Page 86 of Ruthless Reign

Perhaps that was the sacrifice fate demanded to keep us both alive. Perhaps it wasn’t me that had to die, but the baby I carried inside me. I hated Gabriella all over again. But at least it was over now. As much as it hurt, we’d have peace. We could have a new future. We could start again.

“I won’t apologize for saving your life,” I said.

“Don’t worry,mia cara,” he said, his eyes clouding with that telltale sign he had something wicked and debauched brewing in that brilliant mind. “I’ll find some way for you to make it up to me.” He stood and leaned over me, bringing his lips to mine for a chaste kiss that quickly bordered something much too fiery, considering I’d been in a hospital bed for over a week. But we were both too emotional for anything else, so with one last kiss on my forehead, he sat back down and smiled.

I had a long road to recovery ahead. The bullet had deflated a lung, and pieces would be lodged in my rib cage for the rest of my life. I’d need physical therapy and rehabilitation, but I was already up and walking around for twenty minutes twice a day, which the doctors said was good progress.

Gabriella was dead. Most of her lackeys were dead. The other MCs had gone home empty-handed and missing some of their men. Della had gone missing—either run away with one of the MCs or disappeared on her own. Leo said she hadn’t shown back up on Caputi territory and I hadn’t heard from her. Not that I’d tried to reach out.

I didn’t blame her for what she’d done. She must have felt pressured to give Gabriella information about me once our aunt threatened Della’s long-time, on-again-off-again boyfriend, Matteo. But I couldn’t see how I’d ever trust her. Perhaps it was best she’d run away. Perhaps she’d taken Matteo with her and they’d ridden off into the sunset together. I’d like to think so rather than brood over what more she might do to ruin my life.

Things had gone the way we wanted, and now we tried to move on with a new goal: peace between our families.

“I love you,” I said, blinking back tears. “I’m sorry I ever said I didn’t. I’m sorry I even left before the wedding.” I knew now it had been hormones and stress and?—

“Shh,” he said, brushing hair out of my face. “Enough. You’re safe. I’m safe.”

“We lost good people.”

“We did. But everyone who was there was prepared for that. It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s fault,” he said, rising to sit on the hospital bed by my legs. “I love you so much. I never thought I’d feel this way about anyone, least of all you.”

I smiled as warmth raced through my blood, settling in a warm puddle in my gut. The minute I got out of this hospital, I’d find some way to make it up to him, to prove how much he truly meant to me and always would.

“There she is!” came a deep bellow from the doorway. Hollywood walked in with his arms open wide. Chesco, Ru, V, and Alba walked behind him, followed by KC, Saint, Castor, and Pollux.

“Oh, little coz.” Chesco rubbed his tattooed hand over my hair, mussing it up the way an older brother would. “You look like shit.”

“Hey!” both Roman and V said at the same time in the same tone.

“You look just fine, all things considered,” Saint said with a grin.

“Yeah, when I got blown up, I couldn’t eat solid foods for like a month.” Pollux picked up the plastic container on the side table and sniffed it. “You’re lucky you’re getting pudding already.”

“How are you feeling?” Alba asked, setting a vase of flowers on the counter behind Chesco.

“Better,” I said. “The doctors say I should be able to leave soon.”

“Good,” V cut in. “Bear needs someone to keep him from barking at everyone.”

“I’m not barking,” Roman said.

“Castor, find the fuckers that tried to kill my wife,” Castor mocked.

“Saint, make sure the Hell’s Knights know we’re coming,” Saint added with a smirk.

“Hollywood, don’t fucking touch my wrenches,” Hollywood mimicked. “Hollywood, find the Kings of Carnage. Hollywood, go meet with Rico and?—”

“I shouldn’t have to tell you these things.” Roman sighed, clearly exasperated. “You should just do them.”

“See what I mean?” Hollywood rolled his eyes. “A fucking grouch since you’ve been gone.”

I laughed as my company carried on around me, teasing each other and fussing over whatever they could do to help me. It felt good to be surrounded by them, to have their love and support in a way I didn’t before. The girls had tried to make me feel welcome, I’d known Saint for years, and I’d appreciated Hollywood’s antics before I married Roman. But perhaps I’d been keeping a part of myself from them, just in case it didn’t work out. They had sensed this barrier and kept themselves from me in return. To see them all here now, despite the historybetween our families, made me feel accepted in a way nothing ever had before.

I loved Roman, and I loved our family, and I loved these people with everything in me. For the first time since I married him, I was proud to call myself Julia Montgomery, the old lady to the Rose president, the woman meant to carry his children. I was a sister to them, a cousin, a friend, and I’d finally accepted that.

A few days later, once the wound had healed enough and I could stand on my own without toppling over, the hospital released me to go home. I hobbled into Roman’s house…ourhouse…and relaxed in the living room while he fussed over me. He took off my shoes and rubbed my feet, making sure to massage my calves and thighs, and I ran my good hand through his hair, smiling when he glanced up at me with those piercing dark eyes.

“What do you need?” he murmured.

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