Page 12 of Venomous as a Snake

“This wasn’t a good idea,” I mention as I frown at Clay’s minions. “I don’t know what Kody was thinking.”

“It was a great idea,” Drew corrects.

I shake my head, not in the mood for his jokes. “All this time, and she’s ignored them beautifully. Why snap now?”

“I can’t answer why today was the day.” He sighs, leaning against the door frame. “But I can say I’m surprised it took this long. Kody is incredibly patient and not really confrontational. She must finally feel as though he has her backed into a corner. And if that’s the case, it’s only going to escalate from here. She’s striking back.”

“Why now?” I inquire again. “I thought she was more concerned with finding Walker.”

Drew shrugs. “She’s sick of Clay’s shit. He’s put her through a lot, Ali. A person can only run for so long, especially when the one they’re running from keeps finding them. She’s likely been planning this for months now, just waiting for the right time to strike at him. She chose her move carefully. And she’ll be expecting his return play.”

“Then we need to stay closer,” I hear myself argue before the words catch up to my thoughts. “If he sends someone to hurt her—”

“I’m sure she’d love to have us staying in her house around the clock, giving her no privacy or alone time,” he says sarcastically.

I huff at his flippant tone. “I’m serious.”

“I know.” He gives me a half-smirk-half-grimace. “But you don’t really know who her dad is. You haven’t met him.”

“And? What does he have to do with this?”

“And he’s the enforcer of Snake Eyes,” he explains. “She knows how to take care of herself better than we could. I know you’re worried about her. I am too. But taking away her freedom while she’s still fighting for it is the wrong thing to do.”

I tip my head in agreement. “If she knew we were willing to help her with—”

“She knows,” he interrupts me, his voice monotone.

“If we talked about it with her,” I press on, but he stops me again.

“We can talk about it all we want. After she finds Walker. Because if she’s going for Clay’s throat, she’ll need the brooding croc at her back.”

“When are you going to tell her that he’s close?”

Drew snorts. “I’m not.”

“Why?”

“They’ll find each other soon enough.”

I whistle, shock widening my eyes. “You haven’t told him either?”

“Not a word.”

“Fuck,” I growl under my breath. “He’s going to kick your ass.”

“Probably,” Drew admits with a sick grin.

I smile back, though it’s far from funny. “I hope you don’t expect me to stop him.”

“I don’t need you to,” he retorts, wandering inside. “It’s been a while since I’ve been in a good fight. I’ll stop him myself.”

“Does she know you’re her mate, too?” I question him as I grab us two beers from the fridge. “I have some doubts about how much she knows. Or maybe just how much she’s willing to acknowledge out loud.”

He doesn’t want to talk about it. I can see that clearly written on his face as I pass him the bottle. Over the last few months, Drew and I have built a friendship based on truths and no hidden secrets. It was hard, but needed when we share such an intertwined future.

“She knows. We haven’t avoided it, but we haven’t focused on it either. She knew when she was like fourteen, and she mentioned it when she started dating Walker in highschool. I told her to finish school first and build that relationship. We could have our time soon.

“Then, after she graduated, Fangs stepped in with Clay and forced her hand. I still don’t know what he threatened her with... But because Clay didn’t know we were mates, I was able to hang around longer than Walker.”