Page 70 of Ruthless Reign

I took the stairs up to the top of the building, slugging through every step on dead legs. I didn’t want to see anyone. Didn’t want to speak.

Please don’t be home, I repeated the words like a mantra as I dug through my purse for my keys.

I just needed a fucking minute.

A joint from Toby’s stash that I would replace asap. A hot shower to bring life back into my numb limbs. And then I’d go to the hospital. They weren’t letting anyone in to see Kaleb yet anyway and I doubted he’d be awake for hours.

I totally wasn’t avoiding seeing Hardin.

What could I even say to him?

How could I explain myself in a way that he would understand?

In a way that I would even understand?

Those were shower thought problems. Joint first, then I would think.

I half expected the door to be unlocked—both Toby and Kate were notorious for forgetting to lock it—but the handle stuck under my fingers and I sighed, relieved they’d heeded the warnings from Hardin and Kaleb about being extra cautious.

Inside, it was dark and quiet as I stepped in. Even though dawn had broken on the drive over, they had all the blinds flipped to block out the light save for the sliver of bright orange sunlight where one of the slats was missing.

“Shit!” I cursed, bending over to calm my nervous system as the spike in my pulse had the black spots clawing back. “Fuck, Tobes. You scared the shit out of me. What are you doing sitting there in the dark?”

I stood back up and tossed my purse and keys on the counter, going into the kitchen to get some water. Trying to play it cool. Like shit hadn’t imploded over the last twenty-four hours. Everything was fine. Don’t cry, I internally berated myself as my eyes burned. Don’t you dare fucking cry or you won’t be able to stop.

At least he wasn’t rushing over to hug me. That would make it harder to keep my shit together.

I sniffled, opening the cupboard to find a glass. “Were you out late last night or something?”

Toby rose to his feet slowly and that perfect bar of orange light stole over his eyes. Eyes that didn’t match. One looked devoid of color entirely while the other stood out in bold near-black contrast. They watched me with a wicked curiosity and I knew…

I wasn’t sure how I knew but this was him.

The leader of the Sons of O’Sullivan.

In my fucking living room.

Where was Toby? Kate?

The taste of bile filled my mouth as my stomach filled with the burn of acid, dropping out through my toes. Sweat crept over my shoulders like frost, dripped down my back like ice water.

“Becca. Isn’t it?” he asked, cocking his head to one side. “It’s about time, love. I’ve been here nearly an hour. Was starting to think you might not show after leaving my son’s little place down the way.”

My teeth clenched behind my lips, fear and fury warring against one another for dominance as I shook.

You.

He was the reason Kaleb was in the hospital. The man who killed Damien’s best friend and had everyone within a hundred mile radius under his poisonous thumb.

“What are you doing here?”

I hardly recognized my own voice. The rage in it. I could have choked on it. I was surprised it didn’t suffocate me as I curled my hands into fists, remembering the gun in my purse.

To the right of the sink. One long step away.

One step, one click of the safety, and one press of the trigger and I could erase this stain off the face of the earth. I could end this. I just couldn’t miss.

I didn’t want to think about what would happen if I did.

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