Chapter 21 Toxin
TOXIN
“Did he just say—”
“I’ll replace you right the fuck now if you don’t stop talking,” Grave glowered.
“I’m in the back, under a hat, in the shadows. Cut me some fucking slack,” I hissed.
“I’m sorry, but does anyone else want Ivan dead after that story?” Cage asked.
“Yeah,” the guys said in unison.
I couldn't stop thinking about it. That story. He had that damn lingerie set back there for her to wear. For him. Privately, while she got up on stage and danced around for the fucking masses.
“I need an update. Now. Whatcha got?” Grave asked.
The guys rattled off in my ear, but I wasn’t paying attention.
I kept my eyes locked on that stage. Locked on the moment I told Natasha would never take place.
I felt sick to my stomach. I wanted to slaughter the whole of them before dragging her away from this place.
I told her she’d be safe. I told her she’d never have to take that damn stage.
And I had let her down.
With every sound I heard, my toes curled in my boots a little more.
Every sniffle. Every sigh. Every shuddered breath.
I heard it all as Natasha got ready. I heard her clothes sliding from her body.
I heard her murmuring to herself as she splashed on makeup.
I heard the girls in the background with their dead voices trying to soothe her the best they could.
All I heard was the fear in Natasha’s every move as the clock counted down.
Tick by tick.
My eyes scanned the crowd. I watched for any sign of the fucking Ivan character.
Because he died tonight. Hands down. I licked my lips as I watched for a man returning to the stage.
Because it sounded to me like that asshole wasn’t out here yet.
There were too many moving pieces, though.
Too many men getting up and sitting down.
It was hard to keep track of all of them.
“Natasha?” I asked.
She sniffled. “Yeah?”
“I’m sorry.”
The guys fell silent as they listened to us.
“Why?”
“I made you a promise, and I let you down. I told you that you wouldn't have to take the stage, but I’m going to need you to.”
“I know,” she said weakly.
“I need you to point out Ivan to me.”
“You can’t find him?”
“Even with your description of what he looks like, I can’t see him. You don’t have to do much. Just look at him once you get on stage. Maybe turn yourself in his general direction. He’s going to want you to do that anyway. Once you give me a direction, I can fish him out.”
She sniffled. “I’m sorry.”
I shook my head. “You have no reason to be, gorgeous. I promise you that. And Grave?”
He cleared his throat. “Yeah?”
“If anyone touches her—or hurts her—in any way? It’s your fucking head that’ll roll.”
“I can accept that,” he said.
I didn’t want Natasha taking her goddamn clothes off in front of everyone.
But we didn’t have a choice. I heard Saint talking me through things.
How to calm myself. How to make myself blend in even though I was seething past my boiling point.
Ryker hopped in and rambled off some shit.
I wasn’t paying attention, though. The second the lights came down and the smoke started up, I heard a door open in my ear.
“Natasha, you’re on. Get on it.”
I’m gonna slaughter Phillip, too. Nice and steady.
My eyes darted around the room and I located the guys in there with me.
Ryker across the room near the stage. Bear sitting at the bar.
And Cage standing near the back exit. The rest of the guys were outside, surrounding the club and slowly casing it to try and figure out its layout. Its hidden rooms. Its secrets.
But the music caught my ear, and I focused on the stage.
“Toxin?” Natasha whispered.
“I’m right here. I’ve got eyes on the stage,” I murmured.
“I’m not taking off this lingerie. I won’t do it.”
I grinned. “Good. Then don’t.”
The clicking of heels pierced through the music and those long legs emerged.
My eyes scanned up them as men began to whistle and whoop.
A fur coat emerged. Natasha’s brooding eyes lit up through the haze of the fog.
And as the guys started looking around the room—intentionally diverting their eyes—mine locked with her.
“I’m right here in the back. Don’t be afraid. No one will touch you tonight,” I murmured.
I watched her softly nod on stage before she dropped her coat.
And the men beat on the stage like fucking alley cats.
It made me grimace. I wanted to slit every single one of their throats.
Natasha’s curves were bare for everyone to see.
But they wouldn’t get any more than that.
Her hips swayed and her hands slowly worked up her body.
She played with the fake pearls around her neck as her ruby red lips stood out from the rest of her outfit.
In any other scenario, she would’ve looked incredible. Drop dead fucking gorgeous.
But the fear in her eyes sort of ruined the mood.
You know, that and the men wanting her to take more off.
They tossed money at her. Some men beckoned to her with her finger. And me? Well, my murderous wants continued to rise. Natasha’s eyes slowly scanned the room, stopping once she finally found me.
“Hey there, gorgeous. You’re doing great,” I murmured.
And with another soft nod, her eyes continued around the room.
She danced in ways I didn’t think she could move.
She swiveled around a pole and my jaw dropped open.
