Chapter 12 – IVY
Chapter
Twelve
IVY
My eyes slowly open to a dimly lit room. As I become more aware of my surroundings, I notice a man sitting in a chair near the bed.
Blond hair, smooth, chiseled face, broad shoulders and long legs spread wide in his seat as he reads a book.
Venom.
“Am I dead?” My voice comes out hoarse.
Venom quickly closes his book and sits up. “Is this your idea of heaven? You, naked in my bed?” I look beneath the covers—I am most definitely nude. I quickly grip the sheets against myself and fix my gaze back to him.
“Too late for shyness now, darlin’.”
“What happened?”
“Not only did you eat something you shouldn’t have, you also seemed to have upset Black Betty when you broke her home.”
The berries… the snake. Fuck, I was bitten.
“I told you to be careful in there.”
“Shit,” I groan, lying my head back down on the pillow.
“Anyway, you nearly died. Surely would have if I didn't get to you when I did. You’ll be alright now though.”
“You saved me?”
“Surprised? Honestly, it’s becoming a rather annoying habit now.”
“Thank you.”
“You should rest. You’ve been in and out of consciousness for a couple days, but I don’t think you’re ready to be up and moving around just yet.”
I nod, then stop him before he walks out.
“Why am I naked?”
“You were covered in glass and blood. But don’t worry, darlin’, your body was respected. Could also be worshipped when you’re ready.”
“Not a chance.”
With another devilish smile my way, he leaves.
After a few more days, I’m finally feeling like myself again. The swift care I received saved my life—antivenom to counter Black Betty’s bite, activated charcoal, and even some antidote with a name I can’t pronounce.
Venom saved my life.
Again.
In the sitting room, I find Venom lounging on the couch, staring into the lit fireplace, lost in thought.
The nights are starting to get cooler, and I must admit, being able to sit by a warm fire is pretty nice.
Venom is usually the one sneaking up on me, but here I am moving closer to him, as he seems unaware. I decide to clear my throat as he would.
“I know you’re there, beast.”
I sigh and plop down on the other couch. After a moment, he finally diverts his attention to me.
“How are you feeling?”
“Pretty good.”
He studies me with furrowed brows. “You look like you want something.”
“I do.”
“Well, go on with it then.”
“It’s been weeks, Venom. And I almost died. I need to get out of the house.”
“No.”
“Please, I’ve been good lately, haven't I?”
“Suspiciously so,” he says as he looks back to the fire.
“Unless you count breaking Black Betty’s home and causing Evelyn to be a nervous wreck at your severe state.”
“Speaking of. Evelyn’s birthday is coming up. I wanted to make her a cake.”
That snaps his eyes back to me. Exactly what I’d hoped—enough to get his attention, maybe even my way out of the house. He’s got a soft spot for her, whether he’ll admit it or not.
“I can pick up what you need,” he says with a dismissive tone.
“No offense, but when was the last time you went to a grocery store?” He lets out an exasperated breath. “You would be so lost and fuck up what I needed.”
“Fine.”
I quickly sit up. “Really?”
“But I will chaperone you. And I hope you know; you’ll have to finally put on some shoes. No wild barefoot beasts allowed in stores.”
I ignore his extra comment, too giddy at him actually agreeing. “You’re going to go shopping with me?”
“Did you honestly think I would let you go alone?”
“Well, no. I didn’t even think you would agree to this at all.”
“For Evelyn. Not for you.”
I smile. “Tomorrow morning then?”
“I’ll check my schedule and get back to you.”
I roll my eyes and leave.
Being able to finally leave the house and have new surroundings is refreshing.
The drive to the nearest grocery store is longer than I thought, but I don’t mind. I’ll soak up every moment out here.
Neither of us speaks. Venom drives and I stare out the window, watching trees pass. Their leaves are beginning to turn, a sure sign that fall is here. It’s quite beautiful.
Once Venom parks his car, he turns to me.
“Rule four, you behave yourself out in public or you’ll never see the light of day again. Don’t make me regret this.”
“Pinky promise,” I say, holding up my pinky.
He looks at it with disgust, then exits the car.
The store is surprisingly busy for a Monday morning, and Venom looks instantly out of place.
He keeps twisting his broad shoulders to avoid brushing into strangers much smaller than him.
Eyes follow us as we move—some admiring, some hungry.
Even the men can’t help but stare. Venom either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care. I just shake my head.
