Scorpion Tail, page 1
Scorpion Tail
Debut Album ~ Fade To Black
Yvonne Nicolas
Ice Dragon Press
Copyright © 2022 by Yvonne Nicolas
All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, scanned or distributed in any printed or digital form, (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission from Yvonne Nicolas.
Cover Artist:
Karri Klawiter
Editor:
Ice Dragon Press
Published by:
Ice Dragon Press
This book is a work of fiction. Any reference made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidently.
www.yvonnenicolas.net
www.yvonnenicolas.com
Thank you for purchasing Scorpion Tail: Fade to Black by Yvonne Nicolas!
DEDICATION
TO ALL THE READERS WHO LOVE TO ROCK!
YVONNE’S ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I want to start by thanking my fellow authors, Serenity King and LaVerne Thompson, for their amazing support during the creation of this twisted tale.
Many hugs and kisses go out to Renee Michaels, my writing partner in crime.
I want to thank my friend, Brandi Kamp, for her support and enthusiasm. She constantly reminds me why I love to write.
And last but certainly not least, an enormous THANK YOU goes out to you crazy, outstanding readers!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
Contents
1. Prologue Rock Goddess
2. Chapter 1 Street Vendors
3. Chapter 2 Cigarettes & Coffee
4. Chapter 3 Bitch Better Have My Money
5. Chapter 4 Passion & Music
6. Chapter 5 Feed the Darkness
7. Chapter 6 Romeo & Juliet
8. Chapter 7 Cigarettes & Peaches
9. Chapter 8 Transparent Desires
10. Chapter 9 Slice of Pie
11. Chapter 10 Blood-Stained Desert Rose
12. Chapter 11 Catching Feelings
13. Chapter 12 Storms & Colors
14. Chapter 13 White Dragon
15. Chapter 14 Me, Venom & MaryJane
16. Chapter 15 Slave to Rock n’ Roll
17. Chapter 16 Devour Me
18. Chapter 17 Devil’s Gift
19. Chapter 18 Capricorn Life
20. Chapter 19 The Devil & Me
21. Chapter 20 Cherry Bombs
22. Chapter 21 The Tiger & the Dragon
23. Chapter 22 Clarissa Davies
24. Chapter 23 Devil’s Cup
25. Chapter 24 A Perfect Fantasy
26. Chapter 25 Blood Souls
27. Chapter 26 A Necessary Evil
28. Chapter 27 Dirty Diana
29. Chapter 28 Intoxicated by You
30. Chapter 29 Rogue Agent
31. Chapter 30 Darkness in the Attic
32. Chapter 31 Scarlet Rivers
33. Chapter 32 Battle Royale
34. Chapter 33 Complex Pasts
35. Chapter 34 Two Hearts
36. Chapter 35 Time of Death
37. Chapter 36 A Proper Hustle
38. Chapter 37 Me & My Demon
39. Chapter 38 Monalisa Smile
40. Chapter 39 Scorpion House
41. Chapter 40 Don’t Say Goodbye
42. Epilogue Rock You ‘til Death
Also By Yvonne Nicolas
Prologue
Rock Goddess
When I think back on the first time I saw you perform, chills rush down my spine. I realize I was stung long before you graced me with your presence. It was your voice… The moment I heard your voice, I surrendered my soul to you.
Hips swaying, she sashayed across the stage with her electric guitar, Venom, in tow.
Her swarthy complexion shimmered like dark diamonds under the spotlights. Chestnut-colored dreadlocks adorned with blonde tips cascaded over her shoulders and down her back. Made of leather and lace, a crimson corset hugged her torso, doing little to cage her bountiful breasts. A short plaid skirt flared out over her hips. Completing her ensemble, skin-tight, high-heeled leather boots clung to her legs.
She swept a gaze over the eager crowd. The illumination caught the spark in her haunting eyes, adding to her seductive allure. This woman was a rock goddess haloed in lights. Wielding her mighty guitar, she ruled the stage and everyone beyond it.
Our mistress, Queen Sting.
Stirring with great anticipation, the crowd waited. Not one person shifted their attention from her.
A minxy smirk graced her face. Positioned at the microphone, she whirled Venom in front of her and teased the strings with her scarlet-painted nails. Her glossy lips parted, and her tongue slid out, revealing a sparkling guitar pick. She plucked it off her tongue and cooed in a husky timbre, “S’up, you sexy bitches.”
A voluminous roar bounced off the club’s walls as the sea of people went into a frenzy.
“Allow me to introduce my band of badasses!” With one hand wrapped around Venom’s neck, she ripped the pick across the taut strings. The electric guitar released a rebellious cry. It soared through the large speakers like a thunderous strike. “On bass is my Californian playboy…Chase.”
