The bang of a gunshot.
Then another.
I throw her to the ground and crouch in front of her, ready to protect her with my body. In an instant, one of the guns in my waistband is in my hand.
I watch in horror as my brother’s wedding reception is ambushed.
Men in black with rifles and bulletproof vests storm in. Men who came prepared. Men who came to kill.
Then they speak.
Russian.
And I know.
I knowIfucked up.
I know these are the consequences of my actions.
I didn’t almost start a war. Ididstart a war.
And now everyone I love is in danger.
I look over as Dom fires off two headshots, taking out the first two who enter. He’s on the left side of the room. He turns over a table and uses it as protection.
Bash is doing the same on the right side. He’s helping guests take cover. He’s playing defense, taking out any of them that come too close.
Matthias is guarding Margot, a look of pure fury in his eyes. He swore she’d never have to deal with the Bratva again, and now, on their wedding day, here they are.
Dad is guiding people out the back exit, gun in hand. He’s protecting them.
Mom is helping Dotty out, whose boyfriend leaves her to help us. Dr. Richard is the Syndicate doctor. But I forget, he’s still a part of the Syndicate and is familiar with fighting.
I fire off three shots, taking down one man.
I hear a whimper and turn to Cecilia.
We’re in the middle of the room. I need to get her to Dad. There’s no cover here, except me. And I’ll cover her with my body if I have to. I’ll get between her and every bullet. I’d let her use my dying corpse as her shield if needed.
I look up and see a Bratva soldier approaching, and he smiles.
“Roman Montclair, you wanted a war. Here it is,” he says with a thick accent. “Maybe I’ll take the slut with me. Afterall, she caused all this, so her cunt must be worth it.” He gestures to a trembling Cecilia behind me, and I see red.
I unload my clip into him, still going even once he’s down. Then I take his rifle and shoot him again. I’m so busy shooting him that I don’t see the man approaching in front of me until it’s too late.
The bullet flying through my left shoulder knocks me down. I shoot the man, and he falls. I shoot him again from where I’ve landed on top of Cecilia, and he dies.
“Fuck,” I growl, my arm already going numb.
I look down and see blood staining my white shirt. My vision blurs, but I force myself to stay in focus. There are still more here. And I won’t go down until Cecilia is safe.
Even if protecting her kills me.
Chapter 92
Cecilia
Roman falls on me, still shooting the man who said those horrible things.
