Page 51 of Ruthless Reign

“What’s that?” I yanked the bandanna down.

“It was Stallion’s idea,” Lunchbox said, sputtering, hardly making sense. “H-H-He told us the Hell’s Knights would help us,that they only wanted the Caputi girl, that’s it. We didn’t know about Alba.”

“Uh-huh. I see.” I glanced at KC, who sneered with disgust from behind the quivering coward. “And how long have you known about this?”

“Only a few weeks, I swear.” Lunchbox sobbed and shook his head. “Only a few weeks.”

Stallion growled from behind the gag, shoving his shoulder into Lunchbox to make him shut up. But he kept going, detailing how they planned to let Alba go if she agreed not to tell the rest of us about Julia. “We shouldn’t be allies with them. They’re gonna stab us in the back. We were protecting you, prez, I swear it. We only wanted the best for you.”

I nodded and squatted down in front of him. “Why didn’t you come to me with this?”

He shook so hard, his teeth chattered. “By the time I realized what they were doing, I was in too far. I thought you’d think I had something to do with planning it. I was just going along with it. I swear, I swear, I swear.”

“Ohh, you were just going along with it.” I turned to look at Julia, Leo, and the rest of the Roses. “He was just going along with it.”

Some jeered while others heckled the terrified brother. But the look on Julia’s face spurred me on. She scowled and pursed her lips, and I wasn’t deterred. She needed to know who she married and what I would do if anyone came for her again.

“Cut him loose,” I said to Doc, who agreed with no argument this time.

“Please,” Lunchbox said, trying to back away from me, his wide, panicked eyes begging me for a reprieve. “Please, don’t. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Yeah, you’re gonna be,” KC said, grabbing a hand to yank it out in front of him. Lunchbox fought it, blubbering as he tried toprevent it from happening. But KC was bigger and stronger and pissed, and when I moved the cinderblock in front of Lunchbox, he screamed.

“Wait! I’ll tell you where the Hell’s Knights are hiding! Please!”

“Best make it quick,” KC said, holding a hand out to me.

“They came through here on their way to the Caputis,” Lunchbox said. “They were supposed to bring Julia to her aunt. They’re looking for Leo. They just want Leo. That’s all.”

I glanced back at Julia and Leo, who both seemed to agree that could be a plausible plan.

Nodding, I handed the machete to KC and took his place, holding Lunchbox so my cousin could have his vengeance. KC pulled down his shirt, revealing the sunshine tattoo on his chest.

“You see this? You know better than to touch a brother’s old lady.” KC raised the weapon high and brought it down on Lunchbox’s wrist. “You should have come to us.”

The traitor screamed and pissed himself before passing out, dropping to the ground like a bag of potatoes while his limb gushed.

“Wake him up,” I said to Doc, who grabbed smelling salts from his table before kneeling over Lunchbox. KC handed the weapon back to me and I stalked to the head fucking Brutus himself, big bad Stallion who stared at me with fire in his eyes. He wouldn’t back down, not now, not even after I’d maimed his cohorts.

“Is all that true?” I asked. “Did you think you’d be able to ride off into the sunset with the Hell’s Knights like I wouldn’t come after you?”

Stallion sighed through his nose, refusing to cower an inch. Of course, it was this bravery that had led us to patch him in the first place.

“Did you think the Caputis would come save you?” I raised my eyebrows as my rage swelled up inside me. If I didn’t do this, the others would see me as weak. The rest of the club would think it was okay to stab me in the back, to invade my home and harm my family. I wouldn’t have it. “What made you think that coming aftermy wifewould be okay? You really are a dumb motherfucker, huh?”

Reaper curled on his side, pushing up into a sitting position while still clutching his wounded arm. He yanked the gag down and, when Saint went to restrain him, I shook my head.

“Her father killed your mother,” Reaper said. “Her aunt killed Skulls and countless more. Look at you. Not married two months and you’re already pussy whipped.”

“Do you think that’s what this is about?” I grabbed his hair and yanked his head back. “This is about respect. I told you if you had a problem to challenge me for the top spot. Rather than do that, you gobehind my back.You go to my house. You fuck with my old lady, with KC’s old lady. Pussy whipped or not, I won’t accept that treachery.”

“C’mon,” Doc cut in, grabbing his pistol. “We’ve let these cowards suck up too much air already. If you’re not going to let me have my fun, then let’s end it.” He aimed the barrel at the back of Reaper’s head.

“If I have to die to show what the Caputi cunt has done to your strength, then so be it.” Reaper sneered.

“Hmm.” I almost laughed. Here he was, thinking my marriage to Julia had made me weak. But I knew differently. I glanced back at my wife for reassurance.

Should I kill them now or make it slow?

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