Page 51 of Venomous as a Snake

I lean with her as she dips. “Do you remember when we were fourteen, and we climbed that retainer wall between the bank and the mall?”

“You did a backflip and landed on your feet,” she recalls.

“And you did a backflip,” I add, chuckling at the memory. “And twisted your ankle when you landed. Three months before a recital. I carried you home.”

“I remember that.”

“After you healed, I came over every day to help you build your strength back.”

Her grin is short-lived, but it’s enough to knock the breath from my lungs. Seeing her eyes light up is worth the pain of being near her, touching her yet again.

“This isn’t the same, Walker,” she whispers, lowering to stand flat on her feet.

“I didn’t say it was, only that I wanted to help.”

I tighten my grip on her hips before I spin her to face me. Once more, my croc bellows inside my mind, wanting to be closer. But I haven’t forgiven her… Or maybe I haven’t forgiven myself for leaving her.

“Why did Clay break your ankle?”

She studies me for so long I begin to think she won’t answer. Then she sighs, grabs the ballet barre, and lowers herself onto the floor to unlace her pointe shoes.

“He came home early from a trip and found me dancing in the kitchen with Drew.”

I knew this. My brother loves dancing with her. But to hear her tell me the truth leads me to believe she’ll tell me more today.

Maybe more than I bargain for, but it’s beyond time to talk about what we’re doing.

Kody ties her laces together before climbing to her feet to put her shoes away. She closes the cabinet, nodding toward the door for me to follow her out.

My shoulders are tense, waiting for an explanation I don’t want. But I think I need it.

“He didn’t say anything while Drew was there,” she says, her voice stronger with her back turned to me. “It took him two days to strike.”

The bellow in my mind sounds more like a roar than ever before. But my croc and I are one and the same.

It won’t take me two days to strike if Clay shows up.

He won’t touch her again.

Walker stares at me with fury blazing in his amber eyes. All I can do is shrug as I flit around the kitchen to keep myself busy.

“And that’s what happened. The surgery was to repair the torn tendon. Thankfully, I didn’t need screws or anything. Drew brought me home from the hospital, and I stayed with him for three weeks. When I was able to stand on both feet, boot and all… I went straight to Fangs.”

“You went to Fangs?”

I nod, recalling that conversation.

“I’m leaving,” I state firmly.

He shakes his head, chuckling like he can’t believe me. “I don’t think so.”

“I wasn’t asking, Fangs. Kill me or watch me leave. Otherwise, Clay is going to end up killing me during one of his many temper tantrums. We both know I’m much too valuable for you to lose.”

“I adore you like I would my own daughter, Kody.” Fangs smiles softly. “But you know I can’t just let you leave.”

“Then we’ll make an arrangement that benefits us both.”

“Such as?”