THIRTY FIVE
P oison was engulfed by an overwhelming sense of paralysis, and she gasped for air, but her lungs refused to cooperate. Darkness enveloped her vision, rendering her blind to the world around her. The deafening silence drowning out any semblance of sound left her trapped in a terrifying void of sensory deprivation. Every nerve screamed with numbness, stripping away her ability to feel anything but an all-consuming dread.
The darkness called her and beckoned her to take its hand, whispering her name over and over again.
Poison. Poison. Poison.
“Poison,” the voice whispered, grabbing her shoulder. “Poison.”
Her eyes flew open as she sucked in a deep, lifesaving breath.
It was just a dream. The overwhelming darkness was nothing more than a fabrication of her unconscious mind, and it was Scorpion calling her name.
“It was just a dream,” he whispered against her hair as he pulled her against his chest. “I’m here. I’m right here.”
She melted against his heat, her ear pressed against the rapid thumping of his heart. His white t-shirt that she was wearing, clung to every cold-sweat covered part of her body.
“Your heart,” she whispered, placing a hand on his chest, feeling his breathing and heart rate slowing down. “Are you okay?” she whispered, closing her eyes and listening to the thumping until it was even again.
He let out a low laugh. “Me? I should be asking you that.”
“I’m okay now,” she answered, pushing the dream from her thoughts.
“I couldn’t get you to wake up,” he stated, breathing a deep sigh, and her heart broke at the helplessness in his voice. “Want to talk about it?”
She shook her head against his chest, guilt gripping her heart.
“I’m sorry for waking you up.”
She untangled herself from his arms and sat upright, surprised at the small amount of pain she felt.
Scorpion had made sure she had stayed in bed the whole weekend, waiting on her hand and foot. He would have fed her after cutting her food into bite-size pieces if she hadn’t stopped him.
She had seen the flash of guilt across his face every time he stole a glance at her, and no matter how she had tried to convince him that she was the one to feel guilty, it was to no avail.
Pulling her legs up, she placed her tender ankle in a comfortable position as she hugged her knees to her chest, her cast resting awkwardly on them.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” he said with a sad smile as he traced circles on the side of her exposed thigh. “Your nightmares, do they happen often?”
She returned his sad smile with a nod.
“When did they start?” His question was full of with concern.
“I’ve had night terrors since I could remember,” she shrugged. “I don’t think anyone who lives the lives we do doesn’t have them.”
Scorpion turned on his back with his hands behind his head, seeming to contemplate her words.
“And the panic attack you had the other night? Have you had another one?”
Resting her chin on her cast, she took a deep breath, fighting the urge to close off, to shut down, build her walls, and shut him out. She knew she didn’t have to be so strong and unmovable in front of him, but shaking thirty years of coping mechanisms wasn’t easy.
Forcing herself, she nodded. “I had one the night of the Lotus Lounge, but for the most part, I have them under control.”
“You said they started when you got bad news?”
She took another deep breath, forcing herself to break down the barrier between herself and the rest of the world.
“They returned when Reaper did,” she finally answered.
Seeming to accept the answer for what it was, he turned on his side again and gave her a warm smile.
“You need me to bring you some pain meds?”
She shook her head. “No, thank you. I barely have any pain anymore. You should get some more sleep,” she glanced at the clock beside the bed. “It’s not even three in the morning, and you should probably get to work in a bit.”
As she ushered the words, she realized she didn’t know exactly what he did.
“What do you do?” she asked. “Or is being first lieutenant to the Japanese Mafia boss your only job?”
He let out a surprised low rumble of a laugh that hit her right in the heart.
“Should have known you figured it out by now,” He started tracing circles on her thigh again, sending goosebumps down her legs. “But yeah, the boss keeps us fairly busy and pays well.”
She opened her mouth to ask a question, but he cut her off as if reading her mind.
“No, I don’t have to work in the morning. I’m all yours for the day.” He leaned in and kissed her arm, just above her elbow, activating that swarm of wasps.
“I need to head out. I need to see my crew,” she explained when Scorpion’s brows shot to the sky.
“They can come here,” he suggested. “You’re still recovering.”
Poison’s heart skipped a beat. She had never seen such worry and compassion in any set of eyes focused solely on her.
“Are you sure?” she whispered. “I don’t want to impose. This is your sanctuary.”
“I’d prefer you stay where I can keep an eye on you. You guys can meet downstairs.”
“It will only be Skeldon and Cat,” she promised. “I’ll ask the two of them to come over, and they can talk to the rest for me. They’ve been blowing up my phone the whole weekend.”
“While you’re in my care, the place is yours to do at you, please,” he said, squeezing her thigh.
To distract herself from the heat building between her legs, she moved to get up from the bed, looking back at him over her shoulder.
“I’m going to make coffee. Do you want some?” she asked.
But Scorpion threw back the covers and jumped off the bed next to her, stopping her with his hands on her shoulders. She sucked in a breath as the sight of his rippling abs blocked her vision.
“You stay in bed,” he ordered, carefully pushing her back onto the pillows. “I’ll make us a fresh pot, but you really need to find a caffeine anonymous group. You might be addicted,” he teased, winking at her as he walked to the kitchenette.
“You know I drink coffee for the sake of others, right?” she said to the ceiling.
“How do you reckon?” he called back, and she could hear the water running as he filled the coffee maker.
“If I didn’t, I’d be in jail already.”
“Then it’s a great service you’re doing for your country,” he answered with a chuckle.
A moment later, he returned to the bed with two cups of steaming coffee.
