Page 31

NATALIA

I hadn't been able to sleep for weeks. Not since that asshole sat his scorpion-branded ass on my porch and threatened me. Not since my son's father decided to bleed out in front of me.

Ever since then, every shadow made my skin crawl, every noise made me jump, every rumble of a motorcycle engine made my breath catch. I didn't feel safe at night anymore and I prayed my boss didn't call me in for another of his midnight soirees.

I didn't feel safe during the day either. I wanted to hide, I felt exposed and helpless. Because not only was I no march for those men, but I audacity to think I was strong enough to take them on. Wolf's voice echoed in my mind.

Strength is in everything, Natalia. Tactic and strategy, being smart, that's what you need to focus on.

But I should've known better. Here I was, pretending to play, House, with my ten-year-old son while monsters prowled in leather and chrome around us.

And yet, I wasn't going anywhere.Because running was how it all began, and the second I ran again, they'd win.

I wanted a fresh start, a clean slate, a life far away from the violence and betrayal that had shattered my youth. But blood had memory. And New Orleans? She never forgot.

It had been three weeks since I’d stitched up the man who ruined my life, the man who claimed to love me and then left me bleeding from the inside out. I hadn’t seen him again. I hadn’t seen any of them. But the city hadn’t changed. The tension still lived in those alleyways on my walk back to my car and when the sun dipped behind the bayou trees, something darker always came out to play.

And me? I was done being prey.

I glanced down the hallway where Gabriel slept, curled up on the sofa in his rocket ship pajamas, teddy bear tucked tight to his chest. My heart clenched just looking at him. When I first arrived in Los Angeles I was filled with thoughts of vengeance. I vowed to kill them all starting with Tick Tock. But that soon changed, and my focus became my son. And I’d kill for that boy. I’d burn the world down for him.

My phone buzzed, cutting through the silence and startling me. Scarlett's name and face lit up my phone.

I answered quickly, voice low. "Hey."

"Hey yourself," she said, her voice filled with warmth and that familiar friendliness. "You sound like shit."

"Gee, thanks. Real ego boost."

She snorted. "You haven't called me."

"Yeah, I’m sorry. I got caught up with work and Gabe."

"How's he doing?"

"Way better than I am."

When I didn't elaborate, she pressed on. "Talk to me. What’s going on?"

I let the words tumble out, quiet but fast. Bloody Scorpions at my doorstep, the threats, the fear I tried not to wear like a second skin so that Gabe wouldn't notice his mom falling apart.

Scarlett listened without interrupting. She was good like that. When I finally paused, I heard her sigh.

"Do you need protection? I can talk to Wolf. He’ll send someone."

"No." My answer was sharp, immediate. "I’m not dragging you guys into this. You and Wolf have done enough. I can handle it."

"Bullshit, Nat. Handling it means not getting your face caved in."

"Scarlett, I’m serious. I know how to handle a gun, your husband made sure I had hand-to-hand training. I can defend myself. I’m not helpless anymore."

Of course, I didn't mention to her just how helpless I felt at the moment.

There was a long pause. "You’ve always been a fighter. But you don’t have to fight alone."

I let that hang in the air. My fingers gripped the edge of the counter as I looked out the window into the darkness of the backyard.

"Let me ask you something," Scarlett said carefully. "If push comes to shove… are you going to tell Tick Tock about Gabriel?"

My throat closed.

"Nat?" She repeated.

"I don’t know," I admitted, whispering softly. "What if he tries to take him from me?"

"It doesn’t have to be that way."

"You don’t know that."

"That's fine, but you do know this, if you’re confronting your past, your son is part of that past. Tick Tock deserves to know. And Gabe deserves the truth."

"Tick Tock doesn't deserve shit. Let alone my son."

Tears pricked behind my eyes. I didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

"I’ll check on you soon," she said gently. "You’re not alone, Nat. Even when you think you are."

"Thanks, Scarlett. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, love."

I hung up, heart pounding. I stared down the hallway again, then I moved into my bedroom. Changed into shorts and a tank. Brushed my teeth. Locked every door. Checked the shotgun.

Wolf had given me a compact Glock before I left L.A. He’d said it was a gift, and it had kept close company these last few nights.

I was about to grab Gabe, who was still dead asleep in front of the television set in the living room when I heard the noise coming from the porch.

I shut all the lights and ran to my bedroom to get the gun. I rounded the corner, keeping an eye on both the front door and Gabe. As quietly as I could, I woke him up.

"Mommy," he whispered, sleepily wrapping himself around my neck.

"Shhh, let's go to bed baby." I walked him into my room, and he snuggled beneath my covers. Shutting the light, I secured that room first before heading back out into the living room.

I stood in the center of the room, listening. There was a loud thump, followed by a grunt, and then I saw the shadow pass the window.

I followed it as it went around the house and then disappeared for a few seconds. The sound kitchen lock clicking open made my blood run ice cold.

I moved on instinct, gun in hand, padded down the hallway barefoot. I pressed my back to the wall and waited. My breath frozen in my lungs.

The door creaked open, and afigure stepped inside. It was tall and broad shouldered. As they shut the door, I didn't hesitate.

I fired my weapon .

He went down with a grunt, collapsing onto the tile floor with a curse.

Carefully, I turned on the kitchen light, gun still aimed as I slowly walked around the counter. I approached the squirming form and that's when my entire worldtilted.

Tick Tock looked up at me, pain written all over his face, one hand pressed to his chest.

“Now why the hell did you go and do that, Kitten?” he groaned. “You couldn’t have aimed for the other shoulder?”

I couldn’t move.Couldn’t breathe.

I could only stare down in shock at the man I’d just shot.

The gun was still in my shaking hand, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.Unshed tears blurred my eyes, and I didn’t know what to do. Because this time, the past hadn’t crept in on a motorcycle.It had walked right through my fucking door.