Page 77 of Venomous Kiss

I feel eyes on me as Reon steps back, tugging me with him. I look around, afraid that at any minute, someone is going to kill him, and I’ll have to run again.

“You piece of shit.” Soren moves toward Reon, and I jump to the side. As I do, someone else touches me, prompting me to turn, kicking him in the shin as hard as I can before I clutch the jacket and run.

I will not stand by as they try to kill me.

“Fucking hell. If any of you touch my wife, I will kill you. This is the final warning any of you will get.” I hear Reon’s words pierce through the night, slicing through the tension like a knife. Despite his declaration, my body wants to run, but my feet slow down. Energy drained from me, and with each passing second, my heart beats faster and faster, knowing danger looms closer.

“Caterpillar, it’s fine. Come out.”

I lean against a tree.

I feel faint.

Tired.

Exhausted.

Mentally spent.

My body is drained.

And now I’m someone’s wife again? Surely, he was lying to cover his tracks, and to get me out of here safe and sound.

I hear footsteps coming closer, and I suck in a breath when Reon finally comes to a stop in front of me. “They’re fuckheads, but they like rules,” he says and pulls his jacket off me. He examines my arm and shakes his head. “I don’t think it will need stitches, but we need to get it checked.”

“I want to leave, Reon. I want to leave now.” I somehow manage to get the words out, desperation pouring out of me.

He gently places the jacket back around my shoulders and gives it a quick squeeze. “Follow me,” he says.

Before I do, I say, “Give me the axe.”

He stops and turns around to face me. “Why? Do you plan to bury it in my back?”

“No, but I will if I have to. I don’t want to be left defenseless again. Once a fool…” My words come out weak because I am weak right now. And the heat from the jacket barely does anything to help the cold that has filtered through my entire body. My feet are frozen, and I can barely feel them anymore. He reaches into the back of his pants and pulls out a knife—my knife. I swipe it from him and grip it with both hands because they are too shaky to hold it with one.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you again,” he says, laying his palm on my cheek. I flinch at his touch, and he immediately drops his hand to his side.

“I want to go home. I want to get far away from these people,” I tell him.

“Let’s go.” We start walking, I am behind him with the knife in my hand. I will not let it go. I will never be defenseless again.

“Lilith.” I hear Arlo’s voice but I don’t want to stop moving. Reon stops in front of me and puts his arm around my waist, gently pulling me to stand directly next to him. “Reon, you need to stop.” Arlo steps out of the trees and removes his mask. I lean on Reon slightly, unable to stay upright any longer.

I’m so tired.

My eyes are heavy, my feet and legs are killing me, I have a headache that will not stop, and my hands are covered in mud. I would hate to see what I look like.

“You know it’s only going to make him furious,” Arlo states.

“They’re the rules, Arlo. Even you know that,” Reon replies.

“I know. It was very smart on your part. Very, very smart.” Arlo turns to me. “Get some sleep, Lilith, you’ll need it.” Without another word, he disappears back into the forest.

After dragging my body behind him for far too long, I see Reon’s car up ahead, and relief rushes through me. My legs go weak, and I crumple. Reon barely catches me, his hand capturing my arm to stop the fall.

“Fuck, what did they do to you?” He drops his axe and scoops me into his arms, then carries me to his car. When we get there, he opens the door and places me inside. He hurries around to the driver’s side, starts the engine, and blasts the heater.

My eyes feel heavy, but I know I can’t fall asleep.