Page 105 of Made for Reign

“She knows what she’s doing.” The defensiveness in my voice surprises even me. “She took the route we practiced, stuck to the back roads. And she’s got the burner if there’s trouble. Everything squared away on your end?”

“Yep. I’ve got Rodriguez handling the Blackwell account. Johnson’s taking point on the new hotel contract.” He hesitates, then adds, “I’ve set things up to run without you indefinitely. Just in case.”

The unspoken question hangs between us—are you coming back?—but Marcus knows better than to ask directly.

Truth is, I don’t have an answer yet. Cooper Heights was never home, just a place I built a business. The only thing that matters now is getting Audrey away from Vega, away from her stepmom, away from the life that’s slowly suffocating her.

“Appreciate it.” I clap him on the shoulder. “If things go smoothly, I’ll check in once we’re settled in Montana. If not...” I shrug. “You know what to do.”

“Always do.” He gives me a rare smile. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re doing the right thing. You tell Ben yet?”

“Tell me what?”

The voice behind us makes us both turn.

Ben stands at the entrance to the hangar, his gym bag slung over one shoulder. Sweat still glistens on his forehead from his workout, and his expression shifts from curious to suspicious as he takes in the scene—the idling jet, the packed SUVs, Marcus and me looking like we’ve been caught planning a heist.

“What the fuck is going on?” Ben asks, dropping his bag and walking toward us. “I got your message to meet you here, but you didn’t say anything about a goddamn jet.”

I exchange a quick glance with Marcus.

“I’ll go check with the pilot,” Marcus says, tactfully extracting himself. “Make sure everything’s on schedule. Give you two a minute.”

He walks toward the hangar, leaving me to face my brother’s questioning stare. The resemblance between us has always been strong, but right now, with anger tightening his features, we look more alike than ever.

Ben stops in front of me, his eyes narrowing as he scans the tarmac.

“Seriously, Reign. What is this? Are you in trouble?”

“No trouble,” I tell him. “I’m getting married.”

Ben’s face transforms instantly, surprise replacing suspicion.

“Married? Holy shit, man. Congratulations.” He grins, clapping me on the shoulder. “To who? You haven’t even mentioned dating anyone.”

“Audrey Worthington.”

His smile freezes, then slowly fades as the name registers.

“Worthington? As in the woman engaged to Gio Vega?”

“She’s not engaged to him anymore.” I meet his gaze directly, not backing down from the disbelief I see there. “She broke it off this morning. We’re leaving tonight.”

“Leaving? Tonight?” Ben runs a hand through his hair, his expression cycling through shock, confusion, and something that looks dangerously like anger. “What the fuck, Reign? You’re running off with Vega’s fiancée without even telling me? Without any fucking warning?”

“I’m telling you now.”

“Now? With a fucking jet waiting?” He gestures wildly at the Gulfstream. “How long has this been going on? How long have you been planning this?”

I weigh my words carefully. “We met in San Diego three months ago. She was there alone. Things happened. We’ve been figuring it out since.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to put you in the middle,” I explain. “Vega’s your sponsor.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Ben’s voice rises sharply. “Fuck Vega. We’re brothers. If Audrey is your family, then she’s mine, too. You should have told me.”

The intensity of his response catches me off guard.

---