Page 34 of Ruthless Reign

“You too.” Leo looked at Roman. “To what do we owe this great honor?”

Roman reiterated that I was the one who knew Gabriella the best, and I tried not to balk under Leo’s scrutiny. Hisfocus zeroed in on the bite mark on my neck and he grinned, apparently giving it no more thought than that.

“Very well,” he said, taking up a spot to Roman’s left. And when no one else said anything, Roman shifted me closer to his body and nodded at Hollywood. “Where are we?”

“Lore and the others reached Helena last night,” he said. “The Royal Bastards send their love.”

“Fantastic,” Roman said. “What else?”

“Switch and Castor have reported that the Hell’s Knights are getting closer,” Thor explained. “I’m keeping an eye on the comms going in and out, but everyone’s being careful.”

Roman nodded and listened as Wheels gave a financial update and KC filled him in on the rest of the MC. “We need a plan, something to tell them, something to keep them engaged.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I married who I did.” Roman smiled up at me. “My wife has a good idea. I want to run it past you before I take it to the group. If we decide it’s worthwhile, we’ll start working on it as soon as possible.” Roman looked at me and brushed a piece of hair behind my ear. “Go on, beautiful. Tell them.”

I took a deep breath and faced these violent men with their steel gazes, reiterating to them the same thing I’d said to Roman last night. Gabriella wouldn’t be easy to trap, especially not since her plans went sour four months ago. We needed to lure her out, give her a reason to come out of hiding. Our wedding would be the perfect opportunity.

“It’ll be crawling with Roses,” Thor said. “We have four different chapters coming in to stand guard.”

“She won’t be able to resist,” I explained. “If Leo is the one who walks me down the aisle, if we spread rumors that he’ll be there, she’ll come to the bait.”

“I have to say, dear sister,” Leo started, letting out a short laugh, “this is quite daring.”

“It will work,” I said.

“Oh, I have no doubt of that,” he continued. “If we can hold her off that long.”

“Do you think we can’t?” I raised my eyebrows at him, anticipating what his argument might be. Based on what Della had told me, Gabriella was losing her grip on her allies. She could have spiraled even more since the Roses spoiled her plans, and if she’d lost control of the family, she’d have nothing left to lose. That would make her a wild card.

“No, I think it is a brilliant idea,” Leo continued. “She’ll come with the whole family, and if we do our job right, they’ll turn on her when it matters most.”

Roman shifted in his seat with a pleased smile before turning to his officers. “Well? What do you all think?”

KC ran a hand over the back of his head, his brilliant blue eyes wide as the wheels churned behind them. “A Rose wedding is meant to be more than a trap for our enemies. It’s your opportunity to show the club that you’re tied, that you’re one.”

“They’re already married,” Hollywood argued. “Neither one of themwantedthis, and if it’ll put an end to the madness and put Leo back on the throne, why wouldn’t we do whatever we can?”

KC shook his head. “Inviting them onto our turf, giving Gabriella any chance at our family, I don’t like it.”

“Seconded,” Doc cut in.

Roman looked at the man on his left. “Thor?”

The big blond Viking shook his head and ran a hand over his face. “I don’t know. I’m inclined to agree with KC, but I can’t think of another way to draw her out.”

“I have Rocco, Enzo, and Matteo in cahoots,” Leo said, mentioning the underbosses he’d gotten on our side. “Stefano and Frankie are coming around. Rancone and Davila are right behind them.”

“Davila is playing both sides,” I said, explaining the information Titus had given to me. “He wants more money.”

Leo blew out a breath and shook his head. “No problem. If he won’t come around, I’ll replace him.”

“You won’t be able to win the underbosses by killing the ones that don’t agree with you,” I said. “We’re trying to stop the bloodshed, not create more.”

“What do you suggest,mia sorella?”

“What about Sulli?” He was our father’s cousin on his mother’s side, and the patriarch of that arm of the family. If we were trying to make the biggest show of force, we’d have no choice but to get his buy-in. “If you get Sulli, you get Davila. They’ve always played hand in hand.”

“You know Sulli’s always been ambitious,” Leo said. “If Gabriella is out of the way, he’ll want the seat for himself.”

---