Ruthless Reign

Chapter 5

I didn’t ask where the car came from. Didn’t think I wanted to know. Not long after we got back to Hardin and Kaleb’s place, Kaleb left and returned hours later with a nondescript navy Toyota. Hardin and I had to meet him a few blocks over and we took the back door out of the house, hopping the fence into the neighbor’s yard.

Overkill, I thought. I hadn’t seen anyone watching the house. Hardin admitted he didn’t see anyone either, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t someone out there watching. Which was totally what I needed to hear.

Ifigured Kaleb chose this car because of the tinted windows. Tinted so dark I imagined they bordered on the legal limits of what was allowed.

Therewas a bobblehead of Chewbacca fixed to the dash and a lime green steering wheel cover beneath his rigid fingers as he drove us to the meet.

Itdefinitely wasn’t one of theirs. AndI doubted it belonged to another of the Saints. Stolen, then. Of course I’d have to wait for them in a stolen vehicle. Made total sense. Completely fucking normal.

“Did you get your shit all moved in?” Kaleb asked, breaking the silence as we drove.

Ishook my head, biting my lip. They didn’t have a spare bedroom. WhenKaleb dropped my suitcase in the living room he said I could stay in his room if I wanted. Even offered to take the couch. Hardin didn’t make the same offer, but I’d seen the muscle in his jaw flex.

Somy shit stayed in the living room.

“No. Not yet. Just showered and grabbed a bite.”

“Coffee does not count as food,” Hardin grumbled from the passenger seat.

Kalebsnorted. “We’ll get you something to eat when we’re through here.”

Truthbe told, I wasn’t hungry, but I’d force something down if only to shut them both up.

Myphone chimed with a message from Toby.

Toby

Do you know when you’re coming back?

Becca

Not yet.

Toby

Should we be worried?

Becca

As long as I’m not there you should be fine. Maybe just lock the doors, though? I’m so, so sorry.

Toby

Not your fault, babe. Just stay safe, k?

“Silence that,” Hardin said from the front seat. “We’re almost there.”

Idid as he said, my shoulders drawing in as a chill crept up my back and something tightened in my core.

You’llbe safe in the car, Becks. Woman the fuck up.

Iswallowed, wishing I had a little bottle of Crown in my purse. I could use a sip of liquid courage right about now.

Ahead, a sparse strip of shops shut for the evening squatted along an all but deserted road in a nameless town on the outskirts of Lancaster. Kaleb turned down a side street, pulling around to the back lot of a single level pub called Gilligan’sFinch. Even though the area seemed absolutely dead from the front-facing street view, this parking lot was almost full.

Kalebparked in one of the only open spots—directly across from the rusted exit door.

Hardinlooked at something on his phone. “Zade’s already here.”

Kalebnodded and turned in his seat to face me. “Not one toe,” he reminded me. “Stay in the car no matter what you hear.”

Mylips parted. “What the fuck am I going to hear?”

“Vixen, just promise me you’ll stay here.”

Hardinpinched the bridge of his nose and his nostrils flared. I knew exactly what he would say if he deigned to speak. I told you we shouldn’t have brought her.

Isat up straighter.

“You shouldn’t hear anything. We’ll be in and out. Maybe ten minutes.”

“Five,” Hardin corrected, and I could tell by his tone there would be no sweet talking or reassurances to the Kents, not from him. At least, not with me waiting outside.

Isettled down in my seat, making a show of getting comfortable. “Well, what are you waiting for?” I asked. “Isn’t what’s his face waiting for you?”

Hardingot out first, slamming the door behind him. Kaleb paused and even though I could feel his eyes on me, I didn’t look up. Pretended to be busy on my phone instead. I didn’t relax until his door shut behind him. Only then did I look up through the tinted windshield to see Kaleb follow Hardin across the span of open lot and through the door.

Fiveminutes.

Icould do five minutes.

Isunk lower in the seat, peering around the lot for signs of life. That was what Hardin would do, right? Make sure there was no one lurking in the shadows. No one watching. Satisfied when I didn’t find any signs of life, I shook my head at my own paranoia and checked my messages again. Nothing new, but there were several left unanswered from my Dad. One from AvaJade asking if things were okay up this way that I truthfully didn’t know how to answer yet. And one from my boss, Adam from DeathBeforeDecaf wondering if I need my shifts covered for the rest of the week.

IfI weren’t associated with the Saints, I knew I’d be fired by now. Any regular staff member would’ve been. EvenToby, and he was very clearly the customer favorite.

