Page 29 of Scorpion

“Vehicle approaching south from Wilson Ave,” a voice comes through my earpiece.

I angle the gun in that direction and spot a single sedan heading our way. The men collectively stand taller and grip their weapons tighter.

“Weapons hot,” Sergei says.

The car’s plates have been conveniently removed, and it’s fully tinted so I can’t make out how many people are waiting in the car. It doesn’t smell like an ambush, but it takes one person to make a kill shot. Something feels off. If what they’re saying about Goldchild is true, he wouldn’t come here in a single car. There would be some level of muscle that would rival Mathijs’s.

“Give me reports.” Sergei’s voice sounds through my earpiece.

“I have eyes on a black sedan,” I say.

“North end is clear.”

“Western alley is clear.”

“East’s all clear.”

“Nothing suspicious on the main road.”

Something’s wrong.

Goldchild pulls up across from Mathijs’s car. It isn’t until someone steps out that one of our men opens the door for Mathijs.

Idiots. They’re meant to wait for an all clear first.

The barrel of my gun is trained on the newcomer, perfectly centered for a clean shot. I don’t recognize him from any of the pictures of known members that I was given last night. Hired muscle maybe? Or a random man from their organization?

A plain brown envelope sits in his hand, too thin to pose any kind of threat unless there’s a razor hidden in there. Or poison.

Wordlessly, he passes the envelope to one of our men before returning to his car to drive away. It isn’t until they’re revving down the street that the item is passed to Mathijs. Slowly, he opens it with his gloved hands, then unfolds the single sheet of paper.

He holds the letter up for me to see, and there, in black marker are three words:

FUCK YOU, CUNT.

Chapter 8

ZALAK

Mathijs leaves the compound nearly every day. I usually drive to the location first to scout it, set up on a roof or behind a window. Or sometimes I’m a couple meters away from him, pretending to be a random civilian who’s enjoying a meal, not someone armed and ready to kill. Cafes, restaurants, bars, clubs, I’ve been everywhere with him over the last three weeks.

The days aren’t monotonous, but there’s a level of consistency that gives me enough semblance of normalcy, which doesn’t make me feel like I’m losing control. Shit, I haven’t once thought about sneaking away to have a go in the ring for some extra cash. I actually like what I’m doing.

The other day, I pretended to be his date at a yacht party. It would have been a little demoralizing to be his mindless arm candy if it weren’t for the fact that we kept our hands to ourselves except for the occasional touch on my lower back as he steered me through the crowd. I think he realized partway through that I made for a horrific date because I wasn’t going doe-eyed and melting for him. The touches were nice, but it made me spiral, questioning whether it’s too much or too far.

Now, after a week on the road, it’s good to be back on the compound. I’ve missed being able to anticipate my surroundings.

I tap my finger on my arm and try not to fidget as I wait for Mathijs to come out of his office. We were meant to leave for an undisclosed location twenty minutes ago, and the anticipation is agonizing. Sergei had absolutely no idea where we were meant to go since there were no outings planned, which only made him alert—and dare I say it, upset—that we were heading out, and the big man never gave him the heads-up.

“Apologies for my tardiness,” Mathijs says before he exits his office. “Now, shall we?”

My lips part as I take him in. What in the fuck is he wearing? He looks like he’s walked right off a military catalog with the black camo pants, combat boots, and military jacket. Mathijs is dressed to the nines, ready for war, and not a single one of his security detail has a goddamn clue what we’re about to walk into.

No wonder Sergei has lost all his hair working for him.

“Where, pray tell, are we going?” Jesus Christ. Is that a tactical knife strapped to his leg?

He rubs his hands, eyes glinting in excitement. “On an adventure.”

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