Page 89 of Rowdy & Kat

My gaze flashed to Rowdy, who shook his head. “Please, take my balls. I’ve discussed their future with them, and my balls are happy to go with you.”

Laughing at Rowdy’s words, I ignored how an annoyed Rock rolled his eyes. I loved how confident my man was. Besides, this battle of wills between the two men was part of their friendship.

A few minutes later, as Rowdy stole the ball from Rock, phones around me began to chime and vibrate. The music suddenly cut off. As soon as Rowdy read the message on his phone, I knew something bad was happening.

Grabbing his shirt, he moved toward me and said, “We need to get you and Maria in the bunker.”

“What’s happening?”

Rowdy heard my fear and stopped moving toward the house. He looked into my eyes, revealing a scary side of him that I’d never seen before.

“Evil fuckers are on their way to the Sorority House to cause trouble. I can’t get you out of here before they arrive. You’ll need to stay in the bunker and wait for me.”

I opened my mouth to beg him to hide with me. Before the words tumbled out, my lips snapped shut.

Instead of freaking out, I asked him where to go. Rowdy smiled at how I didn’t make him feel guilty. He took my hand and began moving toward the house. Around us, people darted in different directions. Some of them already had their weapons out while others were getting armed.

As we reached the back porch, Farley opened the door. I noticed a rifle on his back. Maria stood behind him, wide-eyed and silent. I suspected I wore the same expression on my face.

“I’ll get them in the bunker,” Rowdy told Farley.

Maria grabbed Farley and stopped him from leaving. They shared a quick kiss before he offered her a nod and hurried out the back door.

Rowdy guided us to the kitchen, where the island was shoved aside, revealing an underground bunker.

“I don’t need to be in here,” Cher insisted from downstairs. “I’m a badass, not a babysitter.”

Rowdy headed down the steps and stood in front of the pissed woman. Ivy was already downstairs, frowning at her phone.

Resting his hand on Cher’s shoulder, Rowdy said softly, “I am expecting you to protect the woman I love and her sister. If something happens to either of them, I will never forgive you. Are you up to that challenge, Cher?”

Her blue eyes flashed to Maria and me before she nodded. “I’ll make sure they get back to those cute babies.”

Rowdy nodded and turned to me. “I’m going to kiss you. Then, I’m going to leave. Please don’t cry until I’m gone. I need to think like Rowdy Reed rather than your whipped bitch.”

As my heart pounded wildly in my chest, I forced a smile on my face. Rowdy’s lips covered mine to offer a kiss that was over too quickly yet felt filled with promises.

Turning away, Rowdy reached the top of the steps as Vanessa came hurrying downstairs.

“Protect the pups,” she said, setting down the squirming Chihuahuas. “Porche and Truvy, behave.”

The dogs danced around the bottom of the stairs while Vanessa headed back up. She smiled down at us before pushing the island into place and closing the bunker.

I looked at the carpeted basement with shelves filled with supplies. Cher opened a locker and removed a rifle. She armed it before taking out a few handguns.

When she found us staring at her, Cher gestured at a couch before handing her phone to Ivy. “Sit there and watch the security feed from around the Sorority House. You can keep an eye on things while I guard the entrance.”

“Should we call the police?” Maria asked.

“Not until the shooting is over,” Cher replied quickly. “If the cops show up before things are under control, they’re as likely to shoot us as the assholes.”

Sitting on the couch, I hugged Maria to me and tried to think straight. My mind remained numb. I couldn’t cry or even speak. I felt lost waiting for Rowdy to return from an unknown danger.

Through the paranoid fog, I thought of our boys. Were they safe? I believed with all my heart that Pax and Bebe would fight tooth and nail to protect their grandsons, but that fact did little to lessen my panic.

ROWDY

The message from Jagger to Clint was simple: “The Baton Rouge boys are coming to kill you.” I didn’t wait for more clarification. My sole concern was getting Kat and Maria to the bunker.