Page 88 of The Broken Queen
Mom glanced up at our sister, who was looking outside toward the farm. “How’s Presley holding up?”
Kyle responded to the room. “She’s ready to put this all behind her, and we’ll do whatever we can to help her do it.”
“Well, let’s go over the plan then.” Gio moved to the large table and rolled out a map.
“The perimeter is secure,”Henry said, coming up beside me. Our men had worked around the clock to secure the property. The farmhouse and the barn were insulated and well-guarded.
I doubted that Scotty would be arriving with an army, but I also knew him well enough that he had something up his sleeve that made him feel like he had a chance at winning this disagreement. Especially because he was the one who trained Presley and Kyle.
Gio hadn’t said anything more to me or to Presley about his thoughts on her engaging with Scotty and Markos or endangeringherself by doing so. I had watched as she watched him, as he moved around in that angry mood of his that seemed to seep into every crevice of the house. He’d shut himself in his room, locked his door, and even when Presley had gently knocked against the wood, he hadn’t opened it.
For once, it was me she had turned to for comfort. Her face was buried in my neck, her arms around my waist as she accepted that my brother would remain angry with her over this.
But now, as our hacker had told us the jet had arrived, Presley had exited her room in tactical gear, her hair braided back and a gun strapped to her back. Along her hips, she had ammo and a few more handguns. It took me back to seeing her as the girl who had trained her whole life to become a weapon.
Her shy smile made my belly flip.
Pulling her into my chest, I kissed her. “I love you,mi reina.”
“I love you, my broody asshole, King.” She snickered around the play on words she’d used. Our lips met again in a slow, purposeful wave. Our heads tipped back, and my hands went to her hips to stabilize her.
“Keep one dream with you,mi reina. One tucked away inside that broken heart of yours. I want you to think of it and cling to it every moment, and if anything happens, I want you to remember this moment right here and pull the image back up.”
She pressed a kiss to my palm in reply. “What will you think of, Kingston?”
“I’ll tell you once we’re back here, in this spot, and they’re all dead.”
“Deal.” She kissed me once more, and then we walked out of the house.
Gio was with Henry when we emerged from the house. The men were all ready and waiting for us. The afternoon was nearly spent as evening began to crowd the skies.
“It’s confirmed, they just landed,” Henry said.
Our men were in position to keep a close watch over whereScotty and Markos went and if the Adesso brothers split up. But we had planned to remain inside the manor until we knew what his plan was.
I had a feeling Presley was right and Scotty would go for her farm first. Beyond just the ranch being guarded by our men, I had other safeguards in place. Bulletproof windows, steel enforced doors, and a few deadly surprises that would shoot if triggered. I had no concern over the farmhouse. The barn, however, might go and my greenhouse. If it did, I’d just rebuild, and replant, and I would kill Scotty before he had the chance to touch Adrian’s grave.
Either way, we’d be ready.
With everyone set, roughly half the day later, I headed up to the manor with Presley and my brother.
It was quiet as we walked. The only sound to be heard was the birds chirping through the woods. Things were still tense between Gio and Presley, and while I was inclined to let them work it out, I also wanted things to be okay between us before the shit hit the fan.
“I think we should—” I started, but stopped as my head snapped up. Something must have spooked Presley because she stopped walking. Dread curled inside my gut as I brought my assault rifle up. She searched the woods, and from how many times she had run them, I knew to trust whatever her inclination was.
“Get down,” she whispered harshly while bringing her gun up and looking through the scope. “You were given incorrect intel, King. They’re already here.”
Chapter 31
Presley
The air felt still. As if the creatures within the woods were holding their breath and not in anticipation. No, these animals were terrified of the monster that was waiting in hiding, the one that used to train me in that forest. They all bore witness to when I was just a little girl, running through the branches, getting scraped and ruined, while my heart had been traumatized in fear.
I ran in the dark. I ran with no shoes. I ran while carrying heavy artillery.
They knew what danger lurked inside, just like I did.
The scope of my rifle revealed two men hiding in the trees, and I didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger while quickly walking backwards. I knew the twins had found shelter and would tell me where to go, but until then, I continued shooting.
