Page 38 of Toxic

Kazanov spits out a mouthful of blood and broken teeth. “Go to hell,” he manages to slur.

A cold smile spreads across Hawk’s face. “We’re already there.” In one fluid motion, he pulls out a wicked-looking knife. The blade glints in the harsh fluorescent light as he brings it to Kazanov’s hand - the same hand he used to grab me during my captivity.

“Fuck you,” Kazanov mumbles.

“Wrong answer,” Hawk growls, and with a swift movement, he drives the knife through Kazanov’s palm and into the wooden arm of the chair. “This is for daring to touch my woman.”

Kazanov’s scream echoes through the warehouse, raw and agonized. I should feel horrified, but all I feel is a grim satisfaction. This is justice served cold and brutal.

“Hawk, please!” Regina’s desperate voice breaks through the tension. “I can explain everything. We can work this out. You know me.”

Something in me snaps. I whirl on Regina, my hand connecting with her face in a resounding slap. “Shut up,” I hiss, leaning in close. “You don’t get to beg. You don’t get to manipulate. Not anymore. And not my man.”

Regina’s eyes widen in shock, a red mark blooming on her cheek where I struck her. For once, she’s silent.

I turn back to Kazanov, who’s breathing heavily, his eyes glazed with pain. “You want to know something interesting?” I ask, my voice deceptively calm and low. “I’m the only person who can get to the Sphinx.”

Kazanov’s head snaps up, disbelief warring with fear in his bloodshot eyes. “You’re lying,” he chokes out.

I lean in, close enough to smell the coppery scent of his blood. “Am I? Do you really want to take that chance? Because I can make your entire life and family history disappear with a few keystrokes. Your money, your properties, your family’s wealth, your precious reputation - all of it… gone.”

“You don’t have that kind of power,” Kazanov spits, but I hear the uncertainty in his voice.

I smile, cold and dangerous. “Want to find out?”

Kazanov’s composure finally breaks. He lunges forward as much as his bonds will allow, spewing a stream of obscenities and threats. “I’ll kill you!” he roars. “I’ll tear you apart with my bare hands, you fucking bitch!”

I step back, unfazed by his outburst. “One last chance, Kazanov. Tell me who’s really behind the attacks on RiversFinancial, or I promise you, your family will be drowning in debt and poverty long after you’re dead.”

For a long moment, the only sound in the warehouse is Kazanov’s ragged breathing. Then, finally, he slumps in defeat.

“I don’t know who it is,” he admits in a croak. “But I know it’s someone in the Rivers family.”

I exchange a glance with Hawk. We both expected this but neither wanted to say it. The implications are staggering.

Hawk moves to my side, his hand coming to rest possessively at the small of my back. “You’ve been very helpful, Kazanov,” he says, his voice silky smooth. “Now, I’m afraid our business is concluded.”

With a nod to one of his men, Hawk guides me toward the exit. As we walk away, I hear the distinct sound of a gun being cocked.

“Wait,” I say, turning back. “I want to see this.”

Hawk’s eyes search mine for a moment before he nods. “Very well.”

We watch as Hawk’s man raises his weapon, aiming first at Kazanov, then at Regina. Two shots ring out in quick succession, the sound reverberating off the warehouse walls.

As the echoes fade, I feel a weight lift from my shoulders. Two down. One to go.

Hawk’s arm wraps around my waist, pulling me close. I lean into him, feeling the solid warmth of his body against mine. I just want to rub myself all over him at this moment.

“Are you okay?” he asks softly, his lips brushing my ear.

I look up at him, taking in the intensity of his gaze, the splatters of blood on his crisp white shirt. In this moment, covered in the evidence of his ruthlessness, he’s never been more attractive to me.

“I’m perfect,” I reply, reaching up to pull him into a fierce kiss.

As we break apart, breathless, Hawk’s eyes are dark with desire and something deeper, more possessive. “Let’s go home,” he growls.

I nod, a shiver of anticipation running down my spine.

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