Page 84 of Ruthless Reign

“Keep me in the loop,” I said. “You had our back, we’ll have yours.”

He nodded. “I asked around about the leak in the PD.”

That got my attention. I still owed some pig a visit. Whoever had been responsible for arresting Crow and Aris had done it in conjunction with when the Caputis attacked us. It had been coordinated, entirely too perfect. Months ago, I’d promised Detective Jordan when I found out who it was, I’d be sure to return the favor. I meant it.

“No one knows who Gabriella was working with,” he said. “If they do, they’re keeping it hidden, maybe in attempts to save their own skin.”

I sighed, trying not to let the disappointment overtake the rest of my energy.

“I’ll keep my ears open,” he concluded.

“Thank you. Truly.” I pinched the bridge of my nose and ran my fingers over my burning eyes.

“You should go home for a bit,” Leo said. “Take a shower. Get some food. I’ll stay with her.”

“I appreciate that,” I said. “But I’m not going anywhere.”

Leo stared at me, raking his gaze over my tired form, like he could see inside my head, perhaps read every thought I’d ever had.

“What?” I raised my eyebrows at his assessment.

“You really love her, don’t you?” His tone hinted at amusement, though not too much considering the unconscious person between us.

“More than my life,” I said. “If I could, I would trade places with her in a heartbeat.”

“I’m pleased to hear it.” Leo reached out to grab her hand, tucking his fingers between her thumb and forefinger. “Julia always was a stubborn girl, even as a child. She’d dig her teeth into something and wouldn’t let go, no matter what logic or reason you threw at her. Once, she found an injured bird in our backyard and brought it inside to nurse it back to health. ‘It’s a wild animal,’ our mother told her. ‘It’s going to die, no matter what.’” Leo pulled one side of his mouth into a smile, as if he could see the miniature version of her in front of him. “But Julia wouldn’t let the thing go. She tended to its wing and fed it worms until it had the strength to fly on its own again.”

She had a big heart. I’d already known that about her.

“Eventually, my father found it and cracked its neck in front of her.”

I hated Giuseppe Caputi even more.

“It was the first thing she ever loved, and he took it away from her.” Leo clenched his eyes shut, like the memory haunted him. “It wouldn’t be the last time he did that. If you ever wondered where her rebellion started, it was with a tiny bird in his big, violent hands.”

“That’s horrifying,” I said.

“She loves you, too,” Leo said. “More than I believe she’s ever loved anything, including that bird.”

Tears burned the corners of my eyes, and I blinked them back and cleared my throat.

“Have you been by the clubhouse?” he asked.

I shook my head. “I haven’t left her side.”

“KC is taking good care of it,” Leo said. “The other Rose chapters are grieving their dead, but everyone who came to help knew the cost.”

“He told me we lost three prospects and five brothers of our own,” I said. What remained of the Kings of Carnage and the Hell’s Knights had tucked tail and ran. We would need to retaliate, but we’d face that day when it came. One step at a time.

Leo nodded. “The funeral is in a few days. You should go.”

I knew I should. As the president, it would only be right. But if my old lady was still in this bed, then this was exactly where I would be. I wouldn’t leave her to wake up alone and scared.

“Thank you, Leo,” I said. “Not just for the information, but for all of it…for agreeing to go along with our plan in the first place.”

“Thank you, Roman,” he said as he stood and put his hands back in his pockets. “It’s a new day for our family. Let’s make it a good one, yes?”

I couldn’t disagree.

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