Page 47 of Venomous as a Snake

I don’t know why, but that makes me smile. I’m also a little pissy with all three of my mates, though Ali seems to sense that. Collin and Forrest take a step back, and I use the distance to move farther into the house.

Drew and Walker are talking in the dining room, so I follow their voices, seeing my Lawless boys together in the same space for the first time in two years.

I want to rush to them, curl up between them, choke the ever-loving shit out of them… All of that at once.

Instead, I softly smile as I pull out a chair and sit down beside Drew. He’s at one end of the table. Walker moves to the other end, staying out of my reach. Ali sits at my right with Collin and Forrest across from us.

There’s no awkward moments between the guys, which nags at me. The conversation flows easily around me while we eat. And it takes me a few silent minutes to determine they’ve all known each other for quite some time.

I watch their interactions from under my lashes, wondering if I should feel angry or betrayed.

But I don’t.

I’m happy they made friends.

They talk of work and gangs… And I find out Forrest developed the security that’s in my house and the tracker I used to hunt Clumsy the Intruder with. Apparently, the homebody is a rhino. He fakes his way through social situations as effectively as Ali and I do.

Collin is a professional boxer, which isn’t difficult to imagine when I find out he’s a kangaroo. He has a fight in a few days that we’ll be going to. It’s the first I’m hearing of the plans, but what else do I have to do?

Other than kill Clay…

Nothing.

So, Drew volunteers my time, as the honey badger does from time-to-time. Walker is arguing with him about the event, though it sounds like an old topic. Typical of these two to never see eye-to-eye.

I swear they disagree just to bitch at each other.

Despite his current faults, Walker is a phenomenal cook. I used to tell him that all the time, but I don’t tonight.

I simply listen, enjoying the company. Ali is as quiet as I am in a crowd. We’re both introverts unless we need to pretend to be outgoing, in which case, we’re pretty good at faking it. Though it’s not something I’ve ever had to do with him or my Lawless boys.

Walker and Drew bicker with Collin and Forrest. The brothers aren’t fans of vegetarian meals, but of course they aren’t. We’re all carnivores, except the roommates… So there are two different meals at the table.

As dinner winds down, the tension ramps up. It slides across my skin like blades of grass tickling my scales. I say nothing, giving Walker the opportunity to make himself look like an ass once again.

Everyone senses it, but they all soak it in differently.

Forrest and Collin exchange curious glances as they pick at their slices of vegan-friendly key lime pie.

Ali bounces his leg until I rest my hand on his knee. He hasn’t seen us argue before, and he’s anxious. His territorial nature wars within him, making him want to fight for me.

Drew genuinely gets a kick out of pissing Walker off, which is why he instigates the argument brewing on his brother’s tongue.

“What? No cookies, Blondie?” the honey badger purrs, smirking at me.

I love him… But sometimes I want to slap him.

Like now.

“No,” I drawl. “I didn’t make any.”

“Did you run out?” Walker snarks, pegging me with a bored look. “Or are you done drugging people?”

“I’m afraid I’m fresh out,” I retort, patting the pockets on my thin jacket. “Gotta buy some more chocolate chips.”

He glares at me. “That was reckless. What if they didn’t eat them?”

I shrug, indifferent to the hypothetical situation. “Then they would have moved my dresser, checked out the house, and went back to their post outside to stalk me through the windows.”