Malice

Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

Malice

Moments before

After turning down the familiar street, which seriously wasn’t fucking far from my community, Torment pulled to a stop at Gwendolyn’s neighbor’s house. Then I was out and rushing to her front door.

“Malice, fuck,” Torment clipped. “Reaper, take the back.”

“Motherfucker, don’t fuckin’ tell me when it was already planned,” Reaper snapped back.

Snorting, I stopped at the front door, lifted my foot, and kicked it in. I dove for the floor as shots pinged over my head. I aimed and fired at the two men.

Both cried out when their kneecaps shattered. Blood sprayed just before they dropped their weapons and fell to the floor.

“You fuckin’ dick. I go in first. I always enter first,” Torment grumbled.

I picked myself up off the floor, tucked my gun away, and brushed my hands over the front of my suit. Stepping to the side, I waved Torment through. “Be my guest.”

He glowered and muttered, “Dickhead.”

As he entered, we shook our heads at the moaning and groaning men on the floor.

Torment stalked over to take their weapons before he kicked the first in the head.

The guy was flung back, giving Torment the opportunity to stomp hard on his throat with his big, thick boot—no doubt snapping through the thyroid cartilage, explaining the gasp for air.

Torment lifted his leg again and put more force behind the downward action, this time breaking his neck completely in the process.

I grinned.

Until the other one started screaming. Torment aimed and shot him in the head.

Dead.

I cocked a brow. “Wasn’t it you who complained about keeping body parts intact?”

Torment took a deep breath, and as he walked back over to me, he lifted his middle finger. “Don’t annoy me, then.”

Snorting, I shook my head before we moved further into the living room, heading toward the kitchen, only to stop still when a man stepped out from behind a pillar with a terrified teen boy, his gun resting against his temple.

There was also a pale old man who sat on the floor in the corner with his back to the wall, bleeding from his shoulder.

“Who’re you?” the dead man demanded.

I grinned sadistically.

He glared and pressed the gun harder to the boy’s temple. The kid winced, fresh tears running down his cheeks. The dead one tried again. “I’m in charge here. Leave.”

“Felix?” I asked, eyes on the boy.

“Y-Yes.”

“Leave!” the man roared, but a shout from the back caught his attention. His gaze widened. He released Felix but kept his gun raised, stepping back and to the side to keep both us and the kitchen in his line of sight.

A door slammed open. “Are you idiots done in here yet?” Reaper yelled.

When the man swung his gun Reaper’s way, Torment ran and tackled him from behind. The gun skidded across the wood floor.

I walked up to the boy and clasped his shoulder. His whole body vibrated in fear and adrenaline.

“I’m Malice. I know your sister Gwen. How many are upstairs?”

“Two.”

I nodded. “Do you have any rope?”

He pointed at a drawer.

“Grab some for Torment. Reaper, we’re going up.”

“How about you hold this cocksucker and I go with Reaper?” Torment suggested.

“No.” I removed my gun again and headed for the stairs.

“At least let Reaper go in front, for fuck’s sake,” Torment called.

Sighing, I stopped until Reaper passed by me. The top floor was quiet. They would have heard the commotion, since we hadn’t been quiet. So where would they hide?

“We’ve got one alive already,” I said to Reaper’s back. He grunted, understanding what I meant. These two could die.

This had better be some random break-in or else heads would fucking roll.

We stepped out on the landing with weapons high, but no one was in sight.

The long hallway had six doorways to look through.

Six rooms they could cower in. When we moved to the first one, I brought my foot up and kicked it in before Reaper slipped into the room with his gun ready.

He headed toward the bed and flipped the mattress easily with one hand to reveal nothing but dust. I went to the closet, shooting through the doors.

They swung open from the impact. Nothing.

“Fuck,” I grumbled.

Reaper grunted. “Next room.”

Reaper moved, and I stayed with him. I kicked in the next door. A shot fired—wind sliced past my ear. I flattened against the wall as Reaper charged and took the guy down.

When I looked around the corner, I found Reaper straddling the fool, his hands clamped on either side of the idiot’s head as he slammed it repeatedly against the floor over and over until there was no fight—or life—left in him.

Reaper stood, breathing heavily, a bloodthirsty grin on his face.

I checked the bed, closet, and everywhere else while Reaper gained control over himself again.

