Page 56 of Tempted By Poison

“Shit.”

Only Eve and Kyra look at me. I don’t want to leave Scarlette in this state; it’s tearing me in half. But there’s something bigger at play. And I’ll get to the bottom of it. Boone's head may end up on a stick.Sorry, Ronan.

“I have to go,” I say quickly, pushing my phone to the back of my pocket.

I glance at the girls with guilt in my eyes. “Until next time.” I send a somber smirk before digging into my pocket and placing a one-hundred-dollar bill on the check-out desk next to the damaged book. Then, I rush out the back door.

I make it to the truck, pressing on the unlock button on the remote. Before my hand touches the knob, my name is called.

“Anita!”

I turn to see Scarlette running up behind me. “Please.” She breathes hard and her skin is flushed. “Please don’t tell him or anyone you met with me.”

Fear is obvious in her voice. I step to her. Now I’m really worried. “Scarlette, what’s going on?” My voice rises in hope she’ll tell mesomething.

She shakes her head, the long braids ruffling on her coat. “Just, don’t mention me. Please.” Her eyes beg for my help. A secret. “He cannot know.”

I touch her shoulder with compassion, my head nodding. “Of course. I won’t say a word.”

She releases a breath of relief and then hugs me. “Until then.”

I squeeze one more time before jumping in the truck and skidding off.

Chapter 19

Poison

Destruction above all

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Icheck the time onthe radio, my phone, and then my watch. As if the numbers will rapidly flick to the time we should arrive for the kids. My nerves are fucking with me. There’s only enough time to drive to the site and ambush the whole setup. Two hours.

I zoom down the narrow pathway to GenCre, making sure to drive by the Censor detectors that remove any trace of my vehicle or anyone who drives down to the academy. You can put a GPS tracker on me, but once it hits this point on the roadway, it immediately detects and disarms it.

Speeding past it, I look at my phone again, then back up at the road. I watch the dark asphalt, only my bright headlights illuminating the path, and then look back at the phone. I swipe to the countdown that Victor has. Bedford was able to tap undetected into Victor's little system. He sends videos and clips of the kids to the parents, warning them of the severity.Piece of shit.After the kids are out and safe, I will make sure Victor doesn’t escape that building. It won’t be like Fred. If Jax is right, there won’t be anywhere Victor will go that won’t have one of my men posted, ready to intercede.

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