Page 128 of Retaliation

Reaper.

The moment Scorpion saw him, he immediately shoved her behind him in a defensive position.

“Young love,” Reaper sneered, his eyes gleaming with malicious satisfaction.

“What do you want?” Scorpion demanded, stepping forward. He towered over Reaper by at least five inches, his presence radiating protective fury.

“She already told you she didn’t want you,” he added, pulling her closer to his side.

The gesture was both possessive and comforting.

Gunnar and Dennis appeared out of thin air, flanking them. How did she not notice them before?

“Oh, I’m not here for her,” Reaper scoffed, flicking some invisible dust from his jacket with an air of nonchalance. “I came here to set a challenge.”

“She’s not going to fight you,” Scorpion fumed, his voice a low growl.

“Like I said,” Reaper continued, undeterred. “I’m not here for her. I came to challenge you.” He emphasized his point by poking Scorpion in the chest, a gesture he slapped away with a snarl.

“Just say when and where,” he growled, his jaw clenched tight.

Horrified, she had to step in.

“Scorpion, no!” she pleaded, stepping between them. “You can’t. Please don’t accept it.”

But her words fell on deaf ears.

“Two weeks from today,” Reaper declared as if she were invisible. “Just you and me. A death match. Let them,” He nodded to Gunnar and Dennis. “be witness as declared by underground laws.”

All the air escaped from Poison’s lungs. Scorpion couldn’t accept this challenge. He wouldn’t—he couldn’t—but he did.

“Phillip! He’s not worth it,” she begged again. “Let’s just go, please?”

“Are you going to allow your little whore to decide for you? Are you that scared?” Reaper sneered, his lips curling into a sinister smile.

Poison turned to Scorpion, trying desperately to get his attention away from Reaper, but it was no use.

“It’s on,” Scorpion growled, his voice low and lethal. “I accept your challenge.”

Poison turned to Reaper, intent on making him leave, but he caught her off guard. “Great!” Reaper beamed and, without any warning, kissed her.

The shock froze her, and by the time she regained her senses, Reaper had already walked away. Scorpion was the first to react, lunging forward, but Dennis and Gunnar held him back, their grips firm.

“Let go of me!” Scorpion bellowed, his voice vicious. “I’ll kill him!”

“The challenge is set,” Gunnar hissed. “It’s no use. Let him go.”

“Get off me!” he yelled again, struggling against their restraints.

“Gun is right, Scor,” Dennis said. “You can’t break the two-week treaty.”

Poison placed her palms on Scorpion’s iron chest, trying to calm him. “Phillip, please,” she whispered, her voice trembling with desperation.

Scorpion thrashed for a bit, bloodlust blazing in his eyes. Once Reaper was out of sight, the two men released him. The moment their hands were off him, he sprinted after Reaper, rage propelling him forward.

Poison stood there, her heart pounding, fear and worry knotting her stomach. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. And the worst part was, she had no idea how to stop the impending storm that was about to break over their heads.

For the rest of the evening, Poison never saw or heard from Scorpion. She tried looking for him at his place, but he wasn’t there, so she found herself at The Grave Bar. To her surprise, Gunnar and Dennis were playing pool as she walked in.

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