Page 132 of Royal Bargain
“Goddammit, Ana,” I whisper, pressing Lily tighter to me. “Why didn’t you wait? Why didn’t you let me protect you?”
My vision blurs, rage and fear tearing through me like wildfire.
She sacrificed herself.
And I’ll burn the whole fucking city down if I have to—to bring her home.
I pace the kitchen, Lily curled against my chest, one hand gripping my phone like it’s the only thing keeping me from falling apart.
The moment Rory picks up, I don’t waste a second.
“They took her.”
A beat of silence. Then his voice turns to steel. “Where?”
“The canning factory. I’m sure of it.”
“I’ll call Kellan and Lucky. We’ll meet you there.”
“No,” I say sharply. “We do this right. No rushing in half-cocked. We end it—for good.”
Another pause. Then Rory’s voice lowers. “Understood.”
Twenty minutes later, the safehouse is alive with movement.
Kellan arrives first, armed and already barking orders like a general. His eyes scan Lily in my arms, and he gives me a grim nod—softening only enough to gently ruffle her hair.
Rory follows, with Lucky close behind. They’re dressed for war.
Then come the real surprises—Clary and Darcy. Clary’s got her hair pulled back in a tight braid, hoodie zipped up over a bulletproof vest. Darcy’s in boots and a leather jacket, a pistol holstered at her hip like she’s done this a hundred times.
“No way we’re sitting this one out,” Clary says, her voice calm but resolute. “You’re family. She’s family. That baby is ours now, too.”
Darcy brushes past the men like she’s in charge—because she is. “We’re staying here with Lily. We brought backup.”
And they did.
Four more of our men slip through the door behind them—trusted, hardened, and well-armed.
Kellan nods. “She’ll be safer here than anywhere else.”
I look down at Lily, who’s finally drifted into exhausted sleep against my shoulder. Her little flower-pink sleeper soaked in tears, her tiny fingers still gripping the edge of my shirt.
I kiss her forehead, then hand her off to Clary, who holds her like she’s made of gold.
“Bring Ana home,” she says softly. “Do what needs to be done.”
I meet my brothers’ eyes.
“This ends tonight.”
And together, the Brannagans move as one—into the night, toward the old canning factory.
To get her back.
To end this war.
The SUV rumbles beneath us,but it’s not fast enough. Nothing is.
