Page 119 of Retaliation

“Wait, there’s one more thing,” she said. “How do I get my bike back?”

Gavin’s expression shifted, the lightheartedness giving way to determination.

“Jenkins impounded it, didn’t he?”

“Yeah,” she replied, frustration creeping into her voice.

He nodded, she could see the plan already formulating in his eyes. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

Poison watched as Gavin strode across the precinct, stopping at the desk of the officer who had her helmet on the table. She couldn’t hear the conversation, but Gavin’s gestures and the other officer’s nods reassured her. A few minutes later, Gavin returned, keys and helmet in hand, a triumphant smile on his face.

“Good news,” he said, handing her the keys and helmet. “Your bike is still here, and Jenkins has no grounds to keep it. Let’s go get it.”

Relief washed over her, and she followed him out to the impound lot. The sight of her bike seemingly unharmed calmed her nerves a bit. She still couldn’t believe the thing was hers.

Gavin unlocked the gate and wheeled the bike out. “There you go,” he said, handing it over to her. “All set.”

She ran her hands over the sleek metal, a smile spreading across her face.

“Thank you, Gav. You have no idea how much this means to me.”

“I think I do,” he replied. “So, we’re still on for later?”

“Definitely,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “I’ll meet you at the diner at six?”

“Sounds perfect,” he replied, a grin on his face. “Try not to get arrested again until then.”

She nodded with a smile. She watched him walk back into the precinct, then swung a leg over her bike. Revving the engine, feeling the thrill of its power beneath her. She rode out of the lot and into the morning streets, her mind buzzing.

The city was just waking up. She felt free and alive, the wind whipping through her hair as she navigated the streets. The weight of everything that had happened to her seemed to dissipate with each mile flashing by.

FORTY ONE

Later that evening, Poison arrived at the diner, her heart pounding. She saw Gavin waiting at the same booth they had sat in the day after he rescued her from Scorpion. His nostalgia was adorable, grounding her in the familiar as she moved to the old booth tucked away in the corner.

“Hey,” she greeted, sliding into the seat across from him.

“Hey,” he replied, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her. “Ready for the best diner food in town?”

She laughed, feeling a warmth spread through her. “Always.”

“So, Officer,” she began, leaning back and taking a sip of her drink. “I realize I don’t know much about you. Tell me something surprising.”

Gavin chuckled, amusement in his eyes. “Surprising, huh? Well, I’m the oldest of six kids.”

She raised an eyebrow, genuinely intrigued. “Six? Didn’t your parents have a TV? That must have been chaos.”

“You have no idea,” he replied with a grin. “It was like living in a circus. I spent most of my childhood playing referee and peacemaker.”

She leaned in, curious. “Sounds like you were their hero.”

“More like their babysitter,” he said, shaking his head. “But yeah, I guess in some ways. It taught me a lot about responsibility.”

She smiled. “I can see that. You’ve got a natural protector vibe. Real golden retriever.”

He looked at her, his gaze steady and warm. “Guess it comes in handy, considering our... unique introduction.”

She laughed, the sound light and genuine. It sounded alien to her own ears and she couldn’t help but feel guilty that she enjoyed being in Gavin’s presence after everything that happened with Scorpion.

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