Guiltate at me. For bringing them into this. For making them cover my shifts at DBD. Guilt on top of guilt on top of guilt. I’d barely unpacked everything that happened in ThornValley yet, regardless of the fact that my girl AvaJade forgave me for the part I played there. Now here I was, fucking up other people’s lives just by existing.

Kalebwas right. I’d need to stay away from my roommates. AndI should stay far away from DeathBeforeDecaf, too, even if the lack of espresso with perfect crema and micro foamed milk might kill me.

I’dbeen so busy in my own damn head that the sound of a car door slamming had me dropping my phone. I bent over to retrieve it, staying low to not be seen.

“It’s probably one of the Kents,” I mouthed to myself in the dark, lifting my head just enough to peek out the rear left window. A black Lincoln idled at the edge of the lot, near the entrance. Blocking it, actually. The shadow of a driver remained in the front seat, but two others stood outside the vehicle. One of them turned and I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand when I realized the window was still open a crack from the drive.

Theydidn’t look.

Theydidn’t hear me.

Ididn’t recognize either of them, and though I couldn’t name the type of guns they carried even if one were held to my head, I knew the kind of damage they could do. With long barrels, sharp angled bodies, and straps slung over their shoulders to carry them.

Onewhistled to the other and they met up in front of the Lincoln. I could tell they were talking, but struggled to make out what they were saying. One jerked his head toward the back door of Gilligan’sFinch and they crossed the lot. Their voices became clearer as they passed in front of the car.

“Séamas said to take one if they don’t have it ready.”

Ipressed my fingers harder into the skin around my mouth. So familiar. He sounded so familiar. Not the tone of his voice, but the accent. He sounded…like Aodhán.

Irish.

Irish.

Séamas. Séamas fucking O’Sullivan. TheSons.

Ohmy god.

Ifumbled my phone, my shaking fingers failing to get the screen open, to find the contacts button and Kaleb or Hardin’s name.

Fuck. Fuck.

“They know we’re coming?”

“They were expecting us next week.”

Onelet out a low laugh that seeped into my bones like lead.

Therewas no time. Kaleb and Hardin were going to come out that back door any second and they wouldn’t be ready. They only had handguns on them and these guys had whole ass fucking murder sticks. They would no doubt recognize the Sons of DamienSt. Vincent on sight. There was no way this could end well.

None.

“Oh fuck,” I muttered, my voice choking off as I sloppily climbed over the middle console and into the driver’s seat just as the two Irishmen were about the reach the mid-point of the lot. “Fuck,” I eeked out again as I squeezed my eyes shut and laid on the horn to warn them, my blood turning to ice in my veins.

Butno sound came out.

What?

Islammed on the steering wheel again, but again nothing.

Ohgod. It’s broken. I lifted my phone again, determined this time as I pushed each button with a single minded purpose.

“Please. Fuck. Come on.”

Ijammed Hardin’s name and the line rang, but as I looked up, the door to the back of the pub began to open, leaking light into the lot. Light that silhouetted the shape of Hardin. Hardin, who was looking down, reaching for his phone.

Mymouth went painfully dry as I watched, frozen in time, as the Irishmen stopped in their tracks and moved to ready their weapons to fire.

BeforeI could think. BeforeI could even breathe, the phone in my hand was traded in for the feel of cold metal under my fingers as I turned the keys in the ignition and the car flooded to life beneath me. It was enough to distract the Irishmen for an instant as I threw the car into drive and screamed as I floored it.

Hardinhad his gun up now, and Kaleb was right behind him, his gunmetal eyes illuminated in the headlights, but neither of them needed their weapons. I braced myself as the front end of the Toyota hit its intended targets. A body thudded over the windshield, and I tried not to think about bones crunching and breaking and organs collapsing as I felt the tires bump over the other one of the two. Too late I realized I needed to hit the brakes.

Myeyes flew open to see Hardin jumping out of the path of the vehicle. The front end of the car hit painted brick. I jolted forward, my ass almost completely leaving the seat. Glass shattered all around me, hitting my face, my neck, my bare arms.

Thehorn blared. No, not the horn. Me. My scream cut off abruptly as I ran out of air, gasping to refill my lungs.

“Vixen!”

Heavyfootsteps thudded against pavement over broken glass. I flinched as the door next to me was wrenched open and Kaleb dragged me from the seat, my stiff fingers peeling from the wheel as he pulled me into his chest.

“It’s okay. Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay.”

