Bastard’s Baby(73)

“Pick it,” I whispered. Rafa nodded and got out his lock pick set, quickly going to work. I watched the window but couldn’t see in past the curtains.

No movement inside, though I thought I saw the glow of a TV flickering in another room.

I heard the door click open and turn softly. I quickly aimed my rifled ahead as Rafa flung the door open.

Nothing.

Just a normal kitchen. We moved inside, me in the front, stepping lightly. The kitchen looked normal, just a regular suburban kitchen. Rafa pointed at something on the refrigerator.

It was a school picture of Kaley. She was a lot younger, but I recognized her.

I nodded. We had the right place at least.

Ahead, I saw I was right about the television. It was on softly in the front room, the volume turned low. I moved forward, motioning for Rafa to follow. We slipped into a dining room that was attached to the living room.

I peered cautiously into the living room. Inside sat three men and a single girl, probably around Kaley’s age. They were staring at something on the TV.

I unhooked a flashbang from my belt and motioned to Rafa. He backed off, ready to watch the kitchen.

I uncapped the flashbang and tossed it into the room.

“What the fuck?” one guy said.

And then it exploded.

The flashbang went off with this blindingly bright light and an incredibly loud boom. The girl instantly started screaming, and the guys began shouting, scrambling around.

I uncovered my eyes and stepped around the corner. Two of the men had guns out, and I killed them instantly, putting bullets into their chests. The third man reached for something, but I killed him too.

Rafa followed close behind me. “Stairs,” I whispered.

He nodded, covering the stairs. I walked over to the screaming girl.

“Quiet,” I said, holding the gun to her skull. “Where is Kaley?”

She started to cry.

“Where is Kaley?” I repeated.

“Upstairs,” she said.

I looked at Rafa. “Cuff her.”

He took out some handcuffs from his belt and tossed one on the girl’s wrist. He dragged her across the room and slapped the other cuff onto the radiator, quickly making sure no weapons were within her reach.

I nodded at him. “On me.”

We moved toward the stairs.

Bullets rained down on us.

We quickly fell back.

“Who the fuck are you?” someone yelled from upstairs.

“Wait,” I called up. “We just want to talk.”

As soon as I said it, Rafa jumped around the corner and opened fire. He fell back when someone began to shoot back.

“Fuck you,” he yelled. “That won’t work.”

I grinned to myself. “Let us come up,” I yelled. “I’m here for Kaley.”

“You’re that fucking Italian shithead she ran off for, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am. And who I am speaking to?”

“Her father.”

I laughed. “Anatoli.”

“Vince Mori. You should leave. My men are already on the way.”

I nodded at Rafa. He pulled a grenade, a real one this time, and tossed it upstairs.

“That flash trick won’t—”

The grenade went off with a deafening boom.

I stumbled back, my ears ringing.

“Holy shit,” Rafa said, though I couldn’t hear him.

“Come on.”

I charged at the steps, or at least what was left of them. I scrambled up and had to jump the last few feet, landing on badly blasted wood. There were flames raging everywhere, but no sign of Anatoli.

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 fucker, that piece of shit. He beat his own fucking 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.