Page 218 of Harley & Her Ferals

River drags me into his arms, before dancing me around, while I laugh. “Bella, I’m here.”

“You are.” I kiss him.

“And we all are now. Let’s go.” Lionzio grips the files tighter. “The longer we’re here, then the more chance that Dad could also—”

“Join the party…?” Dad’s voice booms over the room.

I startle, breaking away from River into an instinctive fighting stance.

Terrified silence falls over the packs.

Dad’s furious scent of scalding tea washes over the chamber.

Romilly and her fighters, however, move protectively in front of the Betas and Omegas.

The Battles pack surround my bonded pack in a supportive move that warms my heart.

They’re not intimidated into accepting Dad as their Chief Alpha again.

“Bold of you to come alone,” I force myself to say.

I’ve never spoken to Dad like that. But I won’t allow him to cow me any longer.

Lionzio and I have lived too long in his shadow.

It ends today.

Dad is standing in the entrance of the smallest tunnel. He’s vibrating with fury. He’s dressed sloppily in his red suit, but his tie is done up wrong and his shirt is only half buttoned.

Someone must have found out about our escape and snitched to Dad. Then he scrambled furiously into his clothes, before rushing here.

I’d bet anything thatsomeoneis the smug looking Omega, who is standing at his side dressed in a frilly babydoll dress.

Allegra.

When I narrow my eyes at her, she gives me a vicious smile.

Then Allegra’s gaze slides to Lionzio.

Her look of cruel satisfaction at the way that he pales, makes me even more enraged.

At Dad’s other side stands Vinnie.

What worries me the most is that Vinnie appears relaxed. It’s like he’s already won the battle.

Also, as if he had more warning about this happening.

Did Allegra tell him first? Or did he guess that something like this was coming from the way that Harbinger fought to join our pack? Or earlier, when he caught Laurent and me in his study?

Vinnie is dressed in his usual jeans, motorcycle boots, and a leather jacket with the Hades’ skull patch on the back. His gang of Alpha bikers, the worst of his Hades squad, are at his back.

“Here comes trouble.” Harbinger winces, pushing himself away from Laurent.

He attempts to look like he isn’t too beaten to stand without help.

“Idiot.” Laurent grabs Harbinger, before he can slide to the floor.

Lionzio walks to stand at my shoulder. “They have guns. What should we do?”

---