She’d done this before. That much was obvious.
Which made me sicker to my stomach. Her body wrapped itself around that metal pole and she climbed up.
Swirling down in beautiful moves that took my breath away.
She didn’t dance like any stripper. Like any woman taking her clothes off for money. Oh, no.
She danced like an angel in disguise.
Then, her eyes locked with a man in the crowd.
One she turned her entire body to. My eyes whipped around to see who she was focusing on.
And then? I found him. A man sitting near the stage in a matching fucking suit.
A pearl-colored suit with pearl cufflinks and shining pearl-colored shoes.
The fucker couldn't have been more obvious.
He had a grin on his face I wanted to wipe off and his eyes scanned Natasha as if she were a piece of meat.
And when her eyes locked with his, she got down onto her knees.
“That’s him. You guys see it?” I murmured.
They all confirmed in my ear as she slowly crawled toward him.
“I’m going to kill him,” I growled.
“Stand down, Toxin. Wait until she’s off that stage and away from him,” Grave warned.
The man looked comfortable. Too comfortable for my liking.
He spread his legs wide, accepting all of her attention as she handed it over.
Guys still threw money at her. Trying to get her attention.
But she didn’t pay them any mind. I heard her breathing tick up in her earpiece.
She was getting nervous. Fearful. And I had to get her the fuck out of there.
“How much longer is this damn song,” I murmured.
And right on cue, the song began to dwindle.
Natasha slipped back up to her feet and raced for her fur coat.
She left the money behind on stage. She didn’t even take a second look back at me before she ran off.
My eyes whipped back over to the man in the pearl suit, who instantly got up out of his seat.
I watched him point to a couple of the guards.
He pointed to the stage before slipping away from his chair.
And as he made his way back into the shadows, I got up from my seat.
“I’m following him,” I murmured.
“I got your back,” Ryker said.
The guys started shuffling around the room. They all started talking in my ear, but I blocked them out. That man was headed straight for Natasha, but he wouldn't get her. Not today. If I was lucky? He’d swallow some of the lead I had tucked against my ankle tonight.
“Got the back exit covered,” Cage said.
“Near the main entrance,” Bear said.
“Toxin, I’m behind you. About forty paces,” Ryker said.
I kept silent, though. I didn’t give a shit where they were. Because this man wasn’t leaving my grasp once I had it around his fucking neck.
I followed the clicking of his expensive shoes.
Down a darkened hallway that barely had any light.
Which I used to my advantage. I kept my breathing silent.
I kept my footsteps steady. I matched his pace evenly, so if I did make a sound it would be covered up to the incessant clicking of his fucking shoes.
I followed him down the corridor. Back into a part of the strip club that didn’t look as if it existed on the outside.
Then, he threw open a door.
I looked around, trying to clock cameras or security guards. There were none, though. I pressed myself against the wall as the door stood propped open. What the fuck was going on? Was Natasha in there.
“Let me go. Phillip! Stop!”
Her sounds came down the hallway and my heart leapt in my chest. I heard her heels stumbling around as a man practically growled at her side.
I went to lunge at them, but someone wrapped their hand around my arm.
I turned around and saw Ryker shaking his head at me.
My nostrils flared. My hands balled up into fists.
Who the fuck was he to tell me no? That I couldn’t go after my woman?
Then, I finally heard Grave in my ear.
“Toxin, for the love of hell, can you hear me? Tap on your earpiece if you can.”
I did as he asked just as Phillip tossed Natasha into that fucking room.
“This has to be a stealthy mission. Ryker’s there as your backup, but we still haven’t located Lars or Diesel. Don’t let her get hurt, but don’t make a scene. Don’t give away your position. And don’t kill unless you have to. Tap your earpiece if you understand.”
I did as he asked, and Ryker signed silently.
“I had eyes on you until you entered a hallway. And I haven’t had eyes on you since. Be careful, and don’t do anything stupid. Got it?” Grave asked.
I tapped my earpiece yet again.
“Good,” he said.
I slowly turned back to the door. A door that was barely propped open.
Ryker tugged me down the hallway and into a small alcove I had completely missed.
Which told me I wasn’t paying attention like I thought I was.
I let him guide me. I let him take the reins for a second.
I needed to screw my head back on straight so I could keep protecting this woman.
I heard Natasha sniffling. On the verge of tears.
And I didn’t know what to do about it. She was my priority.
So long as she was in my care, she’d always be my priority.
But I also knew that if I was the reason Diesel was killed tonight, I’d never live it down.
I’d never forgive myself.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Nat.”
“Please, just stop this. I’m so tired,” she said softly.
“Tired of what, pet?”
“Natasha, stay calm. I’m only twenty feet from the door. And if you need anything, I’m there in a heartbeat. Okay?” I whispered.
And as silence fell across the hallway and my earpiece, I began to panic.