Page 90 of The Prom

He grins. “They tell their mom and ask her to tell him first.”

“Jennifer did?”

“Apparently, Imogen called her and told her everything. She also said that if her daddy had a problem with her loving a Reaper, he should question his own mind. If it’s good enough for her mom, then why not his daughter and he should be thanking you.”

“I let them down.”

“You protected her. You saved her life.”

Ryder states fact. “Without your tip, we wouldn’t be here now. You did your job, soldier, and you did it well. Now haul your ass over to the hospital and go and get your woman, while I have a very stern word with my daughter.”

FORTY-SIX

CASSIE

My mind is spinning, and my heart is heavy. What have we done? All I can think of is Imogen and what happened to her. Is she okay? I’m so worried about her. We left an extremely volatile situation back there and I feel sick not knowing she’s safe.

When that psychopath took his sword and held it toward her, I swear my heart stopped beating. Then events spiraled out of control and when the cold barrel of a gun was pressed against my head, I thought that was it. Our plan had failed and rather than helping her, we had made everything worse.

Luca’s family may have arrived too late and yet when the gun behind me dropped as the result of one bullet to its owner’s head, my legs almost gave way. Frankie reached for my hand to steady me and then before I knew what was happening, the guy behind me was replaced by a familiar sound.

“Move with me, darlin’. I’ve got you.”

I will never forget how relieved I was when I recognized the voice of my father’s best friend and right arm, Snake. He is the closest uncle to me and it was then I realized we were safe. The Reapers were here. They would deal with this.

We left under the protection of the Reapers, who guided us out of the nightmare, instructing us not to look back ordown. I’m not sure where Lucian Romano’s men went, but I’m guessing they just stepped aside and continued to guard their don from the shadows.

As soon as we leave the building, tears blind me as Snake pulls me in hard and buries his face in my hair, whispering, “You nearly gave us a collective heart attack, darlin’. Safe to say, you have some explaining to do.”

I blink back my tears and hold on to him hard as I whisper, “But Imogen is still in there.”

I jump when the sound of gunfire echoes through the entire house, and as Snake holds onto me tightly, he whispers, “She will be fine. Let the Reapers do their job and understand Imogen is our number one priority.”

‘’My father.” I gulp as the word sticks in my throat because he’s in there. I know he is and Snake sighs, “Let him rage, Cassie. He’s freaking angry, but it comes out of fear. Don’t give him any sass. It won’t go down well.”

I fall silent because I’m extremely aware of how my daddy operates. He will be pissed. I already accept that, but more than anything, I wish it was his arms I was in now, no matter how much Snake is a very close second.

The others are huddled together, several Reapers watching over them, their machine guns slung over their arms, their hardened expressions taking no shit. I catch Frankie’s eye and his eyes flash with concern, but I know better than to leave Snake’s side. It is not an option right now. Instead, I smile reassuringly at Frankie and hope like hell there’s a good outcome for us in this.

Sirens disturb the eerie silence, and as the ambulance screams to a halt, I note the paramedics exiting at speed. Maverick and Jet step forward and they are all deep in conversation and the paramedics stop where they are, as if waiting for the all clear.

My heart is thumping so hard I may need their life saving skills myself and then the door opens and Flash and Blade emerge, holding the two girls in their arms.

“Oh my God.” Tears stream down my face as they disappear into the ambulance that soon takes off with the four of them in it.

“Will they be okay?” I’m not even sure why I’m asking, but Snake always appears to hold the answers, and he reassures me. “They’ll be fine.”

“How do you know?”

Because if there is a god, which I firmly believe, he will be keeping an eye on them. She also had another guardian angel in that room who I’m assured wouldn’t let anything happen to either of them.”

This is news to me and I gasp, “Who?”

“Drake.”

“As in Bellingham. The history teacher?”

Snake nods. “Of course. Haven’t you learned anything, Cassie? Have you forgotten who your daddy is? We’ve known for some time about the threat at Rockwell Academy and have been working with the Romanos and Club Mafia to share intelligence. Drake went undercover to monitor the three of you, mainly Imogen.”

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