To her left, the bright-eyed, floppy-haired kid strummed the golden beauty hanging from his neck, drawing screams from the women in the audience.
“On keys, the sexiest man you’re ever gonna lay eyes on. Becca.”
Lengthy hair draped over the sides of his face, the guy to her right flashed an enticing smile as he fingered the keys on his instrument. The crazed shrieks only grew louder.
“And on drums, my brotha with the sick rhythm. Slice, hit it, baby!”
The muscular man in the fedora whipped his stick from one drum to another, delivering a brutal beating to the shiny percussion set. A wild cadence resonated through the building.
“I’m Monalisa, and we are Scorpion Tail!” The band thundered into a hard-edged rhythm with their mistress leading the way. “Fall to your knees and say your prayers, ‘cause we’re about to rock you ‘til death!” Her raspy voice surged into song, “It courses through your veins, my sweet, poisonous kiss. Take me again like that, fill me with your painful bliss. Let me thank you for your pretty lies and smiling deceit. I’ll remember you, only for the days of pain and nights of grief…”
The lyrics she delivered were ominous, but her voice was hypnotic. Spellbinding.
Stuck in complete awe, Toshiro watched her strum her magnificent guitar, with her two-toned dreads swaying wildly under the flashing lights.
Her gaze locked on him. A sultry smile followed. “Tell me you wanna die, baby, just for a taste. Give me your soul and fall into my embrace…”
Can she see me through the blinding lights and sea of jerking bodies?
The idea she could separate him from the mob was a fool’s fantasy. Still, the possibility sent an unrelenting shudder down his spine. Even though the building was packed from wall to wall with people caught under her spell, he felt like he was the only one in the club.
She’s singing and playing just for me.
His bones vibrated with the heart-thumping pulse as his blood ran hot. The taste of her lips lingered in his memory and tightened his groin. He couldn’t rip his eyes away, no matter how hard he tried. From that moment on, he couldn’t deny it. He was enthralled, bound to her in body and spirit, and he would never be able to live without her.
Monalisa.
Chapter 1
Street Vendors
Two Weeks Earlier
Toshiro wavered between the two photos.
Sliding the pad of his finger across the tablet’s screen, he flipped from one to the other.
One a woman; the other, a man.
Similarity? They’d been killed in the same manner, a month apart, stabbed and slashed until they were barely recognizable, with the same katana.
“What’s your angle, Hanikashi?” Toshiro muttered, fiddling with the spoon in the teacup.
There were no connections between the two murders. There’s never a connection! On top of that, they were committed in distant locations, so there was no routed pattern he could follow. To the untrained eye, these kills might seem random. But he knew better.
It was the same scenario last year in London, and the year before that in Logos. Now, here in America, two more bodies. The only commonality, which was blatantly obvious, was that someone had to die at the tip of his sword every month. Just one.
Days after Hanikashi committed the first murder in the states, Toshiro rushed across the Atlantic after him. Throughout the years, as he pursued the Japan-bred killer, he never lost focus, even though he had yet to catch him. But now, it was wearing on his nerves and damaging his pride. This perp was cunning and smart, always a step ahead. He left no traces of his presence, only a mutilated body in his wake.
The bell chimed and snatched him from his distant thoughts. The chiming commingled with the melodic tones wafting from the ceiling speakers, signaling the arrival of another patron.
“Welcome…” Hovered over the stove behind the bar, the cook glanced over his shoulder, did a double take, then waved his spatula. “Oh heeey—what’s up, girlie?”
A slender brunette strutted into the diner, wearing a snug dress that barely covered her hips. The many layers of makeup on her face were a shade darker than her actual skin tone. A pair of high-spiked heels clacked loudly on the tile flooring. “Hey there, Remy.”
“Making that money, honey?”
“Well the money ain’t making me,” she replied with a wink as she tapped the bar counter with her long nails. “My usual.”
Toshiro slowly sipped his green tea, hoping the woman would continue to stride by. Unfortunately, he rested on high hopes.
The steady cadence of her heels meeting the tile and the potent fragrance coating her skin drew closer. The click-clacking rhythm suggested she would walk by. But then her steps faltered.
Here we go again.
He didn’t bother to glance up. He just turned the tablet’s screen down and took another sip of his tea. This sip lasted longer than the first one.
“Don’t mind if I sit down, do ya’, darlin’?” Without awaiting his response, she slid into the booth facing him. “Sorry to be so forward, but you look like you could use some company.”
Considering this had been the third night a working girl dared to approach him in this manner, he must’ve appeared pretty desperate. Or, more fitting, lonely.
He retrieved the carafe of hot water sitting at the edge of the table and poured some into the strainer for his second cup of tea. As the steaming liquid flirted with the tea leaves, he lifted his head and fixed his gaze on her.
