“Stop this, Nat.”
I snickered. “Beg me.”
His eyes slowly found mine. “Please, don’t do this.”
I paused. “Did you ever listen to me when I begged?”
“No, Nat. Don’t do this. Nat. Nat! Cut it out!”
And despite his insistence, I pulled the trigger again.
Watching as the bullet in the chamber embedded itself into his skull.
23
Toxin
“Natasha,” I whispered.
Ryker slipped his hand off my shoulder as my back tensed.
“Natasha, can you read me?” I asked.
“What’s going on?” Grave asked.
“Can you guys not hear her, either?” Cage asked.
“So, it’s not just my earpiece?” I asked.
“No. It isn’t,” Ryker said behind me.
I peeked back at him as the hairs on the nape of my neck stood up. I couldn't hear anything. Just some muffled sounds and scratching. Like fabric rubbing up against the microphone.
“Rock, what the fuck is going on? What the hell are we hearing?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I’m recalibrating her earpiece, but I can’t get a clearer sound,” he said.
“Anyone got any theories?” Bear asked.
“Sounds like she’s taken her earpiece out and tucked it somewhere,” Knox said.
“Why the fuck would she do that?” Saint asked.
“If I don’t hear her voice within the next couple of minutes, I’m storming that damn room,” I growled.
“And I’ll be right behind him, guys. We haven’t had her voice for three minutes already. Just those damn sounds,” Ryker said.
“Which means she’s moving around. So, she’s alive,” Grave said.
“He’s got a point,” Knox said.
“You heard me. No voice in two minutes? We go in. No mat—”
“Toxin?”
I paused. “Natasha?”
“I don’t hear her voice,” Cage said.
“Toxin, you got eyes on her?” Grave asked.
“Toxin, come on. It’s safe,” she said.
I peeked out from around the corner of the alcove Ryker and I stashed ourselves in. And as my head slowly came around, there she was. Standing in the hallway. With a gun hanging from her fingers. I cursed to myself as I rushed her, Ryker hot on my heels as I held my arms out for her. I scooped her up, listening as the guys begged me for an update. Listening as they commanded me to say something. To speak. To fill them in on what the hell happened.
“Natasha, you're okay,” I murmured, slipping the gun away from her.
Ryker kept walking around us. “She doesn’t look injured, guys. Though, there’s blood on her lingerie set.”
“I killed him,” she whispered.
I tucked her head into the crook of my neck as I gazed into the room. I saw the legs of that pearl suit beyond the door, coated in red. I shushed Natasha as she softly cried against my neck. Trembling with fear. I looked over at Ryker and nodded my head. He walked over to the room and peeked it. And when his eyes widened, I knew it had to be bad.
“What happened? What did he do to you?” I asked.
She sniffled. “Nothing. He-he-he, uh… I—”
I held her tightly. “It’s okay. You’re safe now. I’m here. You’re with me.”
“You guys have to move. We’ve got a lot of movement out here,” Brewer said.
“I know where Diesel is,” she whispered.
“Did she just say what I think she just said?” Grave asked.
I placed my lips against her ear. “Where is he, beautiful? And tell me what happened.”
She sniffled. “There’s a basement to this building. He’s down there with Lars.”
“She shot him in the head,” Ryker said.
“And the crotch,” she said flatly.
I held Natasha out, gripping her shoulders. “Did he come at you?”
She shrugged. “He always came at me. Not the way you think, though. He just—thought he had me. He thought he owned me. And I knew he wouldn't give us the information he wanted without something he prized being at stake.”
“I’m sending the guys casing for the basement. Toxin. Ryker. Get her out of there,” Grave said.
I ripped my own earpiece out. “It’s just you and me right now. Talk to me, gorgeous. Tell me what the hell happened.”
She told me everything. How Phillip threw her into that room. How Phillip had commanded her to do things Ivan wasn’t okay with. How she wanted to pit the two of them against her in order to get closer to him. Closer to his gun. She told me how she drew it. How she shot the balls right off that asshole.
