Page 124 of Retaliation

The words hit Phillip like a punch to the gut. Love? Reaper’s voice rose, each word dripping with fury and desperation.

“That’s why I had to get him out of our way so that we could be together,” Reaper raged breathlessly. “You weren’t supposed to be at that fight. You shouldn’t have seen me!”

Phillip’s mind raced, piecing together the fragments of Reaper’s confession. The realization sent a fresh wave of rage through him. He scrambled to his feet, every muscle tensed, ready to fight.

Poison’s eyes locked onto his, fear and confusion swirling in their depths. She struggled against Reaper’s grip, her voice shaking. “Let go of me! You’re insane!”

Reaper’s face twisted further, his hold tightening.

“You don’t understand, Minke. I did it for us! For our future!”

Phillip couldn’t take it anymore. He lunged at Reaper, adrenaline fueling his movements. He tackled him to the ground, fists flying as he unleashed the pent-up anger and fear. Reaper fought back, but Phillip’s desperation gave him an edge.

“You’re not taking her from me!” he shouted, landing a solid punch to Reaper’s jaw. The impact sent Reaper reeling, but he quickly recovered, throwing Phillip off with a powerful shove.

Reaper scrambled to his feet, his eyes wild. “You don’t deserve her! She’s mine!” He charged at Phillip, but Poison stepped in, positioning herself between them.

“Stop!” she screamed, her voice cutting through the chaos. “This ends now!”

Both men froze, the intensity of her command slicing through their rage. Poison’s chest heaved, her eyes blazing with determination.

“Rogan, how the fuck did you think this will work? Youkilledmy brother. Killed! Did you think I’d ever be able to look past that? You’ve already taken too much from me. I will never be yours. Do you understand?”

Reaper’s face fell, his expression crumbling into one of despair. “But Minke...”

“No,” she said firmly, her voice steady despite the fear still lingering in her eyes. “I don’t belong to anyone. Especially not you. And you will pay for what you’ve done.”

Phillip moved to stand beside her, his presence a silent promise of protection. Reaper looked between them, the realization of his defeat dawning painfully slow in his eyes. He stumbled back, his expression a mix of anger and sorrow.

“You’ll regret this,” Reaper spat, but the threat felt hollow.

“Get out of here,” Phillip growled, stepping forward, ready to defend Poison at any cost.

Reaper hesitated for a moment, then turned and disappeared into the shadows. The tension in the air slowly dissipated, leaving Phillip and Poison standing together, their hearts still racing.

He turned to her, his hand reaching out to cup her face gently. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, tears welling in her eyes. “I am now. Thank you.”

FORTY THREE

Without another word, Scorpion wrapped his arm around Poison’s waist, guiding her toward their bikes. The afternoon was silent save for the faint hum of the city in the distance and the water behind them. They walked slowly, their steps in sync, each moment an unspoken promise to protect each other.

Reaching her bike, he turned to her, his eyes intense and filled with unspoken emotion. He lifted her effortlessly, gently placing her onto the seat. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer with a determination not to let him go again. Her arms looped around his neck, bringing his face close to hers.

Their lips met in a kiss that was both fierce and tender, a merging of their souls that spoke of their shared pain and their undying bond. The sensation of his body pressed against hers ignited a fire within her, and she imagined all the wild, untamed things she wanted to do to him right there on that bike.

Scorpion pulled back slightly, his breath mingling with hers.

“You’re incredible,” he whispered, his eyes searching hers for any sign of doubt or fear.

She smiled, her heart pounding in her chest. “You’re not so bad yourself,” she teased.

As he stepped back, his gaze fell upon her bike, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Wait, this isn’t your bike. Who’s is it?”

Her smile widened, a playful glint in her eye. “Do you like it? It was a gift.”

His eyes narrowed, curiosity and a hint of jealousy in his expression. Or was it anger? “From who?”

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