AllFreeNovel
Share Us
If it were up to me, I wouldn’t. I’d let her roam free to do whatever the fuck she wanted.
But it wasn’t. This rescue mission was going to be a fucking bloody one, I could almost sniff the violence in the air, and her life was in danger. If I had to choose between hurting her like this to keep her safe, I’d do it in a heartbeat, over and over again.
One of us had to stay back. One of us had to remain alive to take care of the boys, and without a doubt, I knew I would choose her.
The thumps quietened, and her ragged breathing came between the cracks by the door.
“Max, I know you’re there… I know you’re listening.”
Inhaling deeply, I walked away. My heavy footsteps were muffled on the rug but loud enough to alert her I was leaving.
“Don’t walk away! Don’t leave. You can’t… you can’t do this! Dammit! I want to…”
I left the rest of her words behind when I made the turn around the corner leading outside. Vincent stood by the car, leaning against the door, a mask of indifference plastered on his face. The breeze ruffled the dark strands of his hair, and he arched a brow as I descended the stairs.
“Tough?”
“Rough is more like it.”
“She’ll understand later.”
Startled, I stared at him, brows drawn. “She will understand what?”
“That you locked her in because you fucking care?”
I ignored him. It was strange, hearing those words from Vincent was awkward. But he had a family too; one he loved more than life itself.
Still...
Having him as company to infiltrate Paul DeLuca’s mansion was more than enough. I didn’t need a heart-to-heart right now. And definitely not from Vincent Vadim.
We got into the car, him in the driver’s seat and me in the passenger’s. I slammed the door shut, unable to get her tear-streaked face and high-pitched screams out of my head.
Jaw set. Fingers curled over the grip of my gun. Heart aflame with certainty.
I was fucking doing this, and there was no stopping me. In that moment, I knew I’d risk it all for Gianna and the boys—my sons.
Vincent looked in the rearview mirror to confirm that the rest of the men were ready behind us. Then, he threw me a cursory glance. Before the words came out of his mouth, I knew what he wanted to say. His stare grazed my skin with prickly heat.
My hand went up. “Don’t—"
“You look like shit.” He snickered. “And you’re not even dying.”
“Shut the fuck up and just drive.”
The gear shifted, and the engine revved.
Paul’s house was dark when we arrived, total lights out. But the second our feet hit the grounds, all the lights came on, flickering from one lampstand to the next like it was under someone’s control. We cocked our guns, held out breaths, and went lower than we’d ever gone before—moving in the shadows like fucking thieves.
The plan was simple:
Vincent and I had to get the fuck in, pick the boys, and get the fuck out.
It was a rescue mission—not something we did regularly—a stark contrast to marching in and blowing heads off. But our method was necessary. If Paul had the slightest idea that we’d made it past the first gate undetected, he could harm my sons.
Vincent moved slowly, observing the area with every step. I walked behind him, aiming at everything that moved. We had to be ready. We couldn’t be caught off—
A silent pop went through the air, and a loud, animalistic yell followed it.
