Page 56 of Royally Ruined

Romeo jerked his head at the fatter of the two men guarding Lula. “Merrick, grab it.” Merrick gave me an almost apologetic smile as he ripped the bag away. I let it go, my eyes never straying from Romeo. I said, “You have what you wanted. We’re done here. Hand her over.”

Lula’s attention shot my way, like my voice gave her enough strength to show her fear in her crinkled forehead and egg-size eyes. It broke my damn heart.

Romeo swayed my way, passing the gun back and forth between his hands. “I’m surprised, kid. All this time we kept beating you up, and you never gave a hint that you’d do what we asked. Then your sister comes along ... and poof. You behave so perfectly.”

I remained still, my hands curled loosely at my sides.

He cocked his head. “No final words? Not for you or her?”

Final words ...My intuition prickled.He didn’t want just the money.Could he really be so insane that he’d plot tokillme and my sister? Didn’t he know what that would bring down on his head? “What is this?” I asked, scanning the warehouse.

His laugh was dry and brittle. “Does your dad keep you all out of the loop, or are you just playing dumb?”

Sweat made my shirt stick to my skin. I forced myself to keep my attention on Merrick, even though Romeo’s cryptic words were distracting me. “If you’ve got plans for us, just say them.”

“Plans!” Romeo tapped the gun on his cheek. “Oh, I’ve had plans for you from the start. Horace thought I was risking everything by antagonizing you, but look at what an opportunity it opened up for all of us. After tonight, things will change. One prince and one princess down, and then—”

“Hey, Romeo,” Merrick interrupted, peering into the paper bag.

He glared at the man near him. “Shut up, Merrick! I’m fucking busy over here.”

“Yeah, I know, but this money smells fucking terrible.”

Romeo’s face scrunched up. “So what? Money is money.”

In this case, money wasnotjust money.

I yanked my gun out in a blur of motion. They hadn’t frisked me; the cocky bastards had thought, with my sister in hand, that they didn’t have to worry about me fighting back. But I’d vowed I’d get revenge.

And I always keep my word.

The bullet punctured the bag, igniting the pipe bomb I’d stuffed inside. I’d definitely thank Lazy Dillan later for that well-timed gift.

Merrick didn’t get to drop the bag. The explosion went off, engulfing him in flames as he screamed in wretched pain. Romeo and the other man yelped, focusing on their friend and trying to make sense of what had just happened. In that instant there were no weapons trained on me. The only eyes watching were Lula’s.

My next shot landed in Romeo’s shoulder. I’d hoped for his throat; was furious at myself for missing. He gawked at me, but then his shock became cold fury. He was fast enough to rush me, making it impossible to shoot again.

That was fine.

I could work in close quarters.

Romeo grunted when I slammed my gun’s handle into his temple. It dropped him to his knees, and I prayed he was out cold, because I couldn’t stop and check.

Smoke began to fill the room. Even with my lungs searing ... even with water pouring from my ash-filled eyes ... I didn’t stop moving.

I was a machine; I had one purpose.

Save her.

“Get him!” Romeo screamed, not unconscious from my hit after all. A bullet tickled my ear; another bounced off the wall beside me. Dark clouds were ruining my vision and everyone else’s.

Santana trained his weapon on me. The next bullet hit my hand, making me drop my gun. Romeo kept screaming behind me,“Get him, get his sister! Horace is going to kill us all if we let them escape!”

I didn’t know who this Horace guy was. I didn’t give a shit, honestly. I was a singularly focused being who needed to get Lula and escape. I rolled sideways and came up next to the guard. He was bigger than me. I spotted a flash of his confidence; he was sure he had me, because why not? I’d lost my pistol and he still had his.

Lula kicked her leg out, catching him in the knee. Hissing through his teeth, he bent in two. The knife in my sleeve came out with practiced ease; he didn’t see it until I cut him across the wrist, red blood and another gun falling to the mill’s filthy floor.

The smoke was beyond stifling now. “Where are they?” Romeo coughed. “Merrick, Santana! Answer me!”

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