Page 73 of Ruthless Reign

I cracked my neck and prepared myself to see her. It had only been two days, but that seemed like an eternity compared to how used I’d gotten to having her around.

And when the doors opened to reveal the Caputi alliance, I took a deep inhale and braced myself for her ire.

22

JULIA

When we got to the clubhouse, I felt his hot gaze on me immediately. Like a tractor beam from some alien ship, he reeled me in, coercing me toward him against my will. I held still, choosing instead to walk toward the MC princesses currently at the pool table.

Leo and Chesco greeted the other SRMC members, shaking hands with Roman and KC before laughing at whatever Hollywood said. I sternly avoided my husband, choosing the safer route of Alba and Ru, who looked even more like sisters with their hair bundled on top of their heads.

“Hello, cousin,” Alba said, hugging me. “It’s good to see you.”

“You too,” I said. “I apologize for not being around recently.”

“I don’t blame you,” Ru cut in. “Whatever Bear did, he probably deserved your wrath.”

I was about to explain how it was my fault, that I’d let the sins from my family’s past catch up to me.

“There you are,” Verona said, coming up to put an arm over my shoulders. “Now, tell me. Do I need to kill my brother?”

“No,” I said, grinning at these amazing women. “It’s me. I…I made a stupid mistake.”

Alba laughed and Ru shook her head, her ice-blue eyes narrowing at me.

“Listen,” Ru said, “we’re well versed in these alpha assholes. We know how it goes.”

“They’re obsessed with you,” Alba said. “They’ll kill for you. You run and he chases. Trust me, that’s the way this story ends. Selene told me that years ago, back when KC and I first started dating. Bear is the same way.”

“But sometimes, they can be over the top. That’s when you smack them back down to reality,” V said. “Or flog them. Whatever you’re into.”

Ru and Alba laughed while V winked, but I cleared my throat and rubbed at the heat on the back of my neck, knowing he hadn’t come after me yet. But the way his eyes tracked me from the other side of the room said he would only tolerate this separation for so long.

“Are you okay?” Ru rubbed my shoulder in a comforting embrace. “Are you ready for the wedding?”

I nodded, even though my anxiety had never been higher. This was madness. This was chaos. We were inviting bloodshed, knowing what would happen. The avalanche was rolling now, picking up steam, and there’d be no stopping it when it descended on our little village.

“Are you still planning to come over the morning of?”

Alba nodded. “Of course. I’m happy to help you get ready.”

It sounded normal, as if I really were a blushing bride preparing for my first night as a married woman. Never mind I’d been legally a Montgomery for months now. Never mind the wedding was a ruse.

“It’ll be a good distraction from getting my dad out of the pen,” Ru said.

“Same,” V added.

“How’s all that going?”

Ru and V talked about their struggles of trying to find decent legal help, and while the club’s lawyer had done well thus far, they’d need a lot more than they could afford.

“We’re planning a fundraiser at the Beacon in a few weeks,” Ru said. “Make sure you and Bear come, yeah?”

I nodded. “Okay.”

“All right, you fucking heathens,” KC called from the entrance to the back room. “It’s time for church.” He winked at Alba, who blushed and brushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear. Hollywood, Saint, Thor, and the others passed us to head inside, but I remained rooted to the spot. I didn’t know if I’d be welcomed, not after what had happened. Certainly, I knew the itinerary the best. I’d heard more concrete details from Titus this morning, but would Roman want me? If he did, I certainly didn’t deserve it.

Before I could think too much about it, a firm hand grabbed my elbow and nudged me along.

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