Before getting what we needed and enacting her own revenge.
“I’m sorry I killed him. I just knew he wouldn't stop coming after me. He wouldn't let me go. I know Ivan. I know how he works. Please don’t be ma—”
I crashed my lips against hers. I cloaked her back with my arms. I pulled her to me, feeling her legs go weak as Ryker stood in the shadows. Giving us the privacy we needed. My tongue fell against hers and the world stopped. Our hearts beat in time as electricity sizzled down my spine. This woman—this strong, sensual, gorgeous woman—was more amazing than I could have ever imagined.
And when she came up for air, our lips parting from the other, our foreheads fell together.
“You’re more badass than I could have ever imagined,” I murmured.
She sniffled. “So, you're not upset?”
I snickered. “Not by a fucking longshot.”
Then, I put my earpiece back in. “Guys?”
“Get the hell out of there now. There’s a storm coming,” Grave commanded.
“Ivan is no longer a worry. He’s been taken care of,” I said.
The guys fell silent as I cupped Natasha’s cheek.
“You guys located the basement entrance yet?” I asked.
“Actually, I think I’ve got it,” Ryker said.
“You can’t go in there by yourself. You wait for us,” Cage said.
“We need to keep everything looking like it’s fine. This door hasn’t burst open yet. So, for all we know, the commotion you guys are experiencing outside hasn’t reached the basement yet,” Ryker said.
I watched him reach for a doorknob as I tucked Natasha behind me.
“He’s right, we still might have the element of surprise,” I said.
“What do you need me to do?” Nat asked.
“Wait for someone else to go with you,” Grave said.
“I’ve got Toxin with me. We’ll be okay. I don’t hear anything behind the door. There aren’t any lights,” Ryker said.
I watched him ease the door open silently before he nodded.
“I’ve got stairs going down, guys,” he whispered.
“Things have to look as normal as possible if this is going to work,” Cage said.
“Security has doubled outside, but they aren’t running around any longer. Whatever threat they thought was there is gone to them,” Knox said.
“Got no movement on the roof,” Brewer said.
“Inside of the club’s fine,” Bear said.
“Copy that,” Saint said.
Rock sighed. “Okay, Toxin?”
I nodded. “Yep.”
“You’re going to have to put Natasha somewhere and make it look like she’s still dancing. Or at least with Ivan.”
“Fuck,” I hissed.
“What?” Natasha asked.
And when my eyes met hers, it was as if she read my mind.
“I’ll go back in there with the body,” she said softly.
I handed her the gun back. “I won’t leave you without a way to protect yourself,” I said.
“Actually, that might not be necessary,” Ryker said.
“The gun?” she asked.
“No, her being in there with the body,” Ryker said.
He appeared at our sides and I watched him walk into the room. He
motioned for me to come in and I did as he asked. Grave kept asking us for an update, but I stayed silent. I got a chance to analyze Ivan’s body and it showed me just how amazing Natasha really was. How strong she had been in my absence. I knew this would stick with her for a while. First kills always did. I still remembered mine. Hell, I’d never forget their face. Or their eyes. Or their fucking name.
But I’d be there to help her through the nightmares.
“Help me move the body. We can put her behind a closed door and have her talk to herself. Giggle a bit. Move around in case someone can see a shadow under the door. She doesn't have to be in here with this body. She just has to be in here acting like she’s dancing,” Ryker said.
“Make it quick, guys. We need people in that basement,” Grave murmured.
With Ryker carrying his arms, I gripped his legs. We carried Ivan’s body out into the hallway and rushed him down the alcove. Natasha turned her back, heaving softly. My heart ached for her. But this was the only way. A few more minutes cooped up in that room, and all would be all right. I knew it would be. We tossed Ivan’s body into the alcove before I backtracked into the room. I rearranged the furniture to cover up the blood. Then, I reached for a black blanket. I strode out of the room and back down to where Ryker and I had tucked ourselves away. Waiting for the moment to strike. And as I turned the small corner, I tossed the black blanket over that bloodied pearl suit.
