“Good luck taking that from her. From what I hear, she’s been having far too good of a time out there, leaving a blood trail behind her.” Wicked’s eyes are on mine, darkening.

“Jealous, lover?”

“Fuck you,” he whispers, winking at me.

“Jesus…” Royce mutters, looking between the two of us. “Well, we need to handle this impending war.”

“Agreed.” I find Lion. “And thank you all for taking this on. We are forever in your debt.”

“They know that, Ruby!”

I ignore the child at the head of the table. “So, who is the family that is about to be the new Lost Family?”

There’s silence before Papa murmurs, “Volkov.”

All of the blood leaves my veins, but I keep my eyes locked on him. “Okay.”

“What was that?” Wicked bites again, and I’ve had enough. I push up from the chair I’m sitting on. “Ruby!”

Papa’s silence is loud enough, because he knows. He knows what this means to me. Because he has known all along.

I play with the ring on my finger. “My fiancé.”

“Your fucking what?” He pushes up from his chair, the muscles in his arms rippling. “Everyone the fuck out! Now!” Bodies move out of the room. “You too, old man!”

Papa kisses the top of my head in passing. “I’m sorry, Bubba. It was time that he knew.”

“I know…” The air tightens around me, and when the door clicks closed, the urge to run claws its way up the base of my back.

“So you’re telling me you’ve been in bed with my fucking enemy?”

“I didn’t know who killed the Lost Family!”

“Wolf’s family, Ruby. They killed Wolf’s family, and when they find out that he is mine, what do you think they’re going to do to him, hmm?” It’s not until he finishes his last words that I realize how close he is to me.

I step backward. “I didn’t know, Wicked, I promise. I didn’t.” Saying his name never felt weird on the tip of my tongue, it’s as if it belongs there.

He backs me up against the table, his fingers wrapping around my chin. Sucking in deep breaths, I try to keep myself balanced by squeezing the edge of the wood. “You’re everything I fucking hate in this world, Ruby.”

“Then why are you so close to me?”

Leaning closer, his lips hover above mine. I hold my breath when they graze over mine. “Close enough to kill you.”

I smirk, looking between his eyes and his lips. “Or fuck me.”