She gasped as she pressed her hand to her chest. “Jesus H Christ.” Her green eyes stretched wide as a shade of red colored her cheeks. “I can’t believe you’ve got me over here blushing. Darlin’, it’s unreal how beautiful you are. I couldn’t just walk by without at least getting your name.”
A simple ‘thank you, but not interested’ would’ve sufficed. Or better yet, he could’ve presented his badge and sent her scampering for the door, but he decided against both options. “Toshiro,” he offered softly, placing the strainer over his cup.
“Ooh, I adore your accent. Japanese?”
“Mh-hm,” he hummed, watching the brew trickle into the ceramic dish. “And your name is?”
“Bambi.” Gaze narrowed provocatively, she nibbled on her lower lip. She tilted her hips in the seat and crossed her legs. “So, are you here permanently, or are you just here for business?”
“Business.”
“Mind if I ask what kinda business?”
“Yes,” he responded flatly.
A fraught silence hung between them. It didn’t last very long.
“That’s cool. I’ll leave it up to my imagination then. Let’s see…you’re in all black and devilishly hot. You look like the assassin type, a man here to claim his target and nothing else.” She giggled bashfully.
He almost chuckled with her. She wasn’t that far off from the truth.
“Ooh, sitting here with you makes me feel like I’m in a movie.” She briefly cupped her breasts and stirred in her seat. “Are ya going to save me from the big bad villain?”
Somewhat amused, he offered a smirk.
“Hey…” She reached across the table and brushed her nails over the back of his hand. “Wanna get outta here and go somewhere more comfortable, so we can get to know each other?”
He cocked a brow. “What’s the hurry?”
“Time is money.”
For a moment, he said nothing. He counted the freckles on her nose and cheeks, which she attempted to conceal under many layers of foundation. Thirty-seven freckles in total. He contemplated whether he wanted to indulge her in a pointless conversation or not. Might as well since he had a few moments to spare. “Am I to escort you as your client, or am I a stranger you seek to know?”
“Well…” She settled back and adjusted the neckline of her dress, which dipped low enough to offer a peek of her areola. “Right now, you’re a stranger who I’m very interested in knowing.” Her hungry gaze drifted down his chest. “But, by the end of the night, I hope we’ll be well acquainted, for a heavily discounted price, of course,” she added, batting her extended eyelashes at him.
“Of course.” Leaning forward, he intertwined his fingers and propped his elbows on the table. “Let me ask you something, Bambi. Can you offer me anything other than sex?”
“Sure, sugar. We can do whatever you want. Gimme a hint on what you’d like to do. I can fulfill any desire. We’ll talk money later.”
“How about a stimulating conversation? How much does that go for?”
“For you, darlin’? Free. But don’t tell my daddy. I’m not supposed to share my time without charging.”
He nodded. “My lips are sealed.” Pressing his spine against the seat’s backrest, he crossed his legs. “How long have you been doing this?”
“Shit, I’ve lost track.” A nervous giggle shook her chest. “Definitely longer than I intended. Why?”
“You appear to be in your late thirties, maybe older. Isn’t it about time to consider another occupation? I’m not trying to tell you what to do with your body, but I assume you have other talents that don’t require you to degrade yourself.”
The smile gradually melted from her face. “I do, but I’m not gonna tell you ‘cause that’s none of your fucking business, Toshiro.”
“Indeed.”
One would think that would be enough to run her from the table. But she sat there, staring at him, seeming eager to proceed.
“However, it is the start of a stimulating conversation, something you freely offered only a second ago. Should I continue?”
Her eyes narrowed as a flirty smirk played on her lips. “Go on. But tread lightly.”
He hummed out a chuckle. “You may be disappointed. Treading lightly is not my specialty. Feel free to leave the conversation if I’m making you feel uncomfortable.”
But she didn’t make an attempt to leave. Her gaze deepened, and her mouth twisted as she nibbled on the corner of her lower lip. Was she really hoping to be saved?
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” he said softly. “I’m just wondering if you’ve grown weary of this lifestyle. Some women are forced into this occupation, some feel it’s the only thing they’re good at, and then others use it as an opportunity to feed their sexual addiction. Which are you? Can’t be a promising future in this. No medical, no dental. So why continue?”
Her jaw clenched and brows bunched. “If you keep sailing down this river, I’ll have to charge you.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I understand women in this profession are needed, but once you reach a certain age, I would think it’d be time to move on to something else. How much do you think you’ll be able to earn in the next few years? Do you think you’ll still be valuable to your daddy?”
Her eyes glazed over. “Well, at least now I know why you’re sitting here alone. You have asshole tendencies.”
“Do I?”
The return question added a shade of red to her face. “I can’t tell if you’re being genuine or trying to piss me off, but you’re a second away from wearing your tea.”