“Message your team. Tell them to bring the doctor in for the old man downstairs.”

Reaper grunted but did as I said.

We had one more ant to squish before I could reassure my doll’s sister that everything was okay.

“Shut the door on the way out,” I told him. I didn’t want Amelia to see a dead man in her brother’s room.

As I neared the doorway, the final man stepped into it, gun raised.

When he fired, I grunted as Reaper tackled me to the ground. He rolled off me with a groan. I raised my gun and shot the fucking prick smirking in the doorway right between the eyes.

Shit. There goes another brain.

Blood had also sprayed across the opposite wall.

Fuck.

Had to hide that from the kid.

I pushed up onto my elbows and glanced at Reaper. “You good?”

“Hit me in the shoulder.” He bounced up like he didn’t have a bullet in him and held out a hand to me.

I took it. “Lucky the doc is downstairs.”

He snorted. “It can wait until home.”

I nodded. “Let’s get this girl.” Outside the room, I picked up the feet of the dead guy and shoved him into a room out of sight before pulling the door closed. I’d have to send a team in for the cleanup. “Can you get someone to clean the wall quickly?”

“I’ll do it. One of these other doors has got to be a bathroom.”

“Are you sure you can handle—”

He glared. “Don’t fuckin’ baby me. How many times have I been shot?”

“Too many to count,” I snapped, then took a deep breath.

“Fine. Have your team remove the others from downstairs. I want it clear for when she comes down to see her brother and the old man. I’ll keep her in the room until the wall is cleaned.

” Reaper tipped his chin up and pulled his phone out.

“Also, I want the prick who’s alive sent to the club’s red room for questioning. ”

“On it.”

While he did that, I moved down to the heavy-duty door, which I presumed was the panic room. Pulling out my phone, I pressed on my brother’s number. It barely rang before his sharp tone clipped, “Boss?”

Before I could respond, the voice that I’d grown accustomed to reached my ears.

“Malice, everything okay? Amelia said you were there.”

“Everything’s sorted, baby doll. I’m hoping you can let Amelia know it’s safe. I’m waiting outside the door.”

A sob hit my ears and then a heavy sigh. “Thank fuck. Shit, Malice. Thank you. Thank you for everything. I’ll let her know.”

When I heard her speaking in the background, I asked Vincent, “How far away are you?”

“With my driving, I’d say three more hours.”

“See you then.” I hung up and pocketed my phone.

I didn’t have to wait too long before I heard bolts moving on the other side, and a young girl with copper locks peeked around the corner with wide, teary eyes. “Are you Malice?”

Crouching down so I’d seem less intimidating, I nodded. “That’s me.”

Then, in a blink of an eye, she ran at me and wrapped her arms around my neck, a loud sob shaking her body. “Thank you,” she whispered.

I picked her up and took her back into the room.

“You’re safe now. My men are just doing a little cleaning before we go see your brother and the other man.”

She sniffed against my shoulder. “Greg.”

I hummed and rubbed her back as I guided us to the table in the corner and set her onto it. She wiped at her face, but the tears kept coming. “My brother and Greg…?”

“They’re fine.” At least I hoped that wasn’t a lie and Greg was still alive.

“How do you know my sister?” she asked, sniffing.

“She works for me.”

Amelia nodded. “Having you come here won’t get her in trouble for anything, right?”

I studied her for a moment. She was on the smaller side, but her question made me think she was older than I first thought. “How old are you?”

“Fifteen.”

I’d been off by four years.

“You’re short and small.”

She rolled her eyes. “I know. Felix got all the growth in the family.”

Did that mean Gwen was built the same way?

Eagerness swelled inside me. I’d soon get to see exactly what Gwen looked like.

Did she have the same fiery curls?

“You didn’t answer my question,” Amelia said softly.

“You sister is safe with me.”

“Okay. I think.”

“You think?”

“Sorry, I know you saved us, but there’s still something about you that rings alarm bells. Am I imagining things?”

“You are more perceptive than I would have thought. But none of you have to fear me. Gwen is good at her job. I’ll keep her and the family protected.”

“All right.” She squinted up at me. “But just so you know, Felix will kick your butt if you hurt her.”

As laughter rolled out of me, I dropped my head back to enjoy this moment.

She reminded me of Gwen already.

Apprehensive, but strong too.

