Page 85 of Vengeful King

I want to drift away and only think about Lachlan, about the feeling of his hands on my body—but reality presses in. My mind is already turning to everything that has to be done.

There’s my mother’s funeral. Most of the arrangements were already in place; before she was sick, she was serious about dying. She always wanted it to be easy on me, didn’t want me to have to mourn and plan at the same time.

So the funeral is looming, but so is the impending confrontation with Yuri. And that’s what scares me the most.

I always knew he was dangerous; now I know just how far he would go.

I don’t know what his next move will be, but I know I’m in danger. I might be by Lachlan’s side, but I don’t think that will stop Yuri. He’ll separate us at any cost, or he’ll find a way to reach me. I know it’s paranoid of me to think that way, but I also know I’m right. Yuri has shown just how dedicated he can be.

We both get out of the shower and get dressed. I try not to listen in as Lachlan makes a call to his brothers, but I can’t help picking up on the words he says—important, dangerous, dead.

Yuri.

I don’t know what’s next, but thinking about Lachlan’s brothers, I feel strengthened, even a little. I feel like maybe, if it’s all of them together, I might have a chance. I might be able to get out of this alive.

I follow Lachlan downstairs; his brothers show up within a few minutes, filing in with serious expressions that say they know what we’re up against. They know the stakes.

They know Yuri already killed my mother. He’ll do it again.

“We need a plan,” Lachlan announces, once we’re all in the living room. There’s no trace of the softness that was in his face when he held me earlier, the understanding when he told me about his mother.

He’s all business now.

“About time,” Finn says. His grin is sharp. “Are we taking Yuri out?”

“He’s not just a threat to me,” Lachlan says sharply. “He’s a threat to all of us. After what he did yesterday—well, it’s obvious that he’s not playing.”

Aiden crosses his arms. “He was on camera at the facility. He did this in the open, without a single care. Either he had someone in on it, or he’s so reckless he doesn’t care.”

“Either way makes him dangerous,” Connor points out. “We need to take our next steps very carefully. A wrong move could mean he ends up winning again.”

“We can’t wait around for him,” Aiden says. “All our poking and prodding won’t give us any more answers. We have to—”

There’s a knock at the door. It’s loud and sudden, breaking the spell-like tension swirling in the room. But as soon as I hear the sound, there’s a new tension between the brothers.

I know immediately that they don’t know who it is.

Lachlan reaches under the table. I see the others begin to spread out, moving toward different parts of the room. I wonder if there are guns hidden, or if they’re preparing to fight for their lives with whatever they can get their hands on.

Before anyone can speak or react, there’s another loud knock.

“Boston PD!” A man’s voice comes through, shouting loud. “Open up!”

I blink, shocked. Aiden’s gaze swings to Lachlan, and there’s a silent moment of understanding between them. I can see Lachlan’s lips thin into a line, anger and frustration clear on his face.

Aiden goes to the door and opens it. The policemen on the other side don’t wait for permission; they all file in, hands on their guns, checking corners as they go.

“Lachlan O’Reilly,” one of them says curtly. “You’re under arrest.”

I barely hear the man that cuffs Lachlan saying something about charges. He’s talking about the right to an attorney by the time I finally unfreeze, swaying toward Lachlan before stopping myself, uncertain.

I’m terrified that this is going to turn into a gunfight right here and now. I don’t know what the O’Reilly family’s relationship with the police is, or how the mafia deals with cops. All I know is that I’m stuck in the middle and my heart is racing, reality bearing down on me.

The brothers aren’t hiding how pissed they are. I half expect one of the cops to say something about it, to directly challenge them. I’m holding my breath for the moment that someone sets things off.

But luckily, violence doesn’t break out. The brothers hold their ground despite their simmering anger, and I stay frozen in place as the cops start to lead Lachlan away. I want to go with him, but he shoots me a look as he’s led out.

Worry curdles my gut, and it hits me in a rush, how deeply I’ve become attached to him.Reallyattached, more than I ever meant to.

---