Page 119 of Ruling Scar
He puts it on speaker.
“There’s a warehouse,” she says.
“Owned by the only uncle who’s currently talking to him. Well done, Adeline.”
“Don’t be an ass you fucking prick.”
I meant it as a genuine compliment but okay. Looks like Leonora’s younger sister has much more of an ear to the ground than most know.
Leopold’s smart, but not clever. He won’t take Leonora to one of his own spots, but there’s no one else who’d provide him with access to an empty building.
“I’ll meet you there,” I promise.
“Already on the way,” she says.
“What the fuck do you think we’re going to do?” Roma asks, like he’s not checking a gun the guard in the front passenger's seat handed him.
“You remember how Russet tore Marissa’s bar up?” I check the chamber of the gun I’m handed.
“I’m calling Dima.”
That sounds like a fantastic idea, but I swear if this car doesn’t go faster I will take out every single driver in this godforsaken city.
“Approaching,” the driver says after what’s far too long.
“Stop here,” I order. Since it’s his uncle’s building, we didn’t do as much intel on the site. I’m not sure of the security or what cameras are set up where. If he took Leonora he knows I’m coming, but there’s no need to give him advanced notice.
“Don’t risk your life on my account,” I warn Roma. I’ll end up in hell before I allow anyone to take Leonora from me, but it’s also my job to protect my little brother.
“Fuck off you fake British fuck.” He kicks open his door.
It’s an industrial area but they’ve paused construction on the warehouse. It turns out the Stuarts aren’t doing that well after all. Carefully, Roma and I slip through the work site. Numbers must be limited because we don’t see many guards.
Not that the place is completely empty.
We come up to an ugly motherfucker who raises his gun directly at Roma.
Blood splatters all over my brother’s shirt and the sound of a gunshot rings in my ears. The motherfucker slumps to the ground.
Roma looks to me, surprised not at the blood on his face, but how I managed to make the shot.
I didn’t.
We turn toward Ren Callahan. She holds up a handgun, her eyes hard as she studies the dead guy on the ground. Shiny brown hair is pulled into a high ponytail, but for the first time in years, she’s wearing a pair of jeans and a hoodie. No wonder she gets along with Leonora so well. She’s wearing a pair of canvas sneakers.
This is the Ren I first met, all those years ago. The girl before the creation she honed over the years.
At her side is Isolde, her mouth firm and her gun at the ready.
Adeline is next to them. She must have called in backup and I’m not complaining.
“Shall we?” Ren asks, stepping forward.
Roma’s gaze follows her, his face patterned with blood. But he’s right on her heels, her neck turning slightly, her expression unreadable, as the pair exist in each other’s orbits for the first time in almost five years.
“He’s only got two more on the payroll,” Isolde says, taking the lead. We enter a stairwell and her assured movements make me think someone looked up the warehouse blueprints.
“They’re on his uncle’s payroll that is.” Adeline creeps behind. When this is done we’ll be discussing what the hell is up with her. Until then. . .
