“You sure have a hard-on for Ryker,” she said, taking the phone from him. “Does he do it for you?”
He went to hit her again, which was his mistake. She grabbed his arm and wrenched it. There was a sharp crack of bone breaking and Leo grunted in pain.
She twisted and stabbed her elbow into his solar plexus, then tossed him over her shoulder and into the wooden chair. It splintered under his weight with an ear-splitting crash and he hit the floor.
The guys flanking me had been stunned, but now they sprang into action and attacked her. I watched in dismay, then leapt up and threw myself into the mix, hoping to take one of them out just by getting in their way.
It worked for a moment, as they couldn’t get a clear shot at her, then the tall guy slugged me hard, right in the gut.
I grunted in pain and bent over, the force of the blow knocking the wind out of me. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe at all as my stomach felt like it was on fire from the inside out.
The sound of a gun’s slide being racked made me force my body back up. Leo was up, one arm cradled to his chest and blood flowing from a cut on his head, but he was pointing a gun … at me.
“Stop!” he yelled.
The two men paused, as did Branna, who was facing off with them, gun in hand.
“Stand down, or I’ll shoot her,” he said.
I wasn’t sure Branna really cared, and the way she eyed me for a moment, I was sure she was considering just shooting me herself, then the rest of them.
“Shit,” she muttered, then tossed her gun onto the floor.
My good eye was glued to the gun in Leo’s hand, my other eye swollen shut. I was breathing too fast and felt like I was going to pass out. His hand moved over the trigger—
Gunshots sounded from upstairs and my gaze flew up at the ceiling.
“You,” Leo said to the tall guy guarding me. “Go see what’s going on.”
Picking up the gun Branna had thrown down, the guy nodded and went running up the stairs. I heard another shot and saw the spatter of blood. His body came tumbling back down, lifeless.
“Mr. Shea,” a voice called from upstairs. “I advise you to disarm yourself, if you want to live. We’re coming down there.”
Leo had only one guy left and himself. I could tell when he’d made the decision because he lowered his weapon.
“It seems I’m left with little choice,” Leo called back.
More creaking on the stairs and I watched warily as men came down. Lots of them. I’d expected the cops, but what I saw instead made my jaw drop.
“Dad?”
My dad was among the men; he seemed to be in charge of them, actually, as he was the only one not brandishing a semiautomatic rifle. Only one of the men looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him. He was holding a handgun rather than a rifle.
My dad’s gaze landed on me and relief broke over his features. “Sage, honey,” he said, hurrying toward me.
I glanced at Leo, who’d gone very pale. “This … this is your … your daughter?” he asked.
By now my dad was inspecting my damaged face and his expression was so unlike my father’s usual cheery fa?ade that it sent a chill down my spine.
“She is,” Dad said. “And it seems you’ve been mistreating her.” He glanced at Leo. “That’s quite unfortunate. For you.”
If possible, Leo turned even paler. “M-M-Mister Muccino, please believe me. I had no idea this was your daughter. She never said—”
“Leo, you’ve always been an asshole, but I’ve tolerated you in this city,” my dad interrupted. “But I’m afraid you’ve overstepped this time.” Dad motioned to a couple of the men with him. “Take him outside for now.” They immediately moved to do his bidding, dragging a babbling and pleading Leo up the stairs.
The man who didn’t appear to be like the others made directly for Branna, and it suddenly struck me who he was. That senator Parker had introduced me to. He must be the guy Ryker had said Branna was working for.
Though they looked far from an employer/employee relationship. He had an arm around her and was kissing her. Huh.
My dad dug in his pocket to produce his pocketknife. A few quick slices and my arms were free. Dad took my hand and helped me to my feet, wrapping an arm around me.
“How did you find me, Daddy?” I asked.
“I had someone keeping an eye on your apartment ever since you told your mother what happened.”
“She wasn’t supposed to tell you,” I said.
“Your mother doesn’t keep secrets from me,” he said. “Especially secrets that concern the safety of my daughter.”
“Who are all these men?” I asked. “Why is Leo so scared of you?”
But my dad just smiled. “We’ll talk about it later, honey. For now, let’s get out of here. The smell is disgusting. I should’ve known Leo would pick a shithole like this.”
I didn’t argue, letting him lead me up the stairs. We passed crumpled bodies on the way, but I kept my gaze straight ahead.
When we got outside, I saw Leo standing with some of my dad’s men. He looked over at us.