Page 66 of Savage Little Queen

The room fell into stunned silence. I wasn’t even sure I’d heard Dom correctly.

“No,” Levin snarled. “Not fucking happening.”

Dom held up a hand. “Listen. He makes the most sense.”

“How?” Levin demanded. “They want him dead just as much as they want you dead! He’ll have a price on his head for running out, and if they find out Bianca is alive? And trust me, they will—”

“I can protect her,” Drake spoke up. “I’d die to ensure her safety.”

“The best person to take B is Fallon,” I said, looking to Fallon, who hadn’t said a word.

Levin let out a snort and rolled his eyes. “Not fucking happening.”

Dom rubbed his eyes.

“I think they should run,” Ethan said. “I think Dom and Bianca should run, and we'll take care of everything.”

“I’m not leaving,” Dom said immediately.

“I’m not leaving either. If we fight, I fight with you. I can’t lose you guys again.” B looked around at each of us. “I just can’t do that. If we win or lose, we do it together.”

“That’s noble of you, but it’s also incredibly dangerous,” Enzo said. “They’ll use you to get to Dom, Queenie. Or vice versa.”

Bianca frowned.

“He’s right, B. You need to disappear, babe.” I gave her a sympathetic look. “I’ll join Levin in the fold. We can try to take them down from the inside.”

“I’m sorry, but why do you think they’d trust you guys?” Cole asked before slamming back a shot of whiskey. It was a bit too early to be drinking, but clearly the entire Anson thing was still annoying him.

He had a point though. I’d been considering how it would work, too.

No one said anything.

“I mean, if I were trying to take out competition, I’d bring them into the fold and fuck with them there,” Cole continued. “So why do you think it’s just a number on Dom’s head? I think we’re all fucked. You guys especially.”

“He’s right,” I said with a sigh. “The only thing Levin and I have going for us is our fathers. Matteo isn’t going to want to piss them off since they’re his most trusted men. Not to say he won’t if things get rough, but it’s our saving grace for now.”

“Here’s what we should do,” Levin broke in. “I go into the fold—”

“Levin—” Bianca choked out.

“Shh, bumblebee,” he murmured, kissing her cheek. “I go into the fold. I get any information I can and feed it back to you guys. Dom, you take B and run. Do the death thing, man. Die for them and run. I’ll kill Matteo.”

“Fuck that,” Dom snarled. “Not happening. If he goes down, it’s because I’m the one who does it. I’m not letting you take the fall for that shit. I don’t run. I’m never fucking running. If I die, then I fucking die, but it won’t be because I took a bullet to my back while fleeing. I will stay.”

I sighed, knowing he was going to say that. Dom lived for the fight.

“What about B?” I asked. “We need to do something about her. Drake too. Either he goes back empty-handed and faces the consequences, or he runs.”

“I’ll go back in,” Drake said softly. He cast a fond, sad look at B. She made to go to him, but Levin tightened his hold on her and let out a grunt. She didn’t fight him on it, opting to stay in his lap. Drake looked sad at her not coming to him but didn’t say anything about it.

“You could be killed,” Fallon muttered. “Going back to Matteo De Santis empty-handed won’t end well.”

“He doesn’t tolerate failure,” Dom added, shaking his head. “You’ll be killed.”

“Maybe.” Drake shrugged. “But I don’t think sending Levin alone is a good idea either. I will return with him. He can confirm my story.”

“What’s that story, you fucking turncoat? That you lied and cheated your way out?” Levin sneered at him.

---