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.
22
Natasha
I looked at Ivan as I rubbed my arm. Those sneering eyes and that crooked grin. Everything about him screamed at me to run. And it was true. I was tired. Tired of running. Tired of fighting. Tired of doing the bare minimum to save my life. Tired of people lying to me.
I was also tired of him.
You won’t scare me this time, Ivan.
“Are you going to answer me? Or keep me on bated breath?” Ivan asked.
I sighed. “You know why I’m tired. I’m tired of running. I’m tired of living alone. Living a lie.”
“Oh?”
I nodded slowly. “Yes. Oh.”
“Natasha, what are you doing?” Toxin whispered.
I licked my lips and let my eyes trail down Ivan. I straightened my back, exposing my body to him as I took a small step forward. His chuckle seized my gut. His eyes wafting down my body caused my heart to clench. But the second his eyes hit my hips, my hand went up to my ear. I scratched it, slowly moving the earpiece out. And as quickly as I could, I tucked it into the bottoms of my lingerie set. Feeling it pressing against my back. If I was going to do this successfully, I couldn't have him in my ear. For once, I had to trust Toxin’s words. I had to trust that he was close, and that he’d intervene if necessary.
Even though I still had to take that damn stage, I also had to trust that when he said I wouldn’t get hurt, that I wouldn’t actually get hurt.
But my life wasn’t the only one at stake, either.
Ivan took his sweet, precious time studying my body. He always had. Envisioning every nook and cranny he’d kiss and touch. Casing me like a piece of meat. Which gave me plenty of time to discard the earpiece without his knowledge. The idiot. He was never one to pay attention to me unless I was ready to spread my legs for him.
And as his eyes traveled back to mine, I saw them flash with heat.
With want.
With lust.
Gross.
“You look stronger than the last time I saw you,” Ivan said.
I grinned. “Would you believe I was working out for you?”
He snickered. “No.”
“Good. Because you really shouldn't believe everything you hear.”
“Is that your way of telling me your prior statement was a lie?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Then, why don’t you tell me what’s on your mind, beautiful?”
I sighed. “I told you. I’m tired.”
“Would you like to talk about the reason why you’re tired?”
I forced tears to my eyes, then tried blinking them back. If there was ever a reason to perform, this was the time. I quickly rushed over to Ivan and threw my arms around him. I pressed myself against him, silently cringing at his touch on the small
of my back. He patted my skin. His hug was empty. The way it always had been.
But pressing against him with my hips informed me of where his gun was.
In case I needed to reach for it.
“My, my. How eager we are to get back in my good graces. But you’ve been gone for a while now, Nat. If you think I don’t see through your ruse—”
“He took me,” I whispered.
Ivan froze. “What?”
I sniffled. “I tried to stop him, but I couldn't.”
He pulled me out, his hands firmly on my hips. “Which one? I need a name. No one touches my things.”
My lower lip quivered. “Toxin. I-I-I, I tried to get him off. But it just—there was this plan they were concocting, and Phillip told me to use my ways to get information out of them and—”
“He commanded you to do that?”
I paused. “Yes.”
Ivan released me and slipped his hand through my hair. I had pressed an unintentional button that opened a wonderful door for me. Ivan paced around. The anger in his face grew. The tension in the room thickened. And it took all I had to bury the smile wanting to spread across my face.
“That rat bastard! I told him to make sure no one touched you. No one even got near you,” Ivan hissed.
I shook my head. “That isn’t what he told me. He told me to use whatever it is I had at my disposal to stay in the good graces of the group. Whatever it took to get him and his boss information.”
“My fucking brother,” he growled.
I sniffled. “I’m sorry. I tried fighting him off. I swear to you, I did.”
He rushed me, his hands cupping my cheeks. “I know. I know you would have. I know you’re not that stupid, beautiful.”
His thumbs rushed over my skin, but inside I wanted to choke him until he gurgled on his own blood.
He pulled me into a hug, and I scanned the room behind him. There was a couch in the corner. It looked dingy from sitting in the dark, but another idea came to me.
“I don’t want him to be the most current man that touches me, Ivan,” I whispered.
He patted my back. “Don’t you worry. We’re rectifying that as soon as we get the hell out of here. And as soon as I find that fucking Phillip guy.”
“Please. I need you now. I’m so—I’m so happy to see you, I just—”
I slid my nose along his cheek. I slowly backed him to the couch. When his legs stopped moving, I pressed against his chest, easing him against the cushions. He grimaced at the feel of the couch. But one thing he never could resist was the swiveling of my hips. I snaked between his legs and pushed them open. I swirled my hips as his eyes met the movements. I rose my hands above my head, swallowing the bile creeping up the back of my throat.
And when he wrapped his arms around me, I braced myself.
He pulled me down against him on the couch, his pelvis grinding against me. I wanted to puke. But I also had him right where I wanted him. I wiggled around until I straddled him. My knees on either side of his body. His eyes were distracted by my tits. I felt blood flowing to his groin. He licked his lips, enjoying the show as I danced for him. Swayed for him. Jiggled my curves for his viewing pleasure.
“I need to kiss you. I need to know you’re still mine,” he murmured.
He fisted my hair. He slowly eased my face closer to his. And just as his eyes closed, my hand moved in for the kill. I snaked my fingers behind the flap of his pearly white suit coat. I slipped his gun out of the holster. His eyes flew open as I brought the gun up, clocking him against his temple. His grip fell away from me and I stood up. I cocked the gun and grinned at the sight of the suppressor at the tip. I backed away. Slowly. Watching as Ivan groaned and held tightly onto the bleeding side of his head.
Then, a disgusting chuckle fell from his lips.
“I have to admit, that performance was Oscar-worthy, Nat. You have talent.”
“Where is he?” I asked.
He quirked an eyebrow. “Where’s who?”
“Diesel. You tell me right now or I’m going to shoot you.”
He snickered. “You don’t have the balls to shoot me, little girl.”
Just the answer I wanted.
I took aim for his crotch and pulled the trigger, listening to the soft noise that left the tip of the barrel. I watched as blood splattered. I listened as Ivan cried out in pain. In terror. In horror, as he held what he considered his “most prized possession.” Blood pooled onto the couch. The cushions were so disgusting that it didn’t even soak in. Just seeped onto the floor as the little bitch curled up onto the couch.
“I’m going to have you slaughtered for this,” he choked out.
And as he continued slinging insults, I pointed the gun at his head.
“Diesel. Where is he?” I asked.
Ivan shuddered. “Downstairs. Basement. With my brother, Lars. This was all his idea. I had nothing to do with it.”
I grinned. “Feel that fear, Ivan?”
He whimpered in response.
“That’s the fear I lived with for years underneath your thumb. The fear you ingrained into me as normal from the second you moved me into your home. The fear. The pain. The blood. The hurt. All of it, wrapped up into some botched version of reality you didn’t give me a choice but to believe.”
He coughed before he heaved, puking all over himself. All over that pearly white suit that matched my lingerie I had once vomited on.
What a beautiful picture of full-circle.
“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 spea
k. 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.”
Dead Souls MC: Prospects Series Books 1-5 Page 75
