgement. Hell, their brains aren’t even developed enough for emotions; they simply don’t have the cerebral capacity. Sometimes I wish humans didn’t either because feelings only get in the way. They live by their own rules. While they tolerate captivity and handling, they can’t be trained. They bend to no will but their own. Just like me.
Contrary to popular belief, they’re not cold-blooded. They can regulate their body temperature to suit their environment. Adaptability. Another thing I strive for. If I can’t adapt, I get the fuck out; shed the situation or location like a snake sheds the outer layer of scales when he’s outgrown it.
Just like I did my old life.
Standing in front of the display case in the corner, I admire my gun collection. This room is for all my snakes, including the Colt Python, Anaconda, Diamondback, and King Cobra. I’d love to carry around that Python with the eight-inch barrel, but my Beretta 92 FS is more discreet.
One final glance around, and then I place Doom back in his terrarium. After locking up, I hop in the shower, more than ready to see Emily. I wash my hair, putting it in a ponytail before getting a few good spritzes of cologne. After all, every woman likes a man who smells good. I pull on jeans and a T-shirt, strapping on my Beretta before covering it with my cut. Hurrying to my bike, I crank it up and make my way to Jeff’s house.
I only have to wait a few seconds after knocking before Emily comes to the door. This time, she’s dressed for the back of my bike—jeans, boots, a plain white tee, and a leather jacket. She bites into her bottom lip, blushing as her head falls forward. Her hair is in a loose ponytail at the nape of her neck, she’s not wearing a stitch of makeup, and yet she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever set eyes on.
Fuck.
Without a word, I take her hand and tug her close. The aroma of fresh peaches tickles my nostrils. When her face tips up toward mine, I waste no time in claiming her lips. Emily moans, immediately opening for me. Her arms curl around my neck, body leaning in to mine. I slide my hands around her waist and under her clothes, pressing my palms to the bare skin of her back. She shivers, a soft whimper coming from her.
Fuck, I can’t wait to be inside her.
Hear her scream my name.
Tonight. That’s definitely fucking happening tonight.
“Hi.” She smiles up at me when I finally come up for air.
“Babe.” It’s all I can say, lightheaded from all the blood rushing to my dick. My voice is little more than a grumble,
low and gruff.
Her green eyes widen, twinkling up at me like she’s discovering a new wonder. After being with a dickhead like her ex, a man who shows her how much he wants her is probably alien to her. I allow her to lock up, then take her hand, leading her to my bike.
“Did you eat already?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you eat, Em?”
“I had a Caesar salad,” she replies as I strap on her helmet.
Shaking my head, I place her purse in my saddlebag, then hop on and wait until she climbs on behind me. With her arms securely around my waist, I head into town. She’s more relaxed than she was last night, or even this morning, melting into me. I’ve had women on the back of my bike before, but none of them have incited the kinds of feelings Emily does. She feels right.
I pull up to Millie’s, helping her off and removing her helmet.
“Are you getting something? I’ll wait for you here,” she says, a nervous lilt to her voice.
I place my hand at the small of her back and nudge her forward, opening the door to the diner so she can enter. Her gaze is skeptical, watching my every move after I point her to a booth and slide in opposite her.
“I told you, I already ate.”
“Yeah, right.”
Scoffing, she begins to slide out of her seat.
“Sit your ass right there or I swear I’ll bend you over this table and tan it until you can’t sit.”
Her eyes widen, fear and horror staring back at me. She quickly scoots out of the booth, rushing for the door.
“Fuck.”
When I catch up to her, I grab her elbow.
“Don’t touch me!” she shrieks.
I block her path, forcing her to look at me. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? I endured a lot of things being with James, but he never put his hands on me. I’m not going to go from one type of abuse to another!”
“You think I’d hurt you?” I demand.
“You just said—”
“I said I was going to spank you.”
“I’m not a naughty child you need to discipline. I’m a grown woman.”
“I know, babe. A lot of women like that shit. Well, when I do it.”
“You mean…?” The anger slowly drains from her, curiosity replacing it.
I step forward, trapping her against the wall of the building.
“I mean when I do it, you’ll be begging for more.”
Her head moves from side to side, her brain unable to reconcile what’s happening to her body. She thinks she shouldn’t want it, but she does. She wants everything I have to give her.
“Emily.” I take her chin between my fingers, lifting her face to mine. “Trust and believe, I’d never hurt you, physically or otherwise. If I ever do, know it’s not intentional.”
“How can I trust you? I barely know you.”
“You will.” I stroke her cheek with my thumb. “Just give it time.”
“Okay, but… no more talks of spankings.”
“You got it, darlin’.” For now.
We head back into the diner, quietly climbing into our booth.
“Hey, you two!” Sheila bounces over, grinning and winking at me.
“Hey, Sheila. Two burgers with fries. A raspberry lemonade for her, and a beer for me.”
Emily waits until the waitress disappears before narrowing her eyes at me.
“Emily.” I take her hand. “I told you this morning, I like you just the way you are. To me, your body is fucking perfection. However, being happy with yourself is more important than what people think of you. If you think you need to lose weight to be happy… if it’s something you want to do for you, and not to please some asshole who didn’t know what he had, then I’ll help you.”
“You will?”
“Of course. I’ll come up with a meal plan and workout regimen for you that won’t involve you starving yourself.”