“You want to have it here, or can I help you to the balcony for a smoke?” he asked, hovering next to the bed.
“Some fresh air sounds great. Thank you,” she said with a smile.
Turning to the sliding doors, which lead to the balcony, Scorpion walked ahead to place their mugs on the table outside. The moment he had turned his back, Poison got up from the bed, sliding her bare feet to the concrete floor.
Standing, she tested her sore ankle, and the wraps
around it gave the needed support not to feel too much discomfort.
Luckily, it was a very mild strain, and she’d be running in a day or two.
The stitches after the surgery were still tender, but she could move without any restriction. The only limitation she had left was Scorpion, which he proved by giving her a disappointed glare when he turned around and saw her on her feet.
Stalking to her as if she were prey, and he had a hunger that only she could quench, he scooped her into his arms and stared down at her.
“What did I say about walking?” he growled, his eyes darkening, and she had to stop herself from squirming in his arms.
“I have legs, you know!” she giggled as he walked them to the balcony.
“Oh, I know,” he said, his voice dangerously low as he placed her ass in a chair, the cold metal biting into her thighs.
Despite the cold night air, and only wearing his t-shirt and a pair of boy-cuts, she had the urge to fan her face.
His eyes lowering to where his hands lingered on her thighs, and, as he straightened, allowed his fingers to trace down to her knees. She tried her best to ignore the hunger burning in his eyes.
They stayed and talked on the balcony, diving deeper into the demons they shared, the goals they had yet to achieve and watched the sun rise.
By six o’clock, Scorpion had carried her to the bathroom, where he had helped her into the shower against all protests from her side.
It had quickly become their routine. He’d help her inside but never joined. She knew she had to let her body heal but fuck, it was difficult to keep her hands off him when he so eagerly walked around the loft in nothing but grey sweatpants.
Once she had dressed and put on a thin layer of makeup, Scorpion was waiting for her, leaning against the doorframe. He had swapped his sweatpants for black cargo pants and a simple black t-shirt.
“You ready to head downstairs?” he asked, his eyes traveling the length of her body where she sat in front of the mirror, and his gaze left a burning inferno in its wake.
“If you promise not to carry me?” she asked, rising from her seat.
Scorpion’s lips curved into a smirk, but his eyes remained intense.
“Sure,” he agreed, though his voice held a hint of reluctance. “But only because you asked so nicely.”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at her lips. “Deal.”
She felt his presence behind her, a comforting and electrifying shadow as they made their way downstairs.
Each step was deliberate, her ankle holding steady, yet her heart raced. She stole glances at him, noting the way his muscles rippled beneath the tight fabric of his shirt, the way his jaw tightened with each step she took without his help.
At the bottom of the stairs, the sound of voices reached them. Skeldon and Cat were already there, their figures shifting through the frosted glass of a room at the back of the building.
She hesitated, but Scorpion’s hand found the small of her back, his touch grounding and possessive.
“You’ve got this,” he murmured, his breath warm against her ear.
“They’re going to be pissed at me,” she said, inhaling deeply before pushing the door open. Skeldon’s rugged face broke into a grin, his eyes crinkling with relief. With her fierce gaze, Cat stepped forward, a mixture of concern and anger playing on her features.
“Boss Lady!” Skel’s voice boomed, pulling her into a bear hug. She winced slightly, but the was too dumbfounded by Skel’s animated actions to care. “We’ve been worried sick.”
Cat’s eyes flicked to Scorpion, her lips pressing into a thin line.
“What happened?” she demanded, her tone sharp. “And why are we here? And who are you supposed to be?”
Poison stepped back from Skeldon’s embrace, leaning into Scorpion’s solid presence.
“Got into a bit of trouble,” she admitted, her voice steady. “But I’m fine now. Skeldon, Cat, this is Scorpion,” she introduced them.
The men shook hands, but Cat stared him down, despite her five foot two paling in comparison to Scorpion’s six three, until her gaze softened, slightly.
“We need to know everything, mi hermana.”
Scorpion’s hand tightened on her waist, a silent promise of support. Poison took another deep breath, preparing herself to relive the events that had left her bruised and battered.
“Best you sit down for this”
She told them everything. She told them everything that happened from her fight with Tidal, to Reaper telling them she was Rex’s killer and her plan to make Scorpion see reason. And when she was done explaining, Skel and Cat wore matching incredulous expressions.
Through it all, Scorpion remained by her side, an unflinching steady anchor in the storm of her thoughts and emotions. By the time the sun was high in the sky, she felt a renewed sense of purpose, her wounds – both physical and emotional – already beginning to heal.
“So what do you need us to do, Boss Lady?” Skel asked, and Poison could see him trying to come up with a plan.
“Nothing,” she said, and meant it. “We give Reaper rope and soon he’ll hang himself, but I’m done. I’m done carrying that burden around with me.”
Her friends nodded in understanding and she marveled at their unconditional support.
They spent the rest of the morning catching up, getting to know Scorpion and he answered all their without restraint or hesitation and by midday, as Skel and Cat left, Scorpion turned to her.
“That went better than expected,” he said, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
His eyes lingered on the healing bruise on her jaw, guilt flashing in his eyes, and she leaned into his touch, exhaustion seeping into her bones.
“You’re telling me. Thank you for enduring that.”
He smiled a rare, genuine smile that made her heart skip a beat.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he promised, and she believed him.
For the first time in a long while, she believed she wasn’t alone in this fight. Glancing up at him, her heart swelled with gratitude and something deeper, something she wasn’t ready to name. Not yet.