Venom's Secret (Iron Vex MC Book 4) by Elizabeth Knox (guided reading books .txt) 📕

“You need a ride?” I know what he’s asking right now. He’s asking for an opportunity to step on Ricochet’s toes, for a chance to dive deep inside me, but it isn’t something I’m going to give him.

Shaking my head, I pull my hand away from Reno’s and head after Ricochet, needing to know what the hell’s gotten into him tonight. He wasn’t acting this way earlier when he brought me here. No, he was being silly, grazing his hand against the small of my back and gave me looks that made me think he wanted another repeat of last week.

I make it out onto the street and head straight over to where he parked his bike. There’s no way he’d go anywhere but straight there. It’s the most important thing in his life. “Ricochet, what the hell is going on?”

“Nothin’, I’m just tired, so can we leave or what? That fucker kept yapperin’ away all night long and he wasn’t even funny.” Figuring Ricochet’s just in a bad mood I nod my head and fall in line. He gets on his bike and I get on behind him. He hands me my helmet while fastening his and I secure it. But, he whips off out of nowhere and I barely catch on in time.

He weaves in and out of traffic which is unusual for him. He’s the staple of the club when it comes to being cautious on the roads, always saying how it only takes one idiot to kill us. I tighten my arms around his waist a bit more, needing to feel a bit more secure with the way he’s driving. Sure, it makes me nervous but I trust him. He knows what he’s doing.

It feels like a mere blink of the eyes and we’re back at the clubhouse. He hits the button for the garage bay where he parks his bike to open and then enters, kicks his stand up, and turns off his bike. I don’t move at first, waitin’ to see if he’s going to act normal or not right now, but he doesn’t. He’s acting so odd and I don’t know what to think about it.

“Rico,” I speak with calmness in my tone, hoping he’ll take me seriously. I figure he’ll sit here with me and we can talk, because there’s a killer feeling in my stomach. I know something isn’t right. I don’t know how . . . but it’s weighing down my gut. Sometimes you just know, and right now is one of those moments.

He stands up and moves to the left, getting off his bike rather than talking to me. I’m sitting here shaking my head, not understanding this. He’s never acted like this. Not once, and I’ve known him for what feels like an eon.

“Rico,” I snap his name this time, finally causing him to stop dead in his tracks. “Stop lyin’ to me and tell me what’s bothering you.” It comes out as a demand, but in all honesty it’s a plea. I need him to tell me what’s wrong. I need it so badly. The thought of him being upset or hurting in some way makes me want to vomit.

He turns around and looks at me like he’d choke the life out of me if he could. “Really, Vanna? You’re gonna tell me to stop lyin’? Why the fuck didn’t you tell me you’re dead? At least that’s what the news articles I found said about you.”

I swallow hard and inhale deeply through my nose, trying to act unaffected. I need to find a way out of this. He can’t know everything, not yet. I need to downplay this situation and quick. The last thing I want is for everyone in the club to know about my past.

“There’s a lot you don’t know, and one day I’ll . . . one day I’ll tell you about it, but that can’t be today, Rico.” I beg with my eyes for him to drop this, to let it go. I’m not ready to tell him everything, not yet.

“Whatever. I don’t get what’s so damn tough? You know my fuckin’ life story and I barely know anythin’ about you, even now, even when . . .” Ricochet crosses the distance between us and wraps both of his hands around my throat. He gently squeezes and then intensifies his grip, making it more difficult for me to breathe, but I still do. I know he wouldn’t do anything to ever hurt me. “I’ve told you, I’m in love with you, Vanna, and the truth is I realized I’ve loved you for a long fuckin’ time . . . and . . . fuck. I might not be the most experienced when it comes to relationships and shit, but I’m damn sure shit’s supposed to be said both ways. Let me ask you this, are you ever gonna open up to me?”

I stare blankly at him, wanting to say yes, but I can’t tell the future. I have no idea if I’ll tell him everything one day. I have no idea. I don’t want him to see those parts, to know about how vulnerable I was, to see I was nothing but a weak woman who was naïve and fell for the wrong guy. For the guy who made these grand promises because she grew up in a home where the only love she ever felt was from her twin sister.

I don’t want him to realize I’m not worth his time.

“Fuck. I should’ve figured this out sooner. This,” he motions between the two of us, “is nothin’ but a mistake. It’s gonna fuck up our friendship. I see that now. I see what it’s fuckin’ doin’.” Ricochet shakes his head and walks away, disappearing through the doorway that leads into the bar area of the club.

I stand here in the garage, staring at the door, almost like I’m waiting for him to come walking back through it. I should know better.