Page 11 of Ruthless Reign

Ailene cut me off with an indignant snort and shook her head, taking a sip of beer. “You’re right, V. Check out the look on her face. It’s like she stepped in flaming dog shit.”

Am I that transparent?

“Well, this isn’t exactly where I’m supposed to be, is it?” I raised an eyebrow. “A Caputi in Rose territory is a precarious thing, indeed.”

“V, Selene, knock it off,” Sue said, and I winced internally at having gotten the name wrong. This one blinked at me with eyes nearly as big and blue as Alba’s. “You saved my fiancé’s life. I’d like to at least do a shot or two with you if you don’t have anything else going on.”

Oh.This one wasRu,not Sue. This was Saint’s girl, the one he’d been smitten with and talked about all the time. A few years ago, I had saved Saint’s life, and he’d saved mine. We owed each other more than I would ever admit, which was why I’d started leaking information to the Roses in the first place.

“Right,” I said. “Next Friday?” I tried to think of any reason I couldn’t, but being that my social calendar had all but disappeared after I’d been disowned by my family and agreed to marry Roman, I figured I might as well get it over with. Perhaps I could put in a few hours and they’d leave me alone for a while afterward. Besides, it wasn’t like I had any other friends in Madison County. “Sure. Count me in.”

“Great!” Alba said. “We usually binge a TV show and drink and gossip. You’ll have fun, I promise.”

I wasn’t so sure about that, but I didn’t argue with her. Instead, I eyed my brother as he came out of the back room and walked toward me.

“There she is,” he said, holding his arms out for a hug, which I gladly obliged. “How are you fairing?”

I answered him in Italian. “How dare you leave me with these people, Leo.”

“Come now,” he said in the same language. “Of the two of us, you’ve always been better at making friends.”

I glared at him. “You said we’d be in this together and you throw me to the wolves. Some brother you are.”

Leo laughed and kissed my temple. “You’ll be okay, dear sister. I’ve got to go.”

“Where are you going?” I didn’t want to be separated from the only family I had here, the only family that mattered.

“I’ve got a meeting with Rancone and Davila.” He brushed hair behind my ear. “If I can get them on my side, I’ll have the Baltimore underbosses.”

I took a deep breath and ignored the nervous churning in my gut. I didn’t like the thought of Leo going to these meetings alone, even if he had two hired hitmen on either side.

“Take me with you,” I said. “Together, we can?—”

He tsked at me and shook his head. “I can’t do that. Your husband would have my head.”

“Who cares what he thinks?” I couldn’t hold back the scoff that shot out of my throat. “My husband doesn’t care what happens to me.”

“Hmm.” Leo’s eyes narrowed like he didn’t believe me before he gave me one last kiss on the cheek. “I’ll call you later.”

At that, he turned and left, and I tried not to look as useless as I felt while I watched some of the Roses walk closer to our little group. Saint threw an arm over Ru’s shoulders, and Hollywood pulled Verona closer from behind.

“You hanging in there?” Saint said, eyeing my glass of water. The rest of the ladies had been slinging back beer, but I didn’t trust this situation enough to lower my guard.

“Oh, you know me,” I said, “I always land on my feet.”

“Uh-huh,” Saint continued. “And the married life?”

“She’s coming to girls’ night on Friday,” Ru said, tucking herself tighter into his torso.

“Girls’ night?” He curled his lips into a smile. “You’regoing to girls’ night?”

I tilted my chin higher, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible. “What’s wrong with that?”

He shrugged. “Nothing. I’m glad you’re fitting in.”

“Well,” Alba cut in, “technically, we’re family. Right?”

I still hated the way that sounded. “Right.”

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