Page 68 of Retaliation

Leaning over her, he clicked the belt into place and whispered dangerously close to her neck: “Safety first,” and closed her door.

All the air got sucked out of the car, making it impossible for her to breathe. A blush crept over her cheeks, and guilt threatened to claw its way into her mind. An unconscious Scorpion was in the back seat, the first man she had allowed to see her true self, and here, this stranger was giving her butterflies.

But fuck it; Scorpion had just tried to kill her.

The stranger opened the driver seat and got in, smiling at her.

“We’ll get your bike, and you can lead the way,” he said, starting the engine.

“Who are you?” she asked, turning in her seat to look at him. “And why were you walking around the park with a bat?”

He chuckled. “I’m Gavin,” he introduced himself, extending his right hand, which she shook.

“I’m…” She hesitated. She wasn’t sure if he belonged to a crew and would kidnap her the moment she uttered her fighting name. “Minke,” she finished.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Minke,” he said with a smile, pulling away from the curb. “And as for what I was doing in the park with a bat. I heard your cries all the way to the street.”

Her chin dipped, and she turned to face the window, staring at the quiet street. Gavin stopped in front of the alley, and she hopped out.

“You can just follow me,” she said. “It’s about a ten-minute drive.”

Closing the door, she walked over to the dumpster, thankful her bike was still there. She removed the cardboard and sped out into the street with Gavin on her tail.

She led him to the factory. A million questions raced through her mind as she weaved through the light traffic. But above all, she hoped to hell that Scorpion wouldn’t wake up on their way to the factory. She kept checking her side view mirror for any sign of a struggle in the Jeep.

They made it to the factory, and Poison blew out a breath, grateful to see Dennis and Gunnar’s bikes parked outside. She had wondered how they’d get Scorpion inside—leaving him outside in the cold wasn’t an option.

Jumping off her bike, she rushed to the door and hammered on the metal, sending echoes into the night. The Jeep’s headlights cast long shadows down the alley as she waited for someone to answer the door. She raised her fist to knock again, but the door swung open with her hand mid-air.

“Poison!” Dennis exclaimed, but she turned to the Jeep.

Gavin climbed from behind the steering wheel and opened the backseat door, pulling Scorpion by his ankles.

“Who the fuck are you?” Gunnar’s voice boomed in the quiet night.

“Shut the fuck up, Gunnar,” Poison warned as she and Gavin pulled Scorpion from the backseat.

Producing a pocket knife from his back pocket, Gavin cut the ties restraining Scorpion’s hands, and she guided him to where Gunnar and Dennis stood, their eyes wide once they noticed Scorpion.

“What the fuck did you do?” Gunnar demanded and took him from their grip just as Scorpion started grunting.

Gavin took a step back, palms raised.

“Look, man. I ain’t looking for trouble. I just helped a girl out.”

Gunnar stared between the two of them as Dennis slung Scorpion’s other arm around his shoulders.

“Go,” she said to Gavin. “I’ll catch up to you.”

“Nah, I ain’t taking the chance. I’ll wait for you,” Gavin answered, not moving.

“I’ve got this.” She tried to assure him with a nod.

He seemed to get the message and got into his Jeep, driving back into the street.

“I’ll ask one last time,” Gunnar spat. “Who the fuck was that, and what did you do to Scorpion?”

“Like he said, he just helped me out,” she said, the urge to punch Gunnar returning. “If he didn’t show up, Scorpion would have killed me.”

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