Page 80 of Retaliation

“Shit,” she hissed, looking at her watch. “I got to call in to work. I can’t go into the office today. There’s too much to do here.”

“Take care of it,” Skel said, rising from his seat. “I’ll wait for you outside.”

She grabbed her phone, amazed that the battery was still alive, and emailed her assistant, letting her know that she was taking a personal day and that all work-related emails should be forwarded to her personal account.

As soon as she was done, she walked over to Marty’s office, knocked on the door, and opened it. The old man was asleep in his chair behind his desk, cradling his shotgun.

Poison shook her head with a smile, closed the door, and got the spare keys under the counter. She’ll hand it over to Cat as soon as she saw her.

Walking out of the door, she locked it behind her and pocketed the keys. She found Skel in the street, giving her a questioning look.

“Marty is asleep,” she explained. “Didn’t want to bother him.”

“Best to not wake a sleeping dog,” he laughed. “He’s got an itchy trigger finger.”

“That he does,” she answered with a smile. “I’ll give the keys to Cat once I see her.”

“You know she’s going to want to know what’s going on, right?”

Poison sighed. “I know,” she said. “Busy-body that one.”

Skel gave a low chuckle as they walked down the street. “So, the cop?”

“What about him?”

“Is he going to be trouble?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” she answered.

And she really didn’t. She didn’t know where she stood with Gavin, which frightened her. He didn’t seem like the type to just let things go, and he seemed too honorable to be bought. It didn’t help that Reaper assaulted a cop. Things would have been much less complicated if he had been a civilian. She had a feeling that Gavin wouldn’t take her advice and just forget about everything.

“I’ll handle him,” she promised.

“I know you will,” Skel answered, and his loyalty and faith in her tightened her chest.

“Poison!”

Poison turned in the direction of the voice calling her name as a dark head bounced her way. She couldn’t help but smile at Cat, her petite appearance making her look a lot younger than she was. Which only added to Poison’s protective instincts being heightened around her. Cat was family, her sister.

“Mi hermana,” she breathed once in earshot. “There’s a very cute guy asking questions about you.”

Poison’s blood ran cold. It could only be Gavin.

“Where is he?” she asked, walking in the direction Cat came from.

“At the florist,” Cat answered, pointing over her shoulder. “He do be very handsome though. He yours?”

“No,” Poison answered bluntly. Cat had a tendency to run with a story. “He’s a Normal.”

“Oh, ‘coz here I thought I saw him flashing a badge,” Cat said, mirroring her casualness with an added disappointed look that could rival that of any mother.

“You’re joking, right?” Poison knew it was redundant to ask.

“Mind telling me what’s going on? And why he’s calling you Minke?” she challenged, those perfectly manicured eyebrows scowling.

“As soon as I take care of him,” she promised, heading to the flower shop.

“This should be interesting,” Skel said with a sigh.

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