Page 35 of Ruthless Reign

“Can you convince him you’re the better option?” Roman asked.

Leo pursed his lips and nodded. “I’ll work on it.”

Roman returned his attention to his officers. “Wheels, what do you think about this plan?”

“I say do it,” he said, crossing his arms. “Take it to the club, get their approval. I don’t want to ever stare up at that bitch from my knees again.”

“I agree,” KC cut in. “But Bear, this is— If it goes sideways, if she comes heavily armed, if she makes another deal with the Kings of Carnage or the Hell’s Knights, we’re putting our entire family at risk.”

“Do you have a better idea?” Roman asked. “Short of storming her castle and executing anyone in our way?—”

“Not an option,” I said. “There are good people there. Not everyone in my family is as bloodthirsty as she is.”

“So you’re asking me to choose between your family and mine?” KC raised his eyebrows. “That’s not a difficult decision.”

“Hey,” Roman said. “We’re all family now. That was the whole point of this, wasn’t it?” He gestured between me and him.

KC sighed and lit a cigarette. “All right, brother. I trust you.” Then he looked at me before glancing at Leo. “But if it comes down to my wife or your family, don’t expect me to put Alba’s life?—”

“No one is expecting that,” Roman said. “This is going to work.”

“Yeah?” KC exhaled a deep cloud of smoke. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because it has to,” Roman replied. “We don’t have another choice.”

10

BEAR

Convincing the rest of the club took more work. Stallion, Reaper, and their buddies stood in the far corner, staring Julia down the entire time. When it came to a vote, they were the quickest to shove their hands up in defiance. They wereoutvoted though, and by the end of church, we had decided to move ahead with Julia’s plan. Between the Caputi siblings, they would start rumors of the wedding among the staff, which would eventually creep into the ears of the family proper.

I held her on my lap the entire time, the sharp, heavenly scent of her perfume mixed with her natural smell to intoxicate me, reminding me of last night. Yeah, catching her watching me in the shower was one kind of deviant pleasure, but rocking her against my cock, making her fall apart, it made me feel like a new man.

I hadn’t meant to be so rough, but once she goaded me, there was no stopping my reaction. I loved it when she fought with me. I loved her tempting, horrible mouth. I loved the way she moaned and tried to act like she didn’t want it.

Then she told me this morning she’dlikedhow rough I’d been, and it took everything in me not to bend her over every available surface in the house.

I couldn’t say that, of course. This was pretend, a farce, a charade we practiced so the club would take our alliance seriously. She didn’t actuallywantany of this, and neither did I.I really didn’t.

After the session was over, we went out to the front room where I bullshitted with the guys while she socialized among the princesses.

“Things seem cozy,” Hollywood said, throwing an arm over my shoulders. “Much better than yesterday.”

I didn’t answer him, just sipped my beer and raised an eyebrow.

“Y’all finally working on that baby clause?” Hollywood flashed his shit-eating grin, and I shoved him away.

“Fuck off,” I said. “Don’t you have something better to do?”

“Whew.” He blew out a breath. “You know what, you’re right. I wonder if V’s ready to put on the strap and peg?—”

“Ahh!” I palmed his face and pushed him again. “I don’t need to hear that shit.”

Hollywood laughed and sauntered over to my sister, wrapping his arms around her from behind before leaning down to kiss her shoulder. I would rather stab myself in the eyes than have the mental image of my baby sister doing anything to my best friend, regardless of what he liked to have shoved in his ass. Alba led KC over to the front door with a mischievous grin on her face, and Ru grabbed Saint by the belt loops to pull him toward the back rooms.

I tried to dampen the rising tide of heat in my blood, the flush in my cheeks that hinted at envy. I would never have what they had. I’d never have someone who had looked around their life and chosen me out of everyone else. I’d never have that end-all-be-all love that my brothers did for their old ladies, and what a fucking shame that was.

Sure, Julia matched my temper and my wits. She even had a beautiful brain behind those mesmerizing eyes, but pretend was all this would ever be. She’d never love me, never choose me, and once we popped out a kid, I didn’t know if she’d ever warm my cock again.

---