Man of the House: A Dark Bad Boy Romance(122)

Rafa was right behind me. “Watch that room,” I said, pointing to the right. “I’m finding her.”

Rafa nodded as I went down the hall, kicking in each door. I got to the last and took a deep breath. It was padlocked shut.

I shot off the hinges and kicked it in.

Laying on a mattress, her eyes wide with fear, was Kaley.

She stood slowly. “Vince?”

I stared at her. Bruises were blooming across her face.

“Did he hit you?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said, her voice small.

Rage flowed through me, hotter than I could have guessed. That mother f*cker, that piece of shit. He beat his own f*cking daughter.

“Come on,” I said. “We’re going.”

She ran to me, threw her arms around me, and began to sob.

“Okay,” I said. “I have you. You’re safe.”

I was going to kill her father.

“I never thought you’d come,” she said. “I’m so sorry I left. I’m so sorry.”

“I got you,” I said. “You’re with me now. You’ll never have to leave again.”

“Alexei?” she asked.

“Is he here?”

She nodded. “I don’t know where.”

“Shit.”

Gunshots rang off down the hall. “Vince!” Rafa called out.

“Stay here,” I said to Kaley, and I went down the hall.

Rafa was shooting into the other room.

“Old man lived,” he said.

“Shit,” I said. “Seriously?”

“For real.” Gunshots again, and we fell back, holding close to the wall.

“Leave him,” I said. “We’re going.”

I grabbed Kaley and fired a few shots toward Anatoli. The smoke was getting thick and it was hard to see. I threw her over my shoulder and jumped down the stairs, landing hard and skidding down toward the bottom. Rafa was just behind us, laughing like mad.

We hit the bottom and rolled across the living room, finally coming to a stop. Smoke was billowing down the steps and the fire was beginning for real.

“Alexei,” Kaley said. “We have to get him.”

I looked around the room and spotted her.

“You,” I yelled. “Where’s the baby?”

Kaley saw who I was talking to and took a step toward the girl. “Sophie?”

“Fuck,” I said.

Sophie was sobbing, still handcuffed to the radiator. “I’m sorry, Kaley,” she said. “I’m so sorry.”

“Where is my son?” Kaley asked.

I walked over to Sophie and pressed the gun to her skull. “Talk,” I said.

“Basement,” she said. “With Kaley’s mom.”

I looked at Kaley. “You decide if she lives.”

Kaley bit her lip, staring at Sophie. “You’re dead to me,” she said.

Sophie cringed and began to sob thick, terrified sobs.

“But you’ll live, even though you don’t deserve it.”

I pulled the gun back.

“Come on,” I said. Kaley took us down the hall and opened a door in the kitchen. The stairs went down. “Rafa, stay,” I said. “We’ll be a second.”

He nodded. “Hurry. This place is burning.”

I went down the steps two at a time, Kaley at my back. The basement was finished and pretty nice. Sitting on the couch cowering in fear was an older woman, an older version of Kaley.

“Mom,” Kaley said. “Please. My baby.”

The woman stood, tears running down her face. “I never wanted this,” she said. “I begged him to let you keep Alexei. I begged him. The only reason Alexei is here, now, is because of me.”

“I know,” Kaley said softly. “Your only mistake was marrying a monster.”

Kaley’s mom put the baby into Kaley’s arms. I nodded at her. “Thanks.”

“Thank you,” she said. “Are you my grandson’s father?”

“Yeah,” I grunted. “Vince.”

“Vince. Nice to meet you. I’m Vera.”

“Come on, Kaley,” I said, pulling her along behind me.

We quickly went back up the stairs. Rafa was waiting there and nodded.

“Let’s roll,” he said.

Gunshots rang out again, and Rafa stumbled back, small bursts coming from his chest.

“Fuck!” I yelled, shoving Rafa down. I rolled out and came up firing.

Anatoli Kozlov collapsed to the floor, riddled with bullets. I felt a sharp pain in my right leg, but that didn’t matter.

I dove on Rafa and tore off his vest.

No blood.

He coughed. “Undressing me already, boss?” he asked weakly.

“Shit,” I said. “You’re okay.”

“Bulletproof vest.” He grinned. “Hurt like f*cking hell though.”

I laughed, relief washing over me. “Come on,” I said, helping him up.

“Vince, your leg,” Kaley said.

I felt it before I saw it. In the mayhem, Anatoli must have gotten a bullet in me.

“I’ll live,” I said. “Come on.”

I helped Rafa up and we moved out the back door and back out into the night. Kaley followed closely, holding Alexei, holding our son.