Page 33 of His Paradise

“Sonofabitch,” Luna roars as we stop at the back doors. The doors are wide open and she’s laying in a bush, struggling to climb out as we both stare from the doorway. She sees us, flipping her middle finger up.

“Gonna watch the pregnant woman struggle or does somebody want to help before I get free and kick all your ankles in?” Luna is irritated, but I don’t miss the amount of people lying across the backyard while Grayson easily helps her out.

“Nine, if you’re counting. I definitely beat Biggums this time.” She grins, doing a little dance as we walk towards the shed.

“Biggums?” Grayson raises his brow.

“Jared and Luna compete to see how many kills they can get anytime they’re out on jobs and that’s her nickname for him.” I explain.

“Not because of how tall he is, it’s because he has a massive,” I bump into Luna as her words cut off. She throws her arm behind her, clutching my wrist as she pushes us back a step.

Looking like something dragged from beyond the grave, David lurches from the shed as he leans against two men, his snarl trained on me as they shuffle to a stop twenty feet away.

“Your husband is dead, Nina. There’s nobody left to fucking save you now.” He croaks, the gun in his hand dangerously bouncing as he shakes.

Chapter twenty-eight

Aden

This isn’t going at all how we expected and each bullet that pierces the wall above my head sends another strike of irritation through me. They weren’t just prepared for any simple attack, they were waiting for us specifically. Jared is still trying to wipe blood from his hand from crushing a man's skull. His eyes cut to me and he frowns.

“Didn’t realize you could get any uglier. Luna really got all the looks.” He taunts me but the worry sets into the corner of his eyes as his frown deepens. My head is still bleeding from a run in with a woman swinging a fire extinguisher. The gun shots finally taper off, and an older man screams for everyone to take cover.

Markus dives across us, covering his head as he hides behind the flipped desk we are using just as a massive explosion rocks the building. Debris and dust rain around us and my ears start to ring. My vision is clouded and I cough to clear my lungs. Markus pops his head up, wagging his dark eyebrows at me with a cheshires smirk on his face.

“Alec needs us, let's get a move on ladies.” He peers between us, content that he’s taken care of the group that had us pinned only moments ago. The scene has gone from tragic to gruesome, with a portion of the wall blown away and bodies littered among the rubble.

I don’t have time to feel guilt or remorse for the people sent to kill us when I’m following Markus' heels as we race for the stairs. Taking them two at a time we stop at the landing.

“Fuck,” Jared spits the word, and I can hear the way his teeth grind together as he looms over my shoulder. Alec is standing completely still, his arms crossed and a brow quirked as if he’s just bored.

The tick in his jaw followed by the way his eyes flicker across each of us, assessing for injuries, is a dead giveaway. He’s pissed and moments away from losing his false calm demeanor. A gun is pressed to his temple, and he rolls his eyes as if it’s just another nuisance.

“David’s loose. They’ve got the women. Go.” He demands. I can feel myself being pulled towards home, to where everyone we treasure is waiting for us to come save them.

“You’ve got a big mouth, ya know that? Run to save her, and he fucking dies.” The heavy set man holding Alec’s life in his hands smirks, his thick blonde beard bouncing as he smacks his gum.

They’re both drenched in sweat, their clothes torn in places and covered in dust. The multiple dead bodies and blood soaked gun laying around the room shows how much of a fight Alec put up. Percy is watching every move, his gun raised and ready in one hand, but his other arm is held close to his chest and I can see the blood soaking his shirt.

“I run for backup and you have all the fun.” Markus has gone deathly still next to me, his words cold and guttural. His lip is curled back in a snarl, and the shine in his eyes is beyond feral. Jared shifts behind me, making room for me to pass. I can feel his unease, a duty to both families. One that I’m familiar with, since I’ve begun to see these men as my brothers.

“Lower your gun. This doesn’t have to end with more death.” I keep my voice low, ducking my head to give a more docile appearance. Markus cuts his gaze to mine, shock and something else swirl across his face before his eyes are once again on the man threatening his brother's life. Alec gives me a look that could kill, and I return it with a smile.

“Boy, none of us is living to see tomorrow. Mrs. K won’t rest ‘till you’re all good and dead.” The man says, cracking his neck and pushing the barrel harder to Alec’s head. I hold my hands up, trying to keep his focus on me. Jared, Markus or Percy will get an opening to take their shot eventually. I just have to make sure he doesn’t splatter Alec’s brain across the wall before then. Isabelle won’t survive losing either of her husbands.

“If she kills us then she’ll never see David alive again.” But it’s not fully true, David is still alive. The man laughs, shaking his head at us.

“Do you really believe that’s the only reason she’s after you? You boys have been incurring her wrath for many years now. Especially you, big guy.” He tips his head towards Jared. Alec’s head jerks up, as if the answer is written on the hideous red wallpaper above our heads.

“Stefan,” He mutters, and I nearly whip around to see what he’s staring at. Alec wrenches forward, knocking the gun from the man’s grip and sending it clattering to the ground. Markus puts the man down immediately, his body flinging backwards the moment the bullet strikes his forehead.

“What the fuck was he on about?” Markus rushes forward, grabbing his brother in a tight hug. Alec cups the back of his head, ruffling his messy hair as he smirks.

“Who is Stefan? David mentioned him before.” Percy winces, doing his best to hide the discomfort from the wound in his arm.

“When their father, James Barone, hired me, I was given my first big job. I was sent to burn a house down that was allegedly full of stolen weapons.” Jared looks ill, his face paler as he struggles to find the right words. “There was a woman and her daughter inside, but by the time I realized it, I couldn’t get them out.”

“She was our fathers mistress, and was pregnant with his child. That woman was Stefan's mom. The reason he kept coming after us, after our territory and family, was more than just rivalry. Our father is continuing to make life hell for us from the damn grave.” Markus grumbles, picking a cigarette out from the crushed pack in his pocket.

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