The Reed Security Relationship Manual: A Reed Security Romance - Giulia Lagomarsino (best book club books of all time TXT) 📗

“Okay, we need a plan,” I said, my heart rate kicking up.

“We’ve got this,” Ivy said. “Remember the drug dealers? We handled them, no problem.”

“I wouldn’t say no problem. We killed several people, blew up several cars, and I lost my top! Blake was furious with me.”

“Well, maybe you’d like to pull over and have a conversation with him,” Ivy suggested. “I’m sure if we just explained to him that we didn’t want another battle, he would just stop following us.”

I watched in the rearview mirror as Claire climbed over the backseat, followed by a very pregnant Cara. “What are you doing?”

“Getting prepared,” Cara frowned. “I call dibs on the grenade launcher.”

“You got to use the grenade launcher last time,” Claire pouted.

“Yeah, give one of us a turn,” Raegan snapped.

“Okay, I’d just like to call a vote right now that Raegan doesn’t get a weapon,” I said. All other hands in the vehicle rose and Raegan glared at us.

“You know, in case you’ve all forgotten, I shot out the tires on a car, while hanging out of ours! I’d say I deserve the opportunity to use the grenade launcher.”

Ivy sighed. “I hate to say this, but maybe she has a point.”

“Seriously?” I asked. “You want to give her the launcher?”

“Well, it’s only fair. She did risk her life for us last time.”

“She fell out the door because she grabbed the handle,” I said incredulously.

“I think I should get to use it,” Claire piped up. Looking around at our stares, she shrugged. “What? Last time, I was stuck as the driver.”

“Does anyone else see the problem here?” I asked.

“With what?” Cara asked, loading a gun and handing it up to Ivy.

“Um…the fact that the last time the five of us were in a car together, we nearly ended up dead. We’re lucky the guys thought we were making up some elaborate story. They’ll never let us go anywhere together again.”

“You know, we really should take two cars,” Raegan said thoughtfully. “That way we’d have more firepower on our side, not to mention, one of us could drive the bad guys off the road.”

“Sure, we’ll just bring that idea up when we get home,” Ivy snapped. “Hey, guys. So, we ran into some trouble today, but we totally took care of it. On a side note, I think we should take two vehicles next time so we have double the trouble.”

“Yeah, I’m not seeing that conversation going well,” I grimaced.

“What do you think this guy wants?” Raegan asked, checking her side mirror again. “He’s not gaining on us. He’s just following us. Maybe we should just leave it and see what happens.”

“Sure, let’s just not react and then get killed,” Ivy snapped. “Then we can hear the guys complain for the next year about how we can’t protect ourselves. Ladies, if we don’t do this, they’ll never think we can take care of ourselves.”

“I think you’re forgetting that if we die, we won’t have to hear them complain,” Claire pointed out. “I’m just saying…”

“Look, let’s get closer to Reed Security. We can draw him in to our home territory,” I said logically. “Then, if we need backup, it’s there.”

“Unless he wants us to lead him back to Reed Security,” Cara pointed out. “Maybe that’s the whole point of this. Maybe they’re looking for the weakest link to get in, and we’re the weakest link.”

Claire snorted. “I beg to differ. If anyone is the weakest link, it’s Isa. She doesn’t like playing with guns, and let’s face it, even Vittoria is better at killing than she is.”

Ignoring her, I looked up ahead for a good spot to take action. “Okay, see the ditch up ahead where the grass is high?” They all nodded. “That’s where we do this. Cara, you’re on the launcher. Claire, you have the guns. Ivy, you have grenades ready for Cara.”

“What about me?” Raegan asked.

I glanced over at her, wincing. “Sit there and look pretty. Oh, and try really hard not to fire that gun at me.”

“You guys really underuse me,” she grumbled.

“I say we start with guns and see if he backs off,” Claire said with a nod.

“You just want to make sure you have some fun.” Cara accused.

Claire stared at her in feigned shock. “I’m just looking out for you. I would hate to have to explain to Sinner that you were injured using a grenade launcher just weeks before you’re supposed to have the baby.”

“Hey, this is my last shot at having any fun before this kid comes,” Cara argued. “Let me have some fun.”

“Stop arguing and fucking shoot!” I shouted.

I spun the wheel, swinging the car around as Claire pointed her gun out the window and started firing at the truck behind us. Dildos started flying around the SUV, one smacking me in the face. The truck swerved hard to the right, avoiding any bullets, but instead of backing off like we had hoped, he kept right up with us and appeared to be trying to gain and overtake us.

“Shit!” Cara shouted. “He’s coming up fast!”

“Use the launcher!” Ivy shouted, grabbing her own gun.

“Raegan,” I shouted, “hit the damn alert button! I’m going to draw him in.”

“You’re gonna do what?” she shrieked. “We’re trying to get away, not bring him closer!”

I slowed the SUV, drawing him into our sights. “I have to give Cara the best chance possible.”

“I’m ready, and he’s coming up fast. Prepare to punch it,” she shouted.

The truck was almost right on us. It was now or never. Fingers crossed, Cara took aim and fired the grenade right through the goddamn windshield. The truck tapped us, sending us spinning out of control. We all screamed as the car hit the gravel on the side of the road and careened into the deep ditch. I barely had time to throw my hands up before we smashed into the ditch and the airbags deployed.

Chapter Twelve

Rocco

“Okay,” I said as some of the guys