Page 61 of Hateful Union

“Is that why you're here?” Gabby questions. “To do their dirty work for them?”

“No,” Antonella says. “I’m here to let you know that the evidence you gave to that arsehole cop is now in the hands of my handler and he has assured me that your father will be picked up as soon as possible. The cop folded under the threats my handler gave him.”

I don’t fucking believe this shit. But I can still sense hesitation from Antonella. “What aren’t you telling us?”

“When you were taken, Raylee, it was because of your father. He wanted full control of the business in the UK and the men weren’t interested and to prove that, they took you from me. I knew in that moment that I’d do whatever it took to keep you safe. So when we got you back, we moved here so I could be closer to your father and his operation.”

“Why the fuck was she held for eight days?” I seethe, nothing that’s been said gives me any reason not to believe her, but I still don’t think it’s the full truth.

“The men took you and bargained with your father. They wanted to go half with the business they were in, but your father wasn’t having any of it. He wanted to be in charge of it all and wouldn’t let up.”

“So he left me there?” Raylee questions, her tone resigned. She’s just found out that her father thinks that she’s replaceable. Bastard.

“Yes, he did, he was willing to sacrifice you for his business. Thankfully, Mayer didn’t agree and did what no one else could,” Antonella explains. “I understand that this is a shock and I’m sorry, Ray, but I need you to be safe.”

“I am safe, Mama, here with Malcolm.”

Too fucking right she is.

The front door opens and I turn to see my father walking in with a bag in his hands. Before I’m able to greet him, bullets start flying.

24

Raylee

Just as the front door opens, a loud bang sounds, something similar to a car backfiring, but I know better, it’s the same noise as the night in Malcolm’s club. Gunshots. Before I’m able to act, Mal has me down on the floor. His breath hot and ragged against my neck, his muscles taut as he covers my body with his own.

Shots continue to go off and my body trembles beneath Malcolm’s. He doesn’t move, his entire body covers mine, cocooning me, shielding me from the onslaught of bullets that are being hailed in on us. I want to lift my head and see the room around me, make sure that my mum and Gabby are okay.

“Mal,” I whisper. My heart pounding, my body shaking, and fear coursing through my veins. He doesn’t answer me and my panic begins to rise. “Malcolm?” I can’t bear the thought of him being hurt from the bullets.

“Sssh,mo stór, I’m okay, just hold tight.” Relief washes through me upon hearing his voice. I reach out for his hand and almost sob when his fingers clench around mine. “I’ve got you, baby,” he whispers, his lips against my head. “Keep breathing, we’re okay.”

I’m not sure how long the gunshots continue to sound, but with each and every single one my body flinches. Malcolm tries to soothe me through it all, whispering to me, trying to distract me, but it’s not working.

Then all of a sudden there’s silence.

“Fucking bastards.” I hear growled, and I tense, my body strung up tight, the words coming from a voice that I haven’t heard before.

“That’s my da, Raylee,” Malcolm explains quickly, obviously having felt the tension in my body. Suddenly his weight is lifted off me, his hands are at my waist, and he’s lifting me from the ground. “What the fuck happened?” Malcolm roars and I stare at him in shock, I’ve never heard him so angry before.

“Boss, seems as though Harry Silver had enough of waiting for his daughter to come to him. He sent at least twenty men here,” Christian tells us, his breathing labored, his face flushed, and he’s got a gun in his hand. I turn to Malcolm’s dad and see he’s just the same as Christian is—flushed, angry, and holding a gun.

“Is everyone okay?” I ask, wondering about Gabby and my mum, but also about Mal’s men that have been here with me all day and the new ones that had joined them.

Both Christian and Mal’s father nod. “Yeah, Raylee, our men are fine, one got a small nick, but other than that, they’re all good. I can’t say the same for the men that thought it was a good idea to open fire on this place though,” Christian growls. “What I want to know is how they found out where we are. We’ve been here almost three weeks and not once have we been followed.” His eyes firmly on Mum.

I spin on my heel and see the guilt slide through my mum’s eyes. “What did you do?” I hiss at her.

“I’m sorry, baby, but I had too,” she tells me as tears tumble down her cheeks. “He’s got Bentley.”

My breath is taken from me and my legs shake, I almost go down, only Malcolm’s strong arms around me are holding me up.

“Don’t you fucking think you should have said that?” Gabby screams. “We could have prepared better, fuck sake, Antonella, what the hell is the matter with you?”

“Where’s Bentley?” I ask, finding my voice and somehow some inner strength. “Where the hell is he?”

She cries harder, but the tears don’t affect me. Any of us could have been killed because of her and that’s not something I’m okay with. “I don’t know, baby, I really don’t. Your dad found out two days ago about you talking to that cop and he and Bentley went out for a job, but only your father returned.”