Page 81 of Retaliation

“Don’t worry,” Cat said, flanking her left as the three of them walked to the shop. “Nobody ain’t saying nothing.”

A bit of relief crept in at Cat’s words. She doesn’t know why she’s still surprised at everyone’s loyalty to her, even after all this time.

She took care of her territory. The areas under the control of the Italians, Old Americans, or Japanese lived in constant fear. They had to pay for protection, and if they didn’t, those services were turned on them. She didn’t expect any payment from her territory. They paid her if they wanted to give a donation, whether cash or favor, but she protected them without incentive. The only thing she expected from them was protection of her in return.

She found Gavin picking up flowers and debris in front of the flower shop. His face was covered in sweat and dirt, and the swelling of his eye was almost entirely gone.

“What happened to him?” Cat asked, and Poison caught her ogling Gavin.

“Cat,” Poison laughed, “You’re drooling,” she teased.

Cat gave her a big feline grin and pretended to rub the drool from her lip.

“I can’t help that he’s so yummy,” she purred. “And he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty.”

“Give me a break.” Skel rolled his eyes, and with a smile walked over to where Normals needed assistance.

“We’ll just see about that,” Poison said, wondering how strong Gavin’s moral compass was.

She indicated to Cat to stay behind as she walked up to him.

“Gavin,” she said his name by way of greeting. He

dropped everything in his hands as his face lit up at the sight of her.

“Minke,” he beamed.

“I hear you’re asking questions about me?” She cut to the chase. “What part of don’t ask any questions don’t you understand?”

“A lot of good it did me,” he shrugged. “No one here wants to tell me anything.” He seemed disappointed.

“That’s because around here, I’m known as Poison.”

Gavin froze, and she hoped to hell that her gut was right—that Gavin could be trusted.

TWENTY EIGHT

The rest of the week flew by, and Poison was physically and emotionally exhausted when she got home for the weekend. Every time her office door opened, she either expected Gavin to arrest her or Scorpion to kill her.

Neither happened, and she was grateful for that, but she knew both scenarios were inevitable, even after her talk with Gavin after the attack.

She had tried to answer as many of his questions as possible without incriminating herself too much. The rings were still illegal, and so was everything in the underground, but at least he had promised not to pursue

it as long as she was honest with him. After their talk, he had gone his way, and she hadn’t heard from him since, which she hoped to hell was a good thing.

Falling onto her bed, her face buried in the softness of her pillows, she tried to get her mind clear. She needed to put an end to this. As much as she hated what Scorpion had done, she knew she alone was to blame. And despite the fact that he was actively trying to kill her, she missed him. She missed his smile, his touch, his kiss, and even the way he called her by that ridiculous pet name,Little Viper. An absurd name that sent shivers down her spine every time he used it.

The buzzing of her phone in her hand pulled her back to reality, and she brought it to her ear, answering without looking at the caller identification.

“Speak,” she barked into the microphone.

“It’s Gunnar.” The voice cracked through the line, and Poison rolled onto her back, her pulse racing.

“Everything alright?” she asked, unsure what to think of Gunnar calling.

“That’s what I’m phoning to find out,” he answered.

“Who are you, and where is the cold-hearted reptile that doesn’t like me?” she asked, her head spinning with a million questions.

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