“I’m not starving myself. I eat.” Her eyes drop to the table. “I just need to lose twenty pounds. That’s it.”
“That’s it, huh? What are you, five seven, five eight?”
“Five eight.”
“About one-fifty?” She cringes, trying to pull her hand from mine. “I need info if I’m going to help you, Em.”
“One-sixty,” she answers quietly.
I quickly do the math, her BMI telling me what I already know. “You know you’re at a normal weight for someone your height, right?”
Her brows crease, nose crinkling in deep thought.
“I’m going to need some basic health info, and if you want to go ahead, I’ll talk to one of the trainers at the gym and work something out for you.”
She finally meets my stare, her fingers tightening around mine. “Thank you.”
“No need, babe. I want you to be happy.” Tears shimmer in her eyes, but she quickly wipes them away when Sheila shows up with our food. “You can thank me by cleaning your plate.”
She eyes the juicy burger, licking her lips.
“Enjoy, sugar,” Sheila throws over her shoulder as she walks away.
“I don’t know….” Emily shakes her head, looking between me and her plate.
“Eat, Em. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
Hesitantly, she picks it up and takes a bite. Her appreciative moan warms my body. I dig into mine, the taste just a little better as I watch her enjoy her meal. She doesn’t speak, and I don’t bother her. I finish, relishing in my view as I drink my beer. It’s such a simple thing, yet it seems to be pumping life into her. She’s been depriving herself for too long, and not only with food. Emily deserves everything that’s good in this world, and I’ll see to it that she gets it, or die trying.
After wiping her fingers with a napkin, she reaches for her drink, flashing me a dazzling smile.
“That was awesome! I don’t think I remember burgers being this good.”
“I’m glad. I need you full for the night I have planned for you.”
She almost chokes on her lemonade.
“You mean with the… everything and… s-stuff?” she stutters.
“Every… thing.” I lean forward, grasping her knee under the table. She gasps, licking her lips. “Luckily you had a good night’s sleep. You won’t be getting any tonight.”
“Jesus.”
“No, darlin’. Even he can’t save you from what’s coming.”
Her knee trembles in my hold. I wave down Sheila, motioning for her to bring the check. Once it’s taken care of, I lead Emily out of the diner.
“I feel weird.”
I halt outside the doors, turning to face her. “What’s wrong?”
“Are we… on a date?”
“Why do you feel weird?” I ask, avoiding the question.
“Because it’s been a long time since I’ve been on one. James and I were friends since high school and kinda transitioned to a relationship. He never really did the wine-and-dine thing.”
I take both her hands in mine, my thumbs making circles in her palms. She lets out a shaky breath, pride surging through me at how much I affect her. “Is that what you want?”
“I don’t know. I mean… I guess every woman does, but it’s not like I’m going to force you into doing something you don’t want to. I don’t even know what’s happening between us.”
“Stop thinking about it, Em. Just enjoy whatever this is.”
“Okay.” She takes a deep breath, smiling up at me.
With one last squeeze of her fingers, we continue up the street and into Sweet Treats.
“Venom….”
She stops at the door, eyes darting around like a criminal surrounded by cops. I step behind her, gently pushing her forward. The girl behind the counter approaches with a seductive smile, attention centered on me.
“Hi, Venom.” She bats her lashes. “What can I get you?”
Usually, I’d be all over her. It’s a small town, and the pickings are slim when it comes to women. It’s hard finding one I haven’t f
ucked yet, and this chick falls in that category. However, there’s only one pussy on my mind tonight. I look to Emily, who seems to be eyeing the cannoli to her right.
“I’ll take four of those.” I point to them, paying after she hands me the box with the pastries.
“Enjoy!”
“Thanks.”
I take Emily’s hand, leading her out of the shop and back to my bike. While I stow the pastries, she gets her helmet strapped on. I climb on and offer her my hand. She takes it, fitting behind me and plastering her body to my back. The way her soft curves align with my hard edges is giving me a stiff dick. Twisting the throttle prompts her to tighten her arms around my waist, and I take off toward my place. I can’t wait to get her alone.
It’s the longest motherfucking ride of my life.
What is it about Emily that gets my blood pumping? It’s like I’m a goddamn teenager when I’m around her, only able to think about one thing—getting inside her. God, I hope tonight lives up to my expectations.
Back at the house, I try my best not to drag her straight to my bedroom. There are things we need to discuss first. I take her jacket, placing it and my cut on the back of the couch. Her eyes fly to my gun, so I remove the holster, laying it aside.
“Don’t worry about that. It’s for protection.”
“From anything specific?”
“It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it, darlin’.”
“That’s true. It’s a dangerous world.”
“It is.”
“Speaking of danger, I just realized I haven’t seen your snake. Not that I want to, but where is it?” she asks, looking around the living room.
“I keep him locked up.” Again, I don’t correct her. There’s no way I can tell her the real number because she would probably run far and fast. “Can’t afford to have him escape.”
“Good. Wouldn’t want him strangling me in my sleep.”
“Don’t worry. You’re safe.”
“Am I?” Her voice is soft as she turns to face me. I know we’re not talking about snakes anymore.
I stroke her cheek but otherwise keep some distance between us. “You are. I’m not James, Emily.”
“I know. How’d it go today?” She raises both brows, twisting her hands.
Renascence: Death Dealers MC Book 5 Page 8