Venom And Vows
1421 Words
Kevin’s POV
"Master Kevin, are you ready?" Henry asked, his voice steady as always.
"I don't know, Henry. The boy’s last name... it’s too familiar... And I told you to drop this master thing. You're like our uncle, father figure."
"Habit,son...Oh, before I forget, this came for you. Alan dropped it off." Henry handed me a thick envelope.
"Okay, thanks."
"And Master Kevin..." Henry paused at the door, that teasing glint in his eye. I guess he wasn't going to drop 'Master' any time soon.
"Yeah?"
"If it really is your former boss's family, please consider his feelings too when you make a decision." He gestured toward the hallway where Kyle was waiting.
"I’ll keep that in mind, Henry."
He left the room, and I opened the envelope. As I read the contents, it felt like someone had reached into my chest and ripped me apart in the slowest, most agonizing way possible. I decided to be civil, kept the information to myself and joined Kyle and Henry in the car.
"Couldn't we just meet at home?" I grumbled. Henry was driving us, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror.
"Why? So you could kill the poor guy in private?" Kyle snickered from the backseat. Henry let out a soft chuckle.
"Agh, whatever. Guys, I'm not a monster."
"Henry, you’re coming inside with us just in case," Kyle added. It stung, but he was right. If things went south, Henry was the only one who could truly stand between us.
"Kyle."
"No one said you were a monster but I still remember Dylan ordeal. But I trust you, you do everything for my own good. Let's go, they are waiting for us." Kyle defended with a coy smile. Walking into the restaurant, Kyle spoke to the hostess, who led us to a secluded private area. As we stepped inside, my worst fears turned into reality. I looked down at the people already sitting in the booth.
"Baby, thank God you’re here! I thought you’d never arrive," the smaller guy said, jumping up to hug Kyle. Then, his eyes landed on me.
At that moment, every instinct told me to turn around and vanish, but Henry gave me a look, a silent reminder of what he’d said earlier.
"Sis, meet my boyfriend, Kyle," Lindon said proudly. "Kyle, this is my sister, Alex."
She stood up and took his hand. Her back was still to me, and I prayed that 'Little Lindon' didn't remember who I was.
"Nice to meet you, Alex," Kyle said warmly.
"Nice to meet you too, Ky—"
As Alex began to speak, she turned around. Her eyes crashed into mine, and her sentence died halfway. Kyle looked confused, but she tried to recover, introducing us anyway. "Lindon, Alex... meet my brother, Kevin, and our butler, Henry. Kevin, meet-"
"Lindon Spectre and Alexandra Spectre," I cut him off, spitting their names out like they were poison. My face felt like stone, and I saw 'Ms. Spectre' flinch.
'Take that, bitch.'
'But aren't you the b***h for leaving?' my brain retorted.
'Shut the f**k up, i***t!' I hissed mentally.
'You're only insulting yourself,' my subconscious deadpanned.
Henry looked worried, and Kyle was giving me a look full of questions.
"OMG!" Lindon gasped, snapping me out of my internal war.
"What the hell!" Alexa, the name I used to call her; hissed. "Lindon, what the hell is this?"
Alexandra’s POV
"Lindon, what is this? What is he doing here? Is he the brother you were talking about?" I felt the scream building in my throat. "No, Lindon, this will never work. How can you trust people who might be using you to plot my downfall?!"
"Alex, what are you talking about? Kyle loves me as much as I love him!"
"Kyle, this isn't going to work. I’m sorry, but I can’t sit at a table and dine with my nemesis. What were you thinking?" That voice, his voice growled, and a shiver raced down my spine.
"Wait, Kevin, what’s going on? Do you and Linny’s sister know each other?" Kyle asked. He seemed like a decent person, despite being the brother of my enemy.
"Unfortunately, yes, buddy. We’re leaving." Kevin turned to go.
'He was leaving so soon?' Wait, what? I was supposed to be the one wanting him gone.
"Kevin, son, remember what I told you earlier," the older man said. Henry. I remembered him from the past. Kevin was shaking, his muscles tight as if he were fighting back an explosion of rage. I cleared my throat, trying to find my footing.
"Lindon, stand up. We’re leaving," I said, my voice cold. Deep down, all I wanted was to bridge the gap and kiss him, but my pride was a heavy weight holding me back. His crime was too big to be forgiven.
Kevin let out a rough, hollow laugh that startled me and awakened a heat inside me I thought I’d buried.
"So, now you’ve sent your little brother to fight your battles? Trying to use my brother’s affection to hurt me? Wow, Alexa, I never thought you’d stoop that low. Just know this, all bets are off. If I ever see a scratch on him, you’re all dead."
I shivered again, my throat dry. Why did he still have so much power over my body? I needed a comeback, something to pierce that armor.
"Lindon, I said we’re leaving. Now. As for you, Blackwood... I never thought you’d use your brother as a 'hoe' to turn my family against me. I suppose the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
The second it left my mouth, I regretted it. Damn it, why did I say that? I saw Lindon’s face fall; he looked pissed and hurt.
In a blink of an eye, Kevin’s hands were on me. He slammed me back against the wall, his body pinning mine. "Never in your life insult my brother again," he said firmly. My heart was pounding against my ribs so hard I thought it might break. I heard a small, involuntary mewl escape my lips.
"Wow. Now you beat women?" I whispered shakily, my breath hitching as his scent filled my lungs.
"Well, weren't you supposed to be all classy and elegant? Shouting like a street b***h in a heat doesn't suit the 'CEO' look," he hissed. The word stung like a physical slap.
"Kevin, stop! Please!" Kyle cried out. "He’s all we have!"
Kevin let go of me, though he was still fuming. Lindon was holding Kyle back, his eyes wide.
"Kyle, let’s go," Kevin said, giving me a glare so cold my heart actually sank.
"Kyle, wait... Alex, I don't know what happened between you and him, but I’m not leaving my boyfriend. Not for you, and not for him. And stop insulting him!" Lindon growled at me.
At that exact moment, Austin walked in. His eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Kevin? Is that you? Oh my god! It’s been so long, I missed you so—" He stopped mid-sentence when he saw my face.
"Sorry, ma'am. I just... I missed him. You called?"
Kevin and Henry sat down. Kyle and Lindon joined them. The tension was thick enough to choke on.
"No, you may go, Austin. I will stay and have dinner... for my brother's sake."
As Austin turned to leave, Kevin reached into his pocket and handed him a business card. "Call me," he said.
I was livid at the gesture, but a small, traitorous part of me was enjoying sitting next to him again. I looked at Kyle. "Sorry about my statement toward you, Kyle."
Lindon pulled Kyle closer to his chest, even though Kyle was the bigger man.
"No problem," Kyle responded shortly.
"Nice to meet you again, Alex. Nice to meet you too, Lindon," Henry said, ever the diplomat.
'This is going to be a long night of torture and confusion,' I thought. I could feel Kevin's heated gaze on my left side, burning through my skin. I just prayed I wouldn't lose my mind and jump his bones before the appetizers arrived.
- Writer