Which completely camouflaged the body.
“All right, Natasha. The room should be okay now,” I said.
I turned around and saw her staring blankly into the room.
“Natasha,” I said.
Her eyes slowly turned to meet mine, and the look in her eye slapped me across the face. I walked over to her. I cupped her cheeks. I kissed her forehead before she wrapped her arms around me, trembling. Crumbling against me. And just as I went to tell Ryker he’d be on his own for this one, I heard footsteps coming down the hallway.
Before voices sounded in my ear.
“Where’d you stash the body? I’ll stick by it in case someone comes looking for him,” Bear said.
“And where’s this basement door? I’ll keep guard,” Saint said.
“Is Natasha gonna be in that room? I’ll stand guard. Sutton will kill me if I don’t stand guard for her. They’ve gotten close,” Cage said.
And while I wasn’t one to cry happy tears or shit like that, I came close.
“You gonna be okay with them around?” I asked.
I gazed into Natasha’s eyes and she nodded softly.
“Yeah, with them around, I’ll be okay.”
And she even gave me a soft smile. One that made me grin in return.
“All right. We’ll be back for you soon. You’ve got three guys watching over you in this room. Nothing’s happening to you,” I said.
She nodded. “Promise?”
I kissed her lips softly. “With all my heart.”
I relinquished her to the guys and Cage led her back into that room. They took up their positions as I turned my back, heading with Ryker to the stairs. And as we stood at the top, in the pitch-black stairwell, their voices came alive in my ear.
“In position,” Saint said.
“In position,” Cage said.
“In position,” Bear said.
“Copy that. Ryker? Toxin? You copy?” Grave asked.
“Mhm,” I murmured softly.
“Yep,” Ryker whispered.
“Okay. Here’s the plan. Things have settled down out front and around back. So, stay silent. Stay vigilant. And stay alert. When you get down there, find a way to feed us schematics of the basement. We first need to figure out a way to get the majority of us in there in order to take out Lars and his men. Without Diesel getting hurt. Tap your earpieces if you copy.”
Then, as we exchanged looks, Ryker and I tapped on our earpieces.
Before slowly starting down the darkened steps.
24
Natasha
I held my breath as the two of them started down those dark stairs. And the second they were out of sight, I slipped into the room. I looked around frantically at how they had rearranged it. The couch, on the opposite end of the wall. A chair pressed into the corner. I rushed over to the chair and pulled it into the middle of the room. Had to make it look like I’d just given a dance, right? I stashed the gun underneath the cushion, just in case I needed it later.
Then, I fished my earpiece out of my lingerie bottoms.
“Toxin, can you hear me?” I asked.
“She’s back, boys,” Grave said.
“We can all hear,” Knox murmured.
But, a tap in my ear signaled to me that he heard me.
“I want to go with him. Is it possible for me to go with Toxin and Ryker?” I asked.
“No,” Rock said plainly.
“You have to keep your position, so nothing seems out of place,” Grave said.
I sighed. “Well, I can’t just stand in this room and do nothing, guys. Toxin’s downstairs and vulnerable. Phillip’s out in the main room. He’s going to come check on me any minute.”
“Toxin’s a big boy. And he’s got Ryker. Plus, I’ve got my eye on Phillip. He’s not moving right now,” Brewer whispered.
“I hate that I can still smell that man’s blood in this room,” I said, sighing.
“It’s a smell you never forget,” Grave said.
I looked around for something to do. At the very least somewhere to sit while the show went on. I paced the floor, sniffing deep while the scent of blood slowly died off. The air conditioning kicked on and filtered most of the smell out. Replacing it with the smell of mothballs and uncleaned air ducts.
Then, an idea hit me.
“What’s the plan if Phillip comes and finds me?” I asked.
“I’m out here. I’ve got you,” Cage said.
