Page 206 of Indulge
Lyla’s eyes snap to Bella. Looking her up and down, and Bella is doing the same, sizing her up.
“She has a gun, baby,” I remind her quietly.
My girl isn’t stupid. But she is so fucking fiery.
“Oh, here she is. The twins’ rottweiler.”
Bella lets out a laugh. “Yeah. I will rip your fucking head off if you carry on, Lyla,” Bella spits back.
Lyla nods, her sadistic smile returning.
“If you love them, you’ll have to love this baby too,” she tells Bella, putting a hand on her lower stomach.
My gut twists. This woman is fucking mental.
Reggie growls, Bella doesn’t say a word. She’s just looking at Lyla. Assessing her. And then, she erupts into laughter. The kind that doesn’t stop. That gives you tears.
Lyla is completely thrown off, her anger becoming more apparent.
“What is so funny?” Lyla asks.
Bella shakes her head, wiping her eyes.
“God. That is literally the oldest trick in the fucking bunny burning book. Oh, I’m pregnant, please don’t leave me. For I am just a poor woman who needs a man to look after me and the baby,” Bella tells her, full of dramatics.
I step closer to Bella, ready to jump in front of her if I need to.
The light in Lyla’s eyes goes out. Replaced by something far more evil.
101
REGGIE
The air has shifted, heavy with the kind of silence that warns of a storm.
Bella’s eyes snap to me, furious now. “You didn’t tell me. You knew, didn’t you? That time in the club? That was what this is all about,” she says quietly, the hurt evident in her voice.
“I’m sorry, baby.”
She shakes her head, her hand trembling. “I could have helped you, Reg. Stop trying to deal with everything on your own. This has to stop. You can’t keep taking the burden for everyone else.”
There’s a warning in her tone, one I know better than to ignore.
“I will. I promise, from now on, we’re a team.”
Bella chews on her lip. “You really should have let me kill her that day,” she mutters, before turning her attention back to Lyla.
My pulse kicks hard. The name alone makes my blood run colder.
“Just follow my lead. Crazy knows crazy. Okay?” she whispers.
Bella steps forward, fearless as ever, and by instinct, I grab her waist. My other hand is already on my gun in the holster, hidden but ready. The only reason I haven’t shot this bitch straight between the eyes yet is that spark of crazy in them.
I want to avoid Father Byrne’s death. And I don’t trust her not to turn her sights on Bella. If she wants to hurt us, that’s how she will do it. I’m not making any bold moves until Bella is safe.
“Lyla, we can talk about this, like adults, without guns,” Bella offers, her voice soft but strong.
She’s smart—buying time, shifting the power. Bella knows me too well. She knows I won’t pull the trigger first on a pregnant woman. But she also knows I’ll end this if I have to.
