Page 60 of Retaliation

As the vehicle pulled away, she couldn’t shake the weight of guilt and uncertainty that clawed at her heart.

Arriving at her apartment building, she hurried upstairs, her mind still clouded by the events of the previous night. She barely registered her surroundings as she entered her apartment, quickly showered, and changed into suitable clothes for work.

Gathering her belongings, she ran out the door, needing to distance herself from the troubling thoughts that assaulted her mind.

The city streets buzzed with life as she navigated through the morning rush, the rhythmic drum of her motorcycle’s engine clearing her thoughts.

She reached her office building and hurried inside, ready to bury herself in mundane tasks. Anything to escape the voices screaming.

Hours passed in a blur of meetings, phone calls, and coding. By the end of the day, a sense of unease crept back into her thoughts.

Just as she was preparing to leave for the evening, her assistant, Sarah, entered her office with a sense of urgency.

“Miss Sloan, I apologize for the interruption, but there’s a potential client waiting for you in the conference room,” Sarah informed her.

Poison’s heart kicked against her ribs, her mind racing to the worst possibility. Could it be Scorpion? She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to stay calm.

“Who is it?” she asked, not sure if she wanted to know the answer.

“I’m not sure,” Sarah answered. “I was just told to come and get you.”

Pushing down the voices threatening to drag her under, she composed herself. Grabbing her backpack and helmet, she quickly made her way to the conference room, her steps echoing in the empty hallway. With each passing moment, her hope and anxiety grew, her mind racing.

She reached the conference room door, and took a deep breath, steading herself before pushing it open. But it wasn’t Scorpion who waited for her inside.

Gunnar and Dennis turned in unison to face her, dressed in matching black suits.

“Oh, it’s you guys,” she mumbled, realizing how much she had hoped to see Scorpion.

Her disappointment showed on her face, but she pushed it aside, steeling herself for whatever news Gunnar and Dennis had to deliver. Their presence here meant that something was off, something that made them seek her out. Gunnar cleared his throat.

“We need to talk,” he said, his words cutting through the air.

Her heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickening. She readied herself for the worst as she stepped to a chair across from them, bracing her hands on the backrest.

“What’s going on?” she asked, but Gunnar shook his head.

“Not here.” The look in his eyes made her stop without questioning.

“Will you come for a ride with us?” Dennis asked, his face sincere, but she didn’t buy it.

“Why not here?” she asked with raised eyebrows.

They could be leading her into a trap. She would have done the same thing if she were in Scorpion’s shoes.

“Because Scorpion knows where you work,” Gunnar drawled, and she swore it was out of boredom. “And if he catches us here against his direct orders, he’d kill us.” There was no amusement in his eyes, no sign of exaggeration.

She nodded as Gunnar’s words hit a nerve. She didn’t know why the fuck she had hoped Scorpion would want to talk this out. Settling scores was currency in the underworld, and if he felt anything close to how she felt about Jonathan… She didn’t allow herself to finish the thought.

“Can we go for a drive?”

“Follow me,” she said, turning on her heel and heading for the door.

She made it all the way to the parking lot without looking over her shoulder. Getting onto her bike, she tore out into the street. When she passed the front of the building, Dennis and Gunnar fell into gear behind her, flanking her.

This was sure to be a trap, but she didn’t care. She needed answers, and she needed Scorpion to see reason or at least allow her to explain her side of the story.

As they rode through the streets, her mind raced with every possible scenario, her grip on the handlebars tight with determination. The sound of their engines roared through the cool afternoon air as they weaved through traffic, heading toward the outskirts of town.

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