“You can’t just kill him. At least, not in a showy way. He works directly with Lars. If he hasn’t come to find me already because of Ivan’s disappearance, he’ll come for Phillip,” I said.
“She’s got a point,” Rock said.
“You’re talking as if you have an idea,” Grave said.
“I do. Right now, if we want to avoid killing people until absolutely necessary, Phillip needs a distraction,” I said.
“Let me guess. You want to offer yourself up as a distraction,” Knox murmured.
I heard furious tapping in my ear, but I tried to press on.
“If he comes to check on me, I’m finished. But if I can make it look like he’s the next dance?” I asked.
The tapping grew louder, and I heard Toxin breathing quickly into his earpiece.
“Toxin, cut the shit. She’s got a point. Let us figure it out and do your damn job,” Grave said curtly.
The tapping stopped, but I still heard the shallow breathing.
“I promise, I’ll stay safe. I’ve got that gun. I’ve got my wits about me again. But you know I’m right, handsome,” I said.
Everyone fell silent before a heavy sigh was heaved over our earpieces.
“Okay, look. It’s not a terrible idea. And you’re right. Phillip is a loose string that will still need to be dealt with. So, here’s what we’ll do. Cage and Saint? You two go with her back out into the main room. Watch her as she navigates this plan with Phillip. Bear? You stay in that hallway with the body. If Natasha and Phillip come back down that hallway and he tries any shit, be in position to take him out,” Grave said.
“Copy,” Bear said.
“What makes you think Phillip will want a dance from you?” Brewer asked.
All ears were on me as things fell silent again.
“Because he’s tried hitting on me a couple of times over the past year or so. He’ll take me up on the offer,” I said.
The furious tapping started up again and I rolled my eyes. I knew that would piss Toxin off. But it was the only play we had. The door whipped open and Cage stood there with Saint. Ready to escort me back in
to the main room. I drew in a deep breath as the tapping continued. I tried to put it out of my mind as we all made our way back into the room. And the second I emerged, the guys disappeared into the shadows.
“Toxin, stop the fucking tapping. The plan’s already happening. Do your job or I’m pulling you out of there,” Grave hissed.
I put on my best smile as I scanned the room. I didn’t need to look long before I found Phillip, though. I walked over to him and his eyes found me. But his stoic face caught me off guard. I braced myself. I walked over to him and slid into his lap. I watched the girls for a little bit as my arm slipped around his neck. And for a while, he didn’t touch me.
Until his hand softly slipped to my lower back.
“How’d Ivan’s dance go?” he asked.
I grinned. “I took care of him. Just like you intended.”
“I don’t see him out here.”
“He’s a man, Phillip. Which means he’s fast asleep.”
He quirked an eyebrow and ran his gaze down my body. I kept my demeanor cool, hoping he couldn't see through my veiled expressions. I eased a little closer to him. I placed my head against his shoulder. And as his arm softly tightened around my waist, I cleared my throat.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly.
“For what?” he asked.
“For getting upset with you.”
“I figured you would.”
“Still, I shouldn’t have. I know you’re only taking orders. Not orchestrating this whole thing.”
He nodded slowly. “Yep.”
“Is there any way I can make it up to you?”
I rose my head, connecting my eyes with his. I pouted with my eyes and tried to put on my best wide-eyed, innocent expression. The edges of his lips ticked. His eyes darted around. I peered just beyond his shoulder, locating Saint and Cage in the background. At least I had them there in case shit went belly-up.
Then, my attention turned back to Phillip.
“Are you free to dance?” he asked.
I stood up. “I could even give you a private one.”
I held my hands out for him and he took them in stride. I helped him out of his chair, then slowly tugged him back down the road I had just traveled. Back down the hallway. Past Bear, who I couldn't see but I knew was standing there, nonetheless. I walked him into the room. I prayed he couldn't smell Ivan’s blood on the couch in the corner. And as I led him over to the chair, I slowly sat him down.
Toxin: Dead Souls MC: Prospects #5 Page 15
