"Yes."
"Good. He deserves it. For what he did. For what he threatened to do."
I pull her closer. "I'm coming back to you. I promise."
"You better. I didn't get your name tattooed on my body just to become a widow."
Despite everything, I smile. "Not planning on it, darlin'."
The sun sinks lower.
Orange and pink bleeding across the Houston skyline.
It’s almost time.
When nightfall finally arrives, everything has changed..
The warehouse is tense, silent.
Brothers checking weapons one last time.
Putting on cuts. Getting into the zone.
I'm in full enforcer mode now. Cold. Focused. Deadly.
This is what I was made for. What I'm good at.
Eliminating threats.
And Venom is the biggest threat my family has ever faced.
I find Grace by the armored truck.
Blaze and Blight are there—they're staying with her, protecting her while we're inside.
"You'll be two blocks away," I tell her for the third time. "Engine running. Doors locked. Radio on channel three so you can hear us."
"I know."
"Anything goes wrong, you drive. You don't wait for me. You just drive."
"Shadow—"
"Promise me, Grace."
She looks up at me, eyes wet.
I pull her close, kiss her like it might be the last time. Desperate. Claiming. Possessive.
"I love you," I say against her lips.
"I love you too."
"Stay in the truck. No matter what you hear. No matter what happens."
"I will."
One more kiss. One more moment of holding her, then I step back, and Blaze helps her into the truck.
