Page 64 of Retaliation

TWENTY TWO

Poison woke up with a jolt that sent her heart racing. Throwing back the blanket, she jumped off the couch and got ready as quickly as possible.

The sun was barely chasing the darkness away when she sped into the streets. Fuck Gunnar if he thought she would just sit idly by and wait for them to talk to Scorpion. She needed to see him, and she needed to do it now.

She had enough time before work and knew the best place to find Scorpion was the factory. Twisting her wrist, she pushed her bike as fast as she could.

With her heart rate crawling into her throat, she rounded the street corner just as someone exited the building.

She nearly dropped her bike as she skidded to a stop in front of the door. Her heart pounded, adrenaline surging through her veins. But it wasn’t Scorpion. Instead, Gunnar stood there, arms crossed, eyes narrowed in annoyance.

“What the actual fuck are you doing here?” he demanded, his voice a low growl.

“Is he in there?” she asked, pulling off her helmet and shaking out her hair. Her voice wavered slightly, betraying the desperation she felt.

Gunnar’s scarred eyebrow arched, skepticism etched on his face. “Why are you looking for him? I thought we told you to stay away?”

She didn’t answer. She moved to push past him, but his massive frame blocked her path. His gaze held a mix of incredulity and irritation, as if he couldn’t believe her audacity. Maybe she was crazy, but she didn’t care.

“He’s not here,” he drawled, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it with a flick of his lighter. To her surprise, he lit a second one and handed it to her.

She hesitated, then took the cigarette, the familiar burn of nicotine offering a momentary distraction.

“Thanks,” she mumbled, drawing in a deep breath and exhaling slowly, trying to calm her racing mind. “He’s not here?” she asked again, her heart aching with defeat.

Gunnar shook his head, taking a drag from his cigarette. “Why are you here, Poison?”

The genuine concern in his eyes caught her off guard, and she nearly choked on the smoke. “Because he was in my apartment last night,” she hissed, anger bubbling beneath the surface. “He tore the place apart. I need to find him.”

“Fuck,” Gunnar muttered, staring off into the distance.

“Any idea where I can find him?” she pressed. If anyone knew where Scorpion would be, it was Gunnar.

“I’ll ask again. Do you have a death wish or something, woman?” Gunnar shook his head. “I told you to let him cool down first.”

“He came looking for me, Gunnar!” She struggled to keep her composure. “You think he’ll calm down? Because I don’t. I need to make him calm down.”

“Clingy much?” he scoffed, a smug grin spreading across his face, right before his head snapped back.

She had punched him.

Without thinking, her fist connected with his jaw. The satisfaction of wiping that grin off his face was worth the sting in her knuckles.

“Bitch!” he roared, dabbing at the cut on his cheekbone.

“Aww, you’re going to make me blush,” she teased, shaking her hand to relieve the pain, her forgotten cigarette smoldering on the ground.

“You can be lucky Scorpion would strangle me if I killed you before he could,” he sneered.

“Where is he?” she insisted, her voice hard.

“It’s your funeral, woman,” he shrugged. “He’s most likely at the Temple or the boss’ gym, neither of which you’d get access to.”

His triumphant smile made her blood boil.

“Then get me access,” she demanded, crossing her arms to hide the tremor in her chest. She hated feeling so out of control.

“No can do, sister,” He shook his head. “They’ll kill you if you set foot in the Temple, and I don’t even have access to the gym.” Jealousy flickered in his eyes.

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