Page 46 of Ruthless Reign

“No,” she said, glancing toward the door. “He’s meeting the Roses from New England at the clubhouse.”

It sounded like at least five or six bikes had stopped outside, and I belatedly remembered Roman had taken his truck this morning because his bike was in the shop. The prospects guarding the place wouldn’t leave until Roman personally dismissed them, so who?—

All thoughts stopped when gunshots rang out, one after the other, followed by shouts.

“Get the fuck out of here!” someone yelled.

“You don’t want this,” someone else said. “Just back down and I won’t kill you.”

“This is a big fucking mis—” He didn’t get the rest of it out before another loud bang silenced him forever.

“Shit,” Alba said. “We need to go.”

“C’mon.” I grabbed her arm and yanked her through the house, pressing Roman’s number on my cell phone as we ran up the stairs. I led her into my room and shut the door, locking it despite knowing how futile that would be.

“I recognized those voices,” Alba said. “I think one is Stallion.”

My heart sank, my blood turning to ice in my veins. If that was Stallion, then that meant…No.Would they do that? Would they attempt outright treachery to prove their point? Roman’sphone went to voicemail and Alba tried KC, but that, too, didn’t work. While I attempted to get ahold of Leo, she dialed another number and a woman answered the phone.

“Sel,” she said. “Come quick. We’re at Bear’s house. Bring your guns.”

Selene didn’t ask many questions, but it didn’t matter. The sound of my brother’s voice settled some of my anxiety.

“Mia sorella.What’s going on?” He spoke in Italian, meaning he was around people he didn’t want to know his business.

“Someone’s here,” I said. “At Roman’s house. I can’t get ahold of him, but I think they’re here to hurt me. Alba’s here, too.”

I heard muffled conversation and the deep tones of my husband in the background before his voice came through the phone.

“What do you mean?”

“Alba thinks it’s Stallion,” I said as the door burst open downstairs.

“Oh, Julia!” someone called. “Come out, you little Caputi bitch.”

I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. “Roman, they’re in the house.”

“Where are you?” His voice sounded gravelly and mean like he was furious.

“In my room,” I whispered, backing Alba up toward the walk-in closet where I’d unloaded my stash of weapons when I moved in. I’d been raised a princess, but I wasn’t sheltered, at least not when it came to defending myself. Leo and Julian made sure I knew my way around a gun by the time I was out of diapers, and I had perfect aim before I’d lost all my baby teeth. The heavy pounding of boots rattled up the stairs. “There’s a lot of them.”

“We’re on our way,” he said. “Shoot first, ask questions later. You understand?” Another loud bang went through the house,this time closer—like they were in Roman’s room across the hall. It startled me enough to make me drop the phone, even as I heard Roman’s voice call out on the other end.

“Do you know how to shoot?” I asked Alba, handing her a pistol from my dresser.

She checked the clip and cocked the chamber before nodding. I grabbed my two favorites and did the same.

“Don’t hesitate,” I said, moving to the farthest end of my closet as the crunch of splintering wood indicated they’d busted down my bedroom door. They were here…in my room…just on the other side of the closet.

“Whereareyou?” came a deep voice. Alba had been right. It was Stallion. “Come out, come out, wherever you are.”

“What if she’s not here?” That one was Reaper.

“She’s here,” came a third voice. Maybe Lunchbox. “Bear wouldn’t just let his wife go wherever she wants unprotected.”

“Are you sure this is the president’s house?” I didn’t know that voice, and judging by how unsure they were about this being the right location, I assumed they were with the Hell’s Knights. Roman had said Stallion and the others were making contact with the rogue club, and they wanted vengeance for something Crow had done decades ago.

The door handles jiggled, and I held my breath, tensing my muscles and preparing to defend myself any second. My vision narrowed. The air in my chest grew tight and heavy, my lungs suddenly unable to get enough. I tried to stay present, but the anxiety in my blood boiled over.

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