Page 116 of Ruthless Reign

“I’m not fucking up my ride,” Kaleb replied, patting the Bronco’s dash. “Don’t listen to that mean, mean Irishman, Frankie, he didn’t mean it.”

I rolled my eyes, feeling my jaw clench as Kaleb took the turn and Hardin sat up straighter in his seat, pulling his weapon from his waistband to set it on his lap.

At least one of them was fucking hearing me.

From the corner of my eye, I caught movement in an alley as we turned to take a narrower road between tall red brick apartment buildings.

I felt it before it happened. That thing in the air like a spark of electricity that screams when it hits your veins.

A transport truck carrying a black cargo container sped out from a side street on the right, crossing right in front of our path. Kaleb had to slam on the brakes, and I threw out an arm to stop Becca from smashing her pretty face into the back of Hardin’s seat.

“Sorry, love,” I said, already scanning every available window for the threat no doubt headed directly for us. “I’m going to need to borrow this for a wee second.”

I flicked the snap off the top of her little Glock and yanked it from the holster on her thigh, checking that there was a round in the chamber and a full mag. I left my mother’s blade strapped to her other thigh, hoping it would be enough if she needed to defend herself.

“What the fuck are you—” Hardin’s words cut off as men in dark clothing rushed from the alley behind us.

“Stay in the car, mo mhuirnín.”

I shoved out the door and fired two shots, one of them hitting the intended target while the other glanced off a street post.

Lifting an arm, I tried to flag the minivan to keep going straight and not take the turn, but it was too late. A black SUV screeched into view and plowed into the side of the van, crushing it against the side of the first building, conveniently blocking our only rear exit and pinning our reinforcements to the wall.

Damnit.

Why did no one ever fucking listen to me?

I saw a barrel pointed in my direction and managed to drop behind a parked car for cover just as the bullet intended for me shattered one of its windows.

Another barrage of fire followed, battering against the car, every shot lighting up the twilight lane with sparks, shaking the car against my back.

“Aodhán!” I heard Becca call from the car. Heard her shouting something else I couldn’t hear through the hail of bullets.

“Conserve your ammo!” I heard a familiar voice call out to the other Sons and a flood of surprise permeated every other thought in my mind.

My da hadn’t managed to replace everything I destroyed. Not yet. It was an opportunity. One I hoped Damien would grab with both hands when I told him to.

But we’d need to survive this in order to get the intel back to him.

Kaleb slipped from the driver’s seat, keeping his head low.

“Little help?” I asked.

His jaw flexed.

“Cover me. I’m going for the SUV.”

He nodded once and I trusted him to have my back as I lurched to my feet and sprinted for the SUV, sliding the last two feet as Kaleb fired round after round, returning fire from the handful of Sons still near the mouth of the alley.

I shot out the ankles of the two Sons as they stepped out of the vehicle, sending them to their knees before they could finish off every still-living soul in the minivan.

“Aodhán?” Reagan’s eyes were wide as they looked up at me, his hands clutching his ruined ankle.

“Sorry, mate.”

He lifted his weapon but not before I planted a bullet between his eyes.

“Get the girl!”

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