Page 129 of Retaliation

“What are you two doing here?” she asked, walking over to them.

“It’s not a bad place,” Gunnar answered and his eyes flicking to Cat behind the bar didn’t go unnoticed. “We like it here.”

“I bet you do, but seeing as I have you here now, have you seen Scorpion?” she asked, her voice edged with worry.

Gunnar looked up from his game, raising an eyebrow. “Poison, do we have to do this again? You start by saying ‘hello’ first.”

She sighed, impatience gnawing at her. “Hello. Have you seen Scorpion?”

“I haven’t seen him,” Dennis said with a frown, missing his shot. “We thought he’d be with you.”

The guys stopped playing and joined her by the bar, behind which Cat stood.

“I haven’t seen him since he ran off. Why?” Gunnar questioned.

“I’ve got a bad feeling,” she admitted, her voice betraying her anxiety.

She sat down on one of the barstools, and the guys followed her, flanking her as their pool game was forgotten. Her mind raced with possibilities, each more terrifying than the last.

“You think he caught up with Reaper?” Dennis asked.

“I hope not. Will you guys help me look for him?” she begged, her eyes pleading with Gunnar and Dennis.

They nodded, understanding the urgency in her voice. If Scorpion had caught up to Reaper, who knew what could happen? The thought of losing him to another senseless fight made her stomach churn.

“We’ll go to the ring,” Gunnar offered, his tone resolute.

“Thanks, guys,” she sighed, relief washing over her. “Call me if you find him?”

“Will do,” Dennis assured her.

They set off looking for Phillip, determination in their steps. Poison watched them go, her heart heavy with dread.

“Good luck!” Cat cried as they walked out of the door.

Poison stayed behind, her thoughts a chaotic whirl. She couldn’t lose Scorpion—not like this. Her mind kept drifting back to last night, the connection they shared, the promise of something deeper. But now, everything was overshadowed by the looming threat of Reaper.

She paced the bar, her phone clutched in her hand, waiting for any news. Every minute felt like an eternity, each second stretching out in agonizing uncertainty.

The memory of Scorpion’s touch, his voice, the way he made her feel alive—everything hung in the balance. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing him, not when they had just begun to find each other.

“Please be safe,” she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible over the noise of the bar as she took a seat again.

Sitting idly, waiting for Gunnar and Dennis to call her with news, wasn’t something she could tolerate any longer. She sprang from her seat, waving goodbye to Cat. She had to find Scorpion herself. She grabbed her helmet and headed for her bike.

She drove around town, her mind racing as fast as her wheels. Every corner she turned held a flicker of hope and a shadow of fear. She had no clear destination, just the burning need to find him. Passing the paneled glass wall of a gym, something clicked. The gym where she and Scorpion had trained. That had to be it.

She made her way to the other side of town, heart pounding as she approached the familiar entrance. At the gate, a man in uniform greeted her and opened the gates without hesitation. She drove in just as a man who looked quite familiar got into the driver’s seat of a town car. A man that looked a lot like Damian, Yamatochi’s driver. But before she could get a good look, the car took off.

She parked her bike and rushed into the gym, her eyes scanning for any sign of Scorpion. The rhythmic clang of weights and the faint scent of sweat and effort guided her to the back of the gym.

There he was, covered in sweat and lifting weights, a fierce concentration etched on his face. The sight of him, safe and alive, brought a wave of relief that threatened to buckle her knees.

“Shouldn’t you take a break?” she asked, walking around his bench and shadowing him until he finished his set.

Scorpion placed the weights back on the rails, his gaze lifting to meet hers. She handed him a towel, her hands trembling slightly.

“Phillip,” she started, looking down at him with worry all over her face. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

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