The three of us were still like that when Mom and Dad ran into the clubhouse minutes later with all my uncles, their guns drawn and ready for a showdown that was already over.
“Who took out Santino?” Uncle Spider asked as he crouched down beside the dead body.
“That would be me,” Max muttered, jaw clenched as he waited for Dad to lose his mind.
Instead, Dad jerked Max against him in a bear hug that should have crushed every bone in his body. “Are you okay?” Dad choked out. “You’re not hurt?”
“No, Dad, jeesh. Relax.”
“Maybe a little more explanation is in order,” Mom said, taking in the carnage she’d missed out on. “There are five dead brothers outside, along with six of Santino’s men. India…” She swallowed hard. “India is dead.”
Fresh tears burned my eyes, but I told Mom what happened—minus the sex right before we heard the gunfire. Not that Mom didn’t suspect. She was eyeing my hair and Ben’s unbuttoned shirt, but she didn’t comment on it.
“Are you fucking telling me my girls were on this bastard’s radar?” Uncle Spider exploded. “And this little shit Gian is interested?”
“That was what Santino said,” I confirmed, leaning weakly against Ben.
It was a wonder the building didn’t blow up with the force of Uncle Spider’s rage. Cursing viciously, he left a trail of fire behind him as he ran outside. Moments later, the powerful engine of his motorcycle roared to life, and he was gone.
“Flick and Rory are in the panic room,” Mom said, relieved, looking down at her phone when she got a text. But then she was glaring at me. “Which was where you should have gone as soon as you heard the gunfire. You know the rules.”
“I wasn’t letting Ben go out there alone,” I told her. “And you shouldn’t have gone chasing after Dad. You just had surgery. You’re going to hurt yourself and put your health at risk before you even start chemo. Are you trying to give us all a heart attack?”
“Yeah,” Dad and Max seconded.
“This isn’t about me—”
“Everything is about you!” I yelled. “You are the glue that holds this family together, and you have only put yourself at risk all day. Until you get the all clear from the doctor, you’re not doing shit from now on!”
Mom’s lips twitched for a few seconds before she actually smiled. “And that is how the princess becomes the future queen.”
Chapter 22
Ben
It was dawn before everything was cleaned up and the bodies were taken away, including Santino’s. Everyone gave their statement on what happened, with one minor change to the story.
Max didn’t kill Santino.
I did.
After discussing it with them, I told them I didn’t want that on Max’s record, self-defense or not. It would follow him everywhere. When my deputies showed up, I told them I was the one who shot Santino because he was about to kill Lexa. No one batted an eye; no one questioned me.
Being the sheriff had its perks at times.
Now I was bone-tired and ready for bed, but not without Lexa beside me.
Holding out my hand to her, I held my breath, wondering if the time of her second-guessing me was over. Without hesitation, she wrapped her fingers around mine and waved to her parents. “Night, everyone.”
“Night, sweetheart,” Raven called after us. “Ben, drive carefully.”
“Night, Davis,” Bash said with a nod. “Night, baby girl.”
Opening the passenger door to my truck, I helped her inside then leaned in to kiss her. “I know you’re mine, but do you understand that now?”
Her chilled fingers touched my jaw, a tired smile teasing at her lips. “Let’s go home, Ben.”
“Lexa…”