Page 87 of Enforcing the Rules

I didn’t respond.

“You’re very withholding, you know,” she muttered, folding her arms.

I couldn’t stop the corner of my mouth from tugging up. Right before I closed the door, her tone softened.

“Please be careful, baby.”

I nodded. It felt good to have someone give a damn.

“Don’t get out of the truck, no matter what happens. Understand?”

She stayed silent.

“Kate.”

Finally, she replied. “Okay. I won’t get out of the truck. I promise.”

***

Kate—

I sat quietly in the truck, staring at the house, looking for any shadowy movements. The waiting was nerve-racking and my heart pounded a mile a minute. I didn’t notice the car pull up behind me with its lights off, until I heard a noise and glanced in the rearview mirror. The driver’s door opened and a man got out. My first thought was it could be one of Utah’s brothers coming to assist. I swiveled to look, and my hopes were dashed. From his height and build, I knew immediately it was Ruiz’s brother.

He approached with a gun drawn and was at the driver window so fast, I didn’t have time to react.

My stomach dropped. I started to lift a hand toward the steering wheel to honk the horn and warn Utah.

“Don’t move.”

I hesitated, weighing my options. My gun was out of reach in my purse on the floorboard.

He yanked on the door handle. When it wouldn’t budge, he jammed the butt of his gun against the glass, shattering it, then held the gun on me, as he opened the door.

“Hello, Chica. Your dirty Royal Bastard boyfriend and his club burned down our stash houses tonight. Destroyed everything. Now I’m going to take something from them.” His mouth formed an evil grin. “Yeah, I’m gonna have some fun with you.” He looked toward the house. “Then I’ll probably trade you for my brother. They’re inside, aren’t they?”

I nodded.

He shoved his gun in the waistband at the small of his back and made a grab for me, but I scrambled away, kicking out at him. His hands clamped onto my ankles and dragged me across the bench seat. I twisted onto my stomach and reached for my purse, digging my hand inside and closing over my own gun. I flipped the safety off, rolled to my back and shot him point blank in the chest.

He flew back a foot, his eyes wide on me, then dropped to his knees and slumped over.

I sat there, frozen, breathing heavily. Then I scrambled back against the passenger door.

Shots carried from the house. I was already on edge and almost jumped out of my seat. “Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.”

Please let Utah be okay.

Two shadowy figures darted up the road toward me.

“Kate!” Utah shouted.

He came to a stop when he saw Ruiz’s brother on the ground, then his wide eyes latched on me. “Are you hurt? Are you okay?”

Baja had his gun up and searched the car and surrounding area. “Looks like it was just him.”

Utah came toward me slowly with his hand up. “It’s okay, babe. Put the gun down.”

I didn’t even realize I still had it in my hand, pointed at the door. I lowered it and Utah took it from me, flipping on the safety and tossing it up on the dash.

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