Page 52 of Stolen Matrimony

My dad was checking my mom over. Chaos was on the streets as people were attempting to get off the ground. A couple of them crying out and groaning.

“Who the fuck would be brave enough to pull some shit off like that?” Lucas questioned.

I bit down on my back molars. “That’s exactly what I plan on finding out.” No one takes shots at the Tavarez family and lives to tell about it.

CHAPTER 18

CASHLYNN

My body seethed with anger as I gripped the butt of my gun tightly, my eyes darting around the streets. Chaos broke out around us as everyone ran around in a frenzy. My heart pounded viciously as blood pumped wildly through my body. I rushed to Carson and helped him off the ground, quickly checking him over.

“Everyone head to the trucks now! Family meeting!” Dominic bellowed. His face was fire truck red and veins bulged from his neck.

I bit the inside of my cheek, not feeling this meeting he was calling. My mind was on one thing, finding out who’d shot at us and going after them.

“C’mon.” I flinched when Nazai touched my arm.

“Don’t.” I shook him off, turning to glare at him. He matched my stare.

“Go to the truck,” he gritted.

I wanted to fight him, but I knew now wasn’t the time. I scanned the scene again. His brothers all looked on edge. Nora stood by her husband looking just as upset.

I didn’t know what the plan was, but I was out for blood now. I had never been in a shootout before. Outside of when that bounty was placed on me I’d never had anyone try me before. When the gunshots rang out, I didn’t hesitate to snatch my gun and start shooting back. This was personal and whatever they had planned I wanted parts of it.

____

No one spoke as Dominic paced back and forth in front of the fireplace in his living room. Once we got to his home, we all piled into the family room and were now waiting for Dominic to speak

“Is no one gonna say anything?” I finally said, tired of the silence.

Dominic stopped pacing and focused on me. “Got something to get off your chest?”

“Yeah I do!” I shook Nazai off when he tried to grab me. “Some idiot tried to kill us and we’re just sitting here looking at each other instead of going after them.”

“We can’t go after someone if we don’t know who they are,” River noted.

“Which brings me to, who the hell would be dumb enough to come after us?” Dominic’s eyes traveled around the room.

“There’s only one person who has known issues right now,” Lucas stated. He turned to face me with a blank stare.

I cut my eyes at him. “This has nothing to do with me,” I spat with my mouth turned up.

Nazai shut him down. “I handled that. The Rhodes know Cashlynn’s off limits and called off the bounty.”

“That’s the only logical choice. None of us have beef going on right now.”

“Even if it was the Rhodes they’re not stupid enough to come after us while we’re all together. It’s not them.”

“This is some bullshit!” Dominic rattled off in Spanish.Do you have any more enemies outside of your ex’s family?” Dominic asked, focusing on me.

My tongue poked the inside of my cheek. “That’s it. And Nazai is right, those idiots didn’t do this. They don’t have enough balls.” I brought my apple juice I had in my purse to my mouth and took a sip. Not knowing who was after us had me unsettled. I wasn’t used to being hunted. Just the month the bounty had been active made me jumpy and paranoid.

“Emmet, I want you to check out all of the surrounding traffic cams. See if you can get the plates of the car then run them. I spoke with the police at the scene and they’re gonna be all on this. Someone coming after an ex judge is a big deal, they’ll keep me in the loop, but this isn’t on them. This is family business. If anyone comes up to any of you, don’t say shit. Keep your eyes and ears open when you’re out and watch your backs. River, I need your men in the streets, find out if anyone’s talking about coming for the family. Nazai…” He paused and locked eyes with his oldest son. “This is the time you show you’re not to be fucked with. I’m not passing the family down to you until I see you’re built for this.”

I could feel Nazai tense next to me. He adjusted his tie. “Cashlynn.” My spine straightened and my lips pinched together, waiting for his next words. “You earned my respect today. I wasn’t expecting you to pull out a gun and start shooting.”

“I don’t take threats against me lightly.”