As I pull out my list, someone next to me bumps into a table filled with fruit and a container drops to the floor, cherries spilling out and bouncing over my shoes. My heart constricts as the memories slam into me.
“My sweet cherry, you look beautiful as always. Come to me,” he says in his Russian accent, patting his lap.
I cringe but don’t refuse. I’m already walking on eggshells, worried if he will let go of the fact that I refused to join him for dinner last night.
I sit on his lap, and his fingers dig into my thigh as his other hand strokes my hair before grabbing a fistful and forcing me to look at him.
My face twists in pain. “I haven’t forgotten about last night.
You denied me, Red. We cannot have that. ”
“I’m sorry, I told you I wasn’t feeling well.”
“You did. But you also lie.”
“If I ask you to do something, you do it. I thought we established this. Should we start training all over?”
I shake my head. “No. No, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again, Nik.”
“It won’t.” He shoves me off his lap, and I crash to the marble floor. My knees hit first, pain jolting up my legs before my palms catch me just shy of smashing my face. Agony sparks through me, but I don’t cry. He’ll never get my tears.
“Remove your shirt.”
“Nikolai, please. I said I was sorry. It won’t happen again.”
“I’d like to make sure of that. Now remove. Your. Shirt.”
I obey.
He crouches and touches my face lovingly.
“When will you cry for me, sweet cherry?” I simply stare forward, bracing for what’s to come.
He laughs. “You still have that defiance in you. Such fire.” He strokes my hair.
“Such beauty.” Then he reaches for his whip and uncurls it.
The sound of it slapping against the marble floor has me flinching and I—
“Hey, you alright?” I’m snapped back into the present, staring down at someone gathering the scattered cherries. When I look up, Venom’s eyes are on me, brows furrowed. I shake my head and wave a hand, brushing it off.
“Sorry, yea. Just got a little dizzy. I’m fine.
” He looks like he doesn’t believe me, but he doesn’t say anything.
I step around the cherries and pull out my list and begin to look for the baking aisle.
After going down a couple wrong aisles, I come to the end of one and nearly collide with another man carrying a full basket. Gosh, what is with me.
“Sorry,” I tell the bulky man.
He takes one good look at me and his annoyed expression changes in a flash.
“No apologies needed, miss. That was my fault.”
I offer a small smile and move to step around him, but he stops me with, “Hey, have I seen you here before?”
Shaking my head, I respond, “Nope. First time here.” I look past the man to see Venom leaning against a table, fiddling with the toothpick in his mouth while intensely watching our interaction.
“Hmm, maybe I'll run into you again sometime. We could call it serendipity.” He chuckles.
“Uh, yea, sure.” I take a wide step around him and return to Venom’s side. His gaze stays locked on the man, but when I glance back, I catch him still watching me. Most likely, he spent the whole walk staring at my ass.
Fucking creepy-ass men.
Venom finally follows me.
I make it to the baking aisle, grab what I need, and head toward the dairy section. Halfway down an aisle, I spot the same man at the other end. I can’t tell if he’s following me or just shopping for the same things, but either way, unease prickles under my skin.
I keep browsing, pretending not to notice him until Venom saunters past, stealing my attention in an instant.
Where is he going?
I watch as he times it just right and places himself in a position where he gets nearly pinned between the bulky man and an older couple shopping. They all apologize to each other and keep moving. But something feels off about it.
A moment later, that feeling is confirmed when the man collapses on the ground and begins seizing, foam and blood spilling from his mouth.
Multiple people rush to assist him.
“Call an ambulance,” someone shouts.
“Oh my god. Sir, are you alright?” another asks.
He’s most definitely not alright.
I briskly walk over to Venom who watches on from the end of the aisle with a smirk. He rounds the corner before I reach him.
“What the fuck did you just do?! Have you completely lost your mind?!” I whisper-shout.
“A long time ago, darlin’.”
“You can’t just go around killing people in a grocery store, for fuck’s sake.”
“I can if someone looks at you like he did.”
“And how was that?”
“Like he wanted to bend you over the meat display and shove his sausage in you.”
I nearly choke on my saliva at his words.
“And since when do you care how I’m looked at?”
“Drop your basket. We need to go.”
He turns to leave, but not before snatching a bag of gummy bears off the shelf. Then he strides out of the building without the slightest effort to hide them.
Great. I’m an accomplice to murder and gummy bear theft.