Iblinked past something burning in my eyes, my gaze catching on movement in the cracked side mirror of the car as people began to flood the lot from inside of the pub.

Iwatched, unable to close my eyes as Hardin aimed his weapon over the twisted, spluttering body on the pavement, his face a mask of unfiltered, unseeing rage. He emptied his clip into the Irishman’s face.

Mystomach roiled, and I dragged my gaze away, pressing my face into the crook of Kaleb’s shoulder, inhaling his cherry cigar and smooth whiskey scent to try to calm the fucking riot in my chest.

“Hey,” he shouted suddenly. I flinched and his hold on me tightened reassuringly. “Hardin. Hardin!”

“What?”

“We need one alive.”

Ididn’t hear a reply from his brother, but I knew from the look I’d just seen on his face that it would be a study in control for Hardin to keep from killing the other one.

Ifhe was even still alive.

IfI hadn’t already killed him.

I’d do it again, I realized as the buzzing in my ears and the quake in my bones stilled. DidI care if the other one was dead? IfI killed him?

Thinkingthrough the adrenaline still painting sparks behind my eyelids and zapping electricity through my veins was harder than it should’ve been, but…no. I didn’t care. I wouldn’t feel guilty for saving their lives.

IfI had to choose between them and anyone else, I would always choose them.

TheSons of O’Sullivan chose their deranged leader. They worked for him knowing what kind of monster he was. They chose their hill to stand on. They could die on it, too.

Kalebrubbed a few wide circles into my back, his hand slowly coming to lie still against my lower back as he realized I wasn’t shaking anymore. “Vixen?”

Distantly, I heard the Kents talking to Hardin. Heard him say trunk, and knew we were taking at least one dead man with us to bury if not two.

“You didn’t kill him,” Kaleb assured me. “Hardin did. It wasn’t you.”

Ileaned back, and Kaleb’s warm gaze analyzed every inch of my face. He lifted his sleeve to wipe what I realized was blood away from my brow, keeping it from continuing to drip into my eye. I sucked in a breath through my teeth, only now registering the sharp sting of all the tiny cuts on my face, neck, and left arm.

Shitthat stings.

“I tried to honk the horn,” I found myself saying. “I tried to honk first and to call, but the horn is broken and?—”

“It doesn’t matter. You saved us, Vixen, but you didn’t kill them, okay? It wasn’t you, so you don’t have to feel guilty about?—”

“I don’t.”

Kaleb’sbrows lowered, his head tipping to one side, considering my words with surprise flickering across his features.

“Why should I? They would’ve killed you. I stopped them.”

“One’s still alive,” Hardin’s brusque tone interrupted. “He’s out cold. TheKents are loading him and the corpse into the trunk.”

Kalebnodded, and I sucked in a breath as Hardin jerked me around to face him. He took my chin between rough fingers, his rage-filled eyes darting between mine. “Are you hurt?”

“No.”

“She’s in shock,” Kaleb supplied, but Hardin shook his head, releasing my chin, but not before he ran his thumb gently over my jawline, the digit coming away red with blood.

“No she’s not,” Hardin corrected him and something like pride swelled in my chest, chasing away the rest of the fear. I felt my lips twitch up at one corner. My eyes burned.

I’dsaved them.

Ilet myself savor it, just for a minute.

Ididn’t freeze up. I didn’t cower.

Iwasn’t the reason they got hurt, this time.

Iwas the reason they weren’t hurt.

Somewherein the back of my mind I realized that murdering two Sons was going to have horrible repercussions, but I told that little voice to shut the fuck up so I could have this moment. AvaJade would be so proud.

“She isn’t always going to have a car to run people over with,” Hardin said suddenly. “She needs to know how to defend herself.”

Despitemyself, I laughed. Fucking laughed.

Kalebcouldn’t conceal his answering smirk, reaching up to scratch the back of his head as if he wasn’t really sure what the fuck was happening right now, but he wholeheartedly approved. “Yeah. I guess she is.”

“There were only two, right, Vixen?” Kaleb asked and whatever tiny amount of joy I’d just managed to find in the darkness was snuffed out in a blink.

Iwhipped my head around and Kaleb and Hardin were instantly on edge, their weapons raised and aimed in the direction I was looking. To the mouth of the parking lot, where a black Lincoln had been idling, waiting for the return of the two IrishmenI just ran down.

Butthe lot was empty. TheLincoln gone.

“No,” I said on a trembling breath. “There was one more. In a black SUV.”

“Fuck.”