Page 73 of Retaliation

“It is enough when we say it’s enough,” he sneered, displaying a sinister smile with missing teeth.

He stuck a lighter to lit another Molotov cocktail.

“This ismyterritory,” she growled. “And you do not get to make the rules here,” she spat, watching the flames of the lighter move too close to the Molotov cocktail. “You think you can just waltz in and take what you want? Think again, sweetie.”

Poison’s jaw clenched. She refused to show any sign of fear in front of these thugs.

“I’m not here to negotiate. Leave now, or face the consequences,” she warned, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

The Dune Demons chuckled menacingly, the ferret taking a step closer.

“You don’t scare us, little girl. We have our orders.”

He lit the fuse and threw the flaming bottle across the street, and Poison watched in horror as another building went up in flames.

“Orders from a coward of a leader who isn’t here to face me himself,” she snapped, knowing she was playing with fire as a literal growl erupted from the ferret’s chest.

“You do not get to speak about our leader with such disrespect. This territory is his now.”

“He’ll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands,” she warned, balancing her weight evenly on her feet.

She would press the wrong buttons any moment, and they’d come charging.

“That can be arranged,” the ferret sneered. “Our leader has special plans for you, bitch.”

“Tell him I’m waiting for him. If he is man enough to face me.”

The Dune Demons hissed in unison. They were restless, and she could see it. They shifted on their feet, waiting for the command to attack. The ferret turned back at the rest of the Demons, and with a sneer, he ordered: “Show ‘em hell.”

They charged, but Poison held back her crew. Let them come to them. Her muscles coiled as she crouched, waiting for the ferret to reach her, bracing for impact, but they stopped, the roar of an engine interrupting their cries.

A Kawasaki H2R skidded to a halt a mere arm’s length between Poison and the Dune Demons. Her heart

jumped to her throat, but it was silver, not black chrome.

Gunnar jumped off his bike and faced his crew. Poison stepped forward and flanked his right. After this, she would have to explain everything to her crew.

“Back the fuck up,” he growled, his voice thundering through the street.

Relief swelled in her chest, finally allowing her to breathe as the Demons seemed to simmer down.

“We have our orders,” the ferret barked.

“And I’m giving you new orders,” Gunnar thundered. “Step the fuck down and return home.”

His command was final, and even the most cold-hearted person would buckle under his stare, but the ferret didn’t retreat. Instead, he spat on the ground before Gunnar.

“Our orders come from Scorpion, not his second-in-command lap dog.”

Poison couldn’t help but stare in disbelief at the balls on that one. She would rip his throat out if he was in her crew and spoke to Skel that way. Hell, Skel would skin him alive himself.

Gunnar went as still as a statue, his breath metered for a moment. He blew out his breath in a long whistle, shaking his head before looking the ferret dead in the eyes.

“As your second lieutenant, I order you to leave this territory and return home. We have no quarrels with the Silver Serpents and do not wish to change that.”

Poison didn’t know who was more stunned, her or

the Dune Demons.

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