Page 74 of Retaliation

“Silver Serpents?” Sher heard a Demon whisper, and they scattered like startled deer.

She turned to her crew, looking at Skel, who had a question mark between his brows mirroring her own.

“Go and help the Normals. Call reinforcement if needed. All the Don needs to know is that someone tried to threaten my reign,” she ordered, but Skel hesitated.

“I’ll explain everything. I promise.” Skel nodded, taking one last look at the intruder beside her, putting the need of the Normals before his own questions. “First, get everyone to safety.”

Skel turned, signaling the crew to follow, and Poison waited for them to be out of earshot.

Turning to Gunner, she slammed her palms into his chest, knocking him backward.

“Second lieutenant?” Shock laced her tone. “You’re the fucking second lieutenant of the Japanese Mafia?”

She shoved him again, but he caught her wrists, and she recoiled from his touch. Pulling her hands from his, she stepped back.

“It’s not something we like to advertise,” he grunted, looking away.

For a moment, she imagined she saw hurt registering in his eyes, but she blinked, and it was gone.

“That means…” She couldn’t finish the thought,

but Gunnar nodded.

“Scorpion is first lieutenant,” he finished for her.

“Of the fucking Japanese Mafia?” She couldn’t believe it.

She dropped down on her haunches, rubbing a hand over her face. She had the first lieutenant of the Japanese Mafia out for her blood. She had killed the brother of the first lieutenant. Fuck. She was in so much shit. If the Don found out about this, she was done for. He’d see her as a traitor and deal with her accordingly.

Gunnar peered down at her, and she couldn’t stand the pity in his eyes.

“Did the boss sanction this attack?” she asked, fearing the answer, but to her surprise, Gunnar shook his head.

“No. Scorpion completely went off the books here. I didn’t even know this was going down until I tried to call a meeting after you brought him home,” he explained. “Who was that guy that was with you, by the way? Already got a rebound?”

She jumped to her feet. She wanted to punch him again, but fear gripped her throat as Reaper’s words echoed in her mind: ‘Gavin is unavailable right now.’

“I need to go,” she blurted and turned away, but Gunnar grabbed her wrist.

“It’s not safe for you out there alone,” he murmured, and something in her heart tightened.

“I need to check up on a friend.” Her chin dipped as the all too familiar voices turned up their volume, threatening to consume her.

“Need me to come with you?”

She stared at the man before her, his hand on her wrist. And he dropped it to his side. It wasn’t Gunnar. It couldn’t be. She didn’t believe in conspiracy theories but was starting to believe in body doubles. Gone was the cold-hearted reptile. She shook her head. No, it was only an illusion casted by the dancing flames across his face. The reptile didn’t care what happened to her.

“Just keep your men out of my territory. We have enough damage as it is.”

“Can I get you some hands to help clean up?” he offered. “It’s the least I can do.”

Poison did a double take, she had to think it over for a moment. “Rather not,” She sighed. “I already told my second to get the Don involved. I don’t need the mob and Japanese to have a pissing contest in my territory.”

Gunnar chuckled and nodded. “I get it. But my offer stands.”

“Give me your phone,” she demanded, holding out the palm of her hand.

Looking up at him again, she wasn’t sure how to process the fact that the reptile knew how to smile. Was he drunk?

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