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.
“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.