Page 55 of Tainted Blood

“I’m not going to let anything happen to her. I promise.” I send up a silent prayer that shit goes down safely and I get my woman back. I promised I’d protect her, and I failed. My heart races, and I do my best to calm it down because I have to stay steady. Calista needs the killer who moves professionally, not emotionally.

I slip my earpiece in as I pull into the location and cut my engine.

I walk the rest of the fifty feet. “Come on, Ian boy, bring your bitch ass in here. You want your little love to survive, you better come here and die like you should have the first time.”

My eyes scan the tops of the buildings, looking for his hit squad, and I see that bitch Detective Lopez sitting at the top building on the left with a scope on me. Then I see Johnny with his shot lined right at her. I wave my finger at him, and he hits the target, dropping her with one shot. She collapses effortlessly. Good.

“Oops,” I called out from a safe position.

He chuckles as if we didn’t drop his little bitch. “No big deal—a fucking loose end. Thanks for taking care of that problem. One less person to pay.”

“Funny, you don’t have any money in the first place,” I holler from behind the wall.

“That’s where you’re wrong, and that’s what we’re going to correct today.”

“Now, I’m not sure that’s going to happen.”

“I have something you treasure.” He thinks I’m going to pay for her return. I’m not letting him live regardless.

“You’re playing a fucking twisted game. She’s Carlo Vitale’s daughter. You’re not only threatening my fiancée, but his most treasured baby.”

“That’s the way I get my money. You pay with your life, and he pays with his bills.” Wow, he’s got a serious case of brass balls.”

“It’s one against two right now,” I say, knowing that’s a lie.

“That’s where you’re wrong. You’re outnumbered.” I can’t believe he really thinks that.

“You mean that little bitch that helped you kidnap my woman? And the little pussy Jakey-boy?” I asked.

“I’m not a pussy. I had your woman’s tight hole already. Talk about good pussy,” he shouts from the corner of a building on the right. Losing my shit, I jump from my hiding spot and unload my weapon without hesitation, shooting Jacob in the chest and in the head.

“Damn, that was cold,” my former caregiver says, but my eyes lock on the sight before me.

My heart constricts at the sight before me. My enemy has my most treasured possession, the greatest love of my life, at his mercy. Everything I hoped and dreamed for is right in front of me and could be gone in a second. Jack Senior has his hands on her, ready to steal her life.

I want him gone from this earth, but not more than having her in my existence. Calista is everything to me and more, and nothing my father could do would be worth risking her life.

“Let her go, and I’ll let you walk out of here,” I tell him. I really want to blow his head off, but I don’t have much choice. He has her by the throat with a gun to her head.

“I think I’ll take her with me. You know, as a little insurance policy. You’re a big pussy who would rather let me leave than risk her life. What a fucking chump. That’s the reason your mother died. She was weak and pathetic. She’d rather protect her children than just run. There was no way in hell I’d let her get away with ruining my life and taking you guys. I’d rather watch you all burn than let her win. She made her motherfucking choice, and now it’s your turn.”

“No, Jack. This time it’s not up to him. It’s up to me. I let you get away the first time. I let you ruin the love of my life; I allowed you to destroy any peace and happiness I had. Not anymore.” I stare in shock and fear as Saunders challenges my father from the other side. He’s still holding my darling close, and I’m afraid that he’s going to accidentally snap and kill her. My blood runs cold, but at the same time, I’m proud that he finally stepped up and did something against my father.

Everything happens so fast. Gunfire opens up, and it’s time for me to move. I want to watch him bleed, but she is more important. I snatch Calista up in my arms, carrying her as fast as I can away from danger. They probably will take care of that dirty son of a bitch before I can. I want my hands on him so bad. There isn’t anything in the world I wouldn’t do, except for leaving her alone again.

I lead her out of the area and back to my SUV to get her to safety. Quickly I drive down the road and once we’re out of the danger zone, I pull over and check her body for any serious injuries.

“I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” I whisper. I kiss the top of her head, hugging her tightly, a little too tightly when she yelps. “Damn it, I’m so sorry.”

“Ian, I’m okay. I promise. None of this was your fault—none of it. I was stupid. I can’t believe that I fell for the lies and manipulation.”

“No, baby, we’ve all been there. Trust me when I say we’ve all been there.”

“What’s going to happen now?” she asks, her voice shaky and tired.

I caress her hip, hoping that I don’t hurt her. “Right now?” She nods. “Well, we’re going to go home, then I’m going to take you in the shower to clean off this mess. Then I’m going to tuck you in bed where you belong.”

“Wonderful because there is nowhere else I’d want to be, and I’m not leaving any time soon.”

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