Page 29 of Cross’s Reckoning

Cyrus points at her. "You've made enough decisions for one night."

Her expression hardens. "Well, you don't decide that anymore."

"You think you're staying here?"

"I know I'm not going home with you."

"I'm not asking."

I move before Lola can answer, not in front of her but beside her.

Cyrus's gaze shifts to me.

"You'll get in your car and come back where you belong," he tells her. "And you'll answer for every fucking thing you've done."

"No."

"If I have to drag you back myself, I will," he tells Lola.

Every instinct in me turns lethal, and my voice comes out much calmer than I feel. "You come through that gate for her, you're dealing with me."

Cyrus smiles. "She's my daughter and this has nothing to do with you."

"It does the second you threaten her."

Lola's fingers slide into mine. She doesn't need me to speak for her, and she doesn't need me to decide where she stands. But Cyrus isn't going to frighten her, humiliate her or put a hand on her without finding me in the way.

He can see that, and for once I want him to.

Cyrus looks between us, and whatever he finds there only makes him angrier.

Lola squeezes my hand. "Take Perdition home. This can still stop here."

Kane steps forward. "She's right."

Cyrus turns on him. "Stay the fuck out of my family business."

"You brought your family business to my gates."

"I brought Perdition here for Cross."

"Then you are going to have to leave without him."

Cyrus's jaw works.

Kane looks beyond him now, making sure every Perdition man hears the next part. "Nobody inside these gates fires first. Anyone who comes through them armed gets treated like an enemy. Anyone who doesn't can get on his bike and go home."

Cyrus slowly turns. For the first time, he really looks at his men. Then he points toward Kingdom Come.

"Move."

But nothing happens. No engines start, no weapons lift and nobody advances on the gates.

Cyrus stares at them. "I said move!"

The same silence answers him.

I feel Lola's grip tighten around my hand.