He couldn't control them, but hopefully, he could damn well save them.
"God, how did I get into this shit?" The woman turned the corner.
Kellan struck, cracking the umbrella over her head. It made a dull thud. Nothing that would register upstairs. Her eyes widened and her mouth fluttered open, but she didn't emit a single sound. He caught her before she hit the floor, then he eased her down.
She would live. More than likely, she'd have a massive headache, but the medic in the NOLA jail could deal with that. He pushed her body against the wall. In the shadows where he was hidden, it would be hard to see.
Kellan heard a yip, and he whirled around only to realize Sir was trapped in the kitchen and barking behind the door.
"Damn it!" Gates screamed from the top of the stairs. It was obvious to Kellan that he was losing patience. It would cause him to get sloppy, make mistakes. Unfortunately, it also likely made him more violent. "Shut that fucking dog up, Mike!"
Mike was here? Mike had been the man on the ground, the one doing all the grunt work? It fit. No wonder neither he, Tate, nor Eric had liked the asshole. Sure enough, Mike came rushing down the stairs, jogging toward the kitchen.
Sir growled.
Kellan crouched into a dark corner behind a grandfather clock just as the kitchen door began to open.
He was going to owe that damn dog a treat. Sir kept barking, making himself a target as a big shadow moved through the open door. Kellan got the glimpse of something metallic in the moonlight.
Mike wasn't packing an umbrella. It looked like the asshole was way better armed than him.
"Shut the fuck up, dog." The big guy took aim.
Oh, that was so not happening. Belle would murder him if he allowed that fucker to kill her ridiculously ugly, seriously brave little mutt. Like it or not, Sir was the family dog and he wasn't going down tonight either.
With as much force as he could muster, Kellan brought the umbrella down on Mike's head. It met with a crack just like the last time.
Unfortunately, Mike was harder a target to fell.
With a growl, he whirled, his eyes narrowing as he raised the gun.
Sir rushed forward and suddenly snarled at the guy's ankle. He shouted out as Sir's teeth sank into his flesh. The gun fell from his hand, thudding to the floor.
Kellan attacked, punching the man with a quiet grunt. He tried to get to the gun, but Mike threw him back with a fist to his face. Pure pain flared, making his head spin. He heard Sir yipping, but as he opened his eyes, all he could see was that big fist coming toward his face again.
"Mother fucker," Mike cursed before making contact again. "I'm going to kill you."
Then he heard the shocking sound of a gun discharging. It cracked through the small space. The punch that might have knocked him out never came.
Mike's whole face went blank as he listed to one side and fell.
"Are you okay?" Eric asked quietly, reaching out to help Kell up.
"You idiot!" Gates yelled down. "Someone's going to call the cops if you don't keep the goddamn volume down. I told you to shut the dog up, not shoot him."
Fuck. If "Mike" didn't answer, Belle would be in trouble. He lowered his voice and tried to sound like an idiot douchebag. "Sorry. Dog's no trouble now."
Eric had picked Sir up, who was enthusiastically licking his face, but at least he was quiet.
There was a long sigh. "Get your ass up here. I have one more place I want to look before we finish up. Tell Helena to get everything ready."
The door shut upstairs.
He looked at Eric. "Give me the gun. You've done your part. I'm going to go get our girl. You make sure no one else comes after me."
Eric nodded, and Kellan started up the stairs.
To save his woman. To make sure his family was safe again.
Chapter Twenty
Tears filled Belle's eyes. They'd talked about killing her little dog. Her sweet little Sir was just a puppy. She'd heard the gunshot … then she hadn't heard Sir bark again. She tried not to sob.
Gates had yelled to Mike about finishing up, so he'd shot her dog. He would kill Tate next, regardless of whether or not she found the list. They were determined to take everything from her, even her life. Belle felt helpless, and it was a small consolation to know that Tate wouldn't suffer. Knowing that nothing but death awaited for her and Tate infuriated her. Damn it, she refused to go down without a fight.
Unfortunately, Gates had never taken the gun off her. Even when he'd been yelling at his cohorts, he'd watched her carefully. "Move the mattress. I want to see what's under the bed."