With my humor fading, I placed a hand on her head and ruffled her hair. “I hear you loud and clear, kid.”

Any other time, I wouldn’t let a threat pass, but she was just trying to protect her sister. A woman I wanted to take care of.

There was a tap at the door. Reaper stood in the doorway. “Good?” I asked.

“As it can be.”

I nodded. “Let’s go see your family.”

Amelia slid off the table and walked in front of me as we followed Reaper down the hall.

She stopped and turned back. “Does he know he’s bleeding?”

It didn’t seem to faze her—she really was strong like her sister.

“He does. He’ll get it fixed soon.”

She opened her mouth, closed it, and faced forward again.

Once in the living room, she raced over to her brother and hugged him tightly. The boy was bruised, but nothing major.

“Doc?” I asked, stopping at the couch where the old man sat.

The doctor straightened and explained, “Shot to the shoulder. I got the bullet out. He should be fine. Someone needs to fill his prescription tomorrow. I’ll leave enough meds for tonight. There’s also a packet of waterproof bandages.”

“Greg,” Amelia whispered.

The man had been staring at me, but when he heard the girl, he looked at her with a soft smile. “I’m okay, sweetie.”

She sniffed, and more tears fell as she sat beside him and took his hand.

Felix walked over and sat beside his sister, curling an arm around her shoulders in support.

I glanced around to see the bodies had been removed and sheets were laid over the blood on the carpet. Torment leaned against the pillar, watching everything.

“Doc, need you to look at Reaper,” I ordered.

Doc sighed. “Again?”

Torment snorted.

Reaper glowered at the doctor, but the old man was used to us, since he’d been on the family’s payroll for fifteen years.

“In the kitchen,” he told Reaper before he left the room with the grump.

The word “Hey” was called.

I looked at Greg.

“Can the kids be taken to my place next door?” His eyes flicked to the blood splatters on the sheets and walls that were still evident.

“Torment, take Felix and Amelia,” I ordered.

“I’m not leaving Greg,” the boy stated.

Greg clicked his tongue. “Go, I’ll be fine. You know where the key is to get in. I’m sure he just wants to have a chat.”

I nodded.

“He’s Gwen’s friend,” Amelia said. “She works for him, and he promised he wouldn’t hurt any of us.”

“He could,” Felix rushed out, glancing at me and away just as fast.

“I told him you’d beat him up if he did,” Amelia said.

The boy paled. “You what?”

Torment chuckled. “Relax, we ain’t gonna hurt anyone. Come on. Let’s move.” He nodded toward the door, and after hugging Greg gently, they followed.

Staring at Greg, I raised a brow.

He shifted on the couch and winced. “I may be old, but I’m not a fool. I know what type of people Gwen works for. What is you coming to the rescue going to cost Gwen?”

Another protective one.

Good.

My doll needs people looking out for her.

“Nothing.”

His gaze narrowed. “Be serious.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I am. Gwen is good at what she does for my businesses, so I protect what is mine.”

“Your employee.”

“Correct. I’m only explaining this to you because you’re in Gwen’s life and she cares for you. But your questions will only go so far. Don’t push your luck because you won’t like the consequences, and they’d upset Gwen. Neither of us want that.”

“As long as you’re protecting Gwen, Amelia, and Felix, I won’t have an issue.”

I shrugged. “I wouldn’t care if you did anyway. Gwen’s on her way home with her friend. She’s been in trouble a couple of times now. I won’t have another. She’ll move to my community. The kids too.”

He cocked a brow. “You’re crazy if you think she’ll leave me here after this.”

“I know she’ll want you close, and I’ll allow it. But don’t become a problem for her.”

“I would never,” he snapped, winced, then softly, he said, “They’re my family.”

I nodded.

He sighed. “Look, I won’t be a problem for you, but I’m staying in their lives. I’ve been around a long time, so I know things when it comes to Gwen. Usually, I’d tell her to run for the hills when it comes to someone like you.”

I narrowed my gaze, my hand twitching, wanting to reach for my gun.

Until he added, “But I also know she doesn’t let many into her life, but you were the one she called. That’s damn big for her. She trusts you, so please be careful with that trust.”

I grinned.

I’d already planned to take her trust and mold it in such a way that she’d never get rid of me. I already knew I wouldn’t be a happy man if she tried to walk away from my world.