Page 29 of Retaliation

“You phoned just to tell me you’re building a shrine in my honor?”

His answering laugh set the flame between her legs alight.

“Not just that. I wanted to know if you have plans for tonight. It is Friday, after all.”

“Wow, three nights in a row. Careful, I might get the wrong idea,” she teased, yet a part of her hoped it was the right idea.

“What can I say, I know what I want, and what I want is you.”

She breathed the blush away, trying to center her emotions.

“Unfortunately, I can’t,” she answered, disappointment in her voice. “I have crew responsibilities tonight”

It was true in a way. She had to be at the Quarry. Skel had phoned her earlier with the news. They had a lead on her brother’s killer. He was back in the city. And if he were back, he would show his face at tonight’s tournament. She was sure of it. She refused to miss another opportunity to get the vengeance her brother deserved.

“That’s understandable. I’ll see you tomorrow

night, then.”

His voice brought her back to the present, and she smiled despite the million voices screaming all at once in her head. She could almost picture his smirk on the other end of the line.

“I’ll be working tomorrow,” she admitted with a sigh.

“Oh, I know.” His reply was laced with a tone that made her curious.

“How?” she asked, eyebrows knitting together in confusion. She can’t remember telling him about the launch.

“You forgot how we met already?” She laughed at the dramatic tone of his voice, the sound easing some of the tension within her.

“You’ll be working at the launch?” she asked.

“I’ll see you there,” he answered, and the line went dead.

Smiling at the unexpected chance of seeing him again, she ordered a Cruze to take her home.

She made it to her apartment and headed straight for the shower. Melissa was right; she did smell of sex, even though she loved Scorpion’s scent still lingering on his shirt. But for now, she had to get her mind straight for the task she was about to face.

She had waited for over a decade for the opportunity to face Jonathan’s murderer, and she refused to fuck it up. He had to show his face tonight. And when he did, she would be ready for him and challenge him to a death match.

Underground rules dictated a two-week truce period after a death match challenge was set so both parties could get their affairs in order. She didn’t know if she could restrain herself for two weeks, knowing that the scumbag lived, but the Underworld was merciless. They weren’t very forgiving when it came to disobeying their rules.

Once out of the shower, she tied a robe around her body and stepped onto the patio for a smoke—anything to try and quiet the voices.

She stood with her forearms on the railing, looking out over the harbor. Watching as life went by down below, she blew out a puff of smoke. The Normals in the street just went about their day, and for once, she envied them.

Turning away from the street and the futile thoughts, she walked over to her closet. She pushed the back panel aside, revealing a hidden compartment. Retrieving a duffle bag, she double-checked the contents and placed the bag on the bed before she got dressed.

She picked out a matching black sports bra and leggings with venom green trimming. Slipping on black sneakers, she threw her leather jacket over the duffle and

went to do her makeup.

She always wore heavy, dark makeup before stepping into the ring—her mask, her shield, leaving no room for a single crack in the ruthless façade she was determined to uphold.

It was dark when she parked her bike in front of the Quarry. The parking lot was full of cars and motorcycles, and it fascinated her that the cops hadn’t shut them down yet. The old mine was condemned and off-limits to the public. Yet every night, hundreds, if not thousands of people came to either watch or fight. The Italians must have had bottomless pockets.

On the other hand, she was sure every police department in the city belonged to either one of the families ruling the city. The Italians, Japanese, and the old money American mobs all had their own territory which they ruled over.

The sound of crowds cheering met her at the door, along with two bouncers—their massive bodies blocking the entrance with their arms crossed.

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