Page 67 of Act of Passion

Auberi came through the front window, looking as if he’d been in one hell of afight.

Malik made a move to head to the kitchen when another explosion came from that direction. He spun and used his body to protect Brooke. Something cut into his back but he ignored the bite of pain as thoughts of Bethany being injured hit him. Instinctually, he turned and raced in the direction the explosion had come from. The area filled quickly withsmoke.

Bethany screamed and he followed the sound of her cries, unable to see clearly with all the smoke. Malik shut off, his lion pushing up, helping to guide him through the black smoke. Bethany screamed again, her cries sounding farther away. Flames rolled at him, nearly hitting him. He bent and tried to see through the thicksmoke.

“Gram!” he yelled, coughing as he inhaled a large amount ofsmoke.

Noresponse.

He didn’t care if he burned alive, he wasn’t about to leave his child. With a roar, he ran headfirst into the burning kitchen, ignoring the bite of the flames. He tripped over something massive on the floor. As he hit the floor, he twisted and realized the mass wasGram.

He wasn’t moving and no heartbeat could beheard.

Armand appeared. “I’ve got him. Go after the little one! Auberi is withBrooke.”

Malik pushed to his feet and ran deeper into the burning room to find the back end of the house was missing. He jumped over the flames and landed in the backyard. It took his senses a moment to work properly from all the smoke. The second they did, he heard a child’s cries and shot off, running full force in the direction they were comingfrom.

He more than cleared a six-foot privacy fence in one jump, landing in someone’s backyard before repeating the steps three times. When he landed again, he looked up to find two hybrids running. One was trying to keep hold of Bethany, who was scratching at the man’s face and neck, her eyes glowingamber.

Malik charged the men and snapped the neck of one, before corralling the other who held Bethany. “Give her to me,” he said, his lion so close to the surface that his voice wasdeep.

The man knew he was screwed. He backed up a bit, putting a clawed hand up to Bethany’s face. “Stay back or I kill the kid. I don’t care how much the bosses wanther.”

“My daddy is gonna teach you a lesson about being mean,” said Bethany, looking over at Malik and smiling wide. “Let your mean out,Daddy.”

The man gasped, staring from Malik to Bethany. “You’re herfather?”

“Unhand my daughter or I will rip you to shreds,” he said, pacing back and forth, never taking his eyes from the man. His beast wanted to be let out to sink its teeth into the man’sneck.

The guy gulped, sweat beading on his brow. “S-Stayback.”

Snarling, Bethany lifted her hand and raked her nails down the man’s face so deeply that she drew blood. She then bit him—hard. The man dropped her and she landed on her feet and did a back tuck, rolling away and covering her head and face so she couldn’t see what was happening. “Do it now,Daddy!”

Malik charged the man and when he was done with him, the man was dead. Malik twisted around to find Bethany still tucked in a tiny ball. He covered the distance to her quickly and scooped her up in his arms, holding her close. He covered her small face inkisses.

She kept her hands over her eyes as Malik ran with her, going over the fences again. He held his daughter to him as if she were preciouscargo.

Because shewas.

He cleared another fence and when he landed, it was in a side street. Tires squealed as headlights lit the area. He held his daughter tohim.

The SUV peeled to a stop. Duke rushed out of the driver’s side. “Tut! They have Brooke and Auberi is hurt prettybad.”

Bethany uncovered her eyes and stared up at Malik. “Daddy, they haveMommy?”

Malik didn’t want to put his daughter down but he had to get to his mate. He locked gazes with Duke. “I need you to get her back to headquarters. Can you dothat?”

“Of course,” saidDuke.

Corbin rushed out from a side yard, his eyes wide. “You have thechild!”

Duke reached for Bethany but she clung toMalik.

She kissed his cheek. “You let your mean out big time, Daddy. Get Mommyback.”

“I will, princess,” he said, handing her to Duke. “Go with Duke. Listen tohim.”

Duke took Bethany into hisarms.

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