Page 193 of A Love Like Venom

Fuck!

Then the gunfire stops and I hear the ringing of the bell at the front entrance.

At first all I see is Slater.

A busted lip and a crooked nose has his face painted crimson. He walks stiffly but his right leg has a limp to it. Glancing down I see blood leaking through his jeans. With a grimace on his face and the unshed tears in his eyes I know he must be suffering.

Then as he crosses the entrance I see the reason why he is walking so stiffly. Behind him is Razor with a gun pressed firmly against his back. His finger over the trigger ready to shoot.

Behind him walk more of his men. Eight more members of The Crowned Devils MC. All of them with a gun in hand. All of them pointing at me.

I look around the crowd and see people shrinking in fear. Clutching onto one another as if their lives depend on it.

“What a nice surprise. Don’t you think, Snake?” Razor addresses me with dark blue eyes that are calculating and a wide smile. He’s enjoying this. Having me trapped. Instilling fear upon these innocent people. He’s enjoying it far too much.

My jaw clenches tight as I return his stare with a menacing one. If looks could kill he would be dead already. I regret not killing him the night I discovered he touched Alice. He’s been a dead man walking ever since.

Slater’s eyes find mine and they’re filled with dread.

“Let him go.”

Razor chuckles. “It’s rather hilarious you think you are in the position to make demands.” He keeps him walking forward and stops in the middle of the bistro. More blood leaks from Slater’s leg. Every movement making it worse.

Withdrawing my gun I aim it at Razor’s head. I can land the perfect shot. The only problem is eight other men have their guns aimed perfectly at me.

As soon as I pull the trigger I’m a dead man.

Razor’s face turns smug.

He knows it.

I know it.

Everyone in this fucking bistro knows it.

He nods his heads towards his brothers and they all disperse throughout the bistro. Each one grabs an innocent bystander. They cry and thrash against them but they lose. They all do. Holding them hostage with a gun forced against their heads.

“You see it pays off to be five steps ahead,” He boasts. Then he shoves Slater to the ground and he falls helplessly. He cries out in pain as he lands on his wounded leg.

Instinctively I go to move towards him but as soon as I do one of his men pulls the trigger. Not being able to dodge the bullet it hits me in the arm I am aiming my gun with.

Fucking hell!

I manage to keep ahold of my gun as my arm falls to my side.

Three bullet wounds.

Three that need medical attention.

Three that are currently bleeding out because I can’t put pressure on all of them.

“Make another move and someone dies. The choice on who lives and dies is up to you.”

“They’re innocent.”

“You’re right, they are. But here’s the difference between you and I, Snake. I. Don’t. Care. Yet you care for them. It would bother you to see one of them die, wouldn’t it?”

I don’t reply but that’s an answer all in itself.