Page 28 of Retaliation

knife.

“You reek of sex and desperation,” Melissa cackled, her voice venom.

For a moment, the world went still. The words hung in the air, taunting her, daring her to respond. She could feel the heat rise in her cheeks, not from embarrassment, but from a surge of anger that burned through her like wildfire. Slowly, she turned to face Melissa, every movement deliberate, controlled. Her lips curled into a sly smirk, and she arched an eyebrow, her gaze locking onto Melissa’s with an intensity that made the other woman falter.

“Funny,” she began with mock sweetness, “I didn’t think you even knew what sex was. You know, with plastic dolls not being anatomically correct and all that.”

The words were delivered with a lethal precision, each one a well-aimed jab that struck its target. She watched as Melissa’s smug expression wavered, a flicker of something—anger, embarrassment, maybe even hurt—crossing her face. It was fleeting, but it was there, and it gave her a small, savage sense of satisfaction.

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and strode into the warehouse.

The space inside was dimly lit, the soft glow of overhead lights casting dancing shadows on the concrete floor. Towering shelves lined the walls, stacked with crates and boxes reaching toward the ceiling.

In the organized chaos, technicians hurried about,

adjusting equipment and setting up stations for the event. Massive screens hung from the rafters, displaying promotional footage of the game in action while the distant hum of electronics filled the air.

On the other side of the warehouse, a stage took shape. Its platform rose from the floor like a monolith, and rows of chairs were arranged neatly in front of it, ready for an audience. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the sharp tang of metal and machinery, immediately drawing Poison to the coffee.

Pouring herself a cup, she turned to find Topaz heading her way. Patiently, she waited, taking a sip of liquid courage.

“Sloan,” he barked when he was within earshot, but she raised her mug to him and took another sip. “You’re late. Why would you pick today of all days to be late?”

Lazily, she glanced at her watch. “I’m not even fifteen minutes late. Would have been ten if it weren’t for the Chihuahua stopping me at the door.”

She tilted her head toward Melissa who was on his heels and could have sworn her boss was fighting the urge to smile.

“Talk me through it?” he asked, her tardiness forgotten.

She placed a plastic lid on her coffee cup and walked Topaz around the vast ground floor.

“The stage, lighting, and sound systems are being set up. The promo videos on the screens will be running throughout the night.” She pointed at the screens scattered across the ceilings.

“The guys are setting up a hundred PCs for the influencers to test the game, and up there,” she pointed to a loft in the west corner. “Is where the celebrities and investors will be able to look down on everyone.”

Topaz smiled, oblivious to the snide comment. Despite her hating being among the Normals, she couldn’t help but feel proud of what she had accomplished withShadow Strike—even though none of them had any idea that she based the entire premise of the game on her own life.

“And the interface is ready for tomorrow?”

“Yes, sir. We ran all the tests to ensure a smooth experience for all the gamers.

“Good. We cannot afford anything to go wrong.” And the look on Topaz’s face said it all: if something went wrong, it would be all her fault.

NINE

By five in the afternoon, Poison’s feet were killing her—well, her feet and the chafing between her thighs from not wearing underwear all day. She was busy finishing up for the day when her phone buzzed in her back pocket. She smiled when she saw the caller ID.

“You’re really persistent, you know that?” she said by way of greeting Scorpion.

“Well, hello to you too, Little Viper,” he answered and once again made the wasps in her stomach go at it.

“Hi,” she smiled. “You found my panties yet?”

“Oh, I have, but I’m afraid you won’t be getting them back. I’m adding them to my collection.”

“Perve,” she teased.

She realized some of the guys were staring, and the last thing she wanted was for anyone to see her act like a little girl with a crush—so she stepped out of the building.

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