Page 63 of Avenging Kelly

The surprise was on me when I opened the door to The Gambler’s apartment. Everything was back in place and neat as a pin, as if we hadn’t wrecked the place less than twenty-four hours ago.

I reached for my Sig behind my back as I stepped through the door before there was a suppressor at my temple while my jacket was lifted and I was relieved of my weapon.

“Hello, Hearts.” It was the voice of the crazy doctor herself.

I lifted my hands and turned slowly to see a huge fucking guy holding a gun, The Gambler to his right. My firearm was in his other hand, and in that moment, a thought flashed through my mind that it would be shameful if I was shot with my P365.

“I’m gonna bet you’re Miguel ‘The Maniac’ Montero,” I stated. The guy nodded his head.

“You can put the gun away. You could take me out with a thump of your fist,” I stated.

I didn’t want to risk the gun accidentally going off and killing one of us, though I really wouldn’t shed a tear if it was Ritchfield.

Montero laughed. “I’ve heard a lot about you from your little sister. How is she, by the way? I hope she’s taking good care of that little girl because her new parents are getting anxious to meet her.”

My first reaction was to climb that fucker and beat him to a bloody pulp, but three breaths and a flash of the future waiting for me in my mind’s eye stopped me. “You won’t find her, and you’re not taking the baby.”

Miguel laughed. “Yeah, I am. You’ll tell me where she is.”

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Miguel opened it, and London was dumped onto the floor. His hands and feet were bound, and he appeared to be out cold.

“There were two in the stairwell that we’ve neutralized, and the other guy’s been dealt with, too,” a man dressed in tactical gear and wearing a balaclava over his face, stated as he held out his hand.

The Gambler walked to the dining table and picked up an envelope, handing it to the guy in black who had a friend with him, and I saw red. If my friends were hurt, I would kill all of them with my bare hands.

“You do not know who—”

“No, you don’t know who you’re dealing with. Take him,” Miguel ordered, and the two guys stepped into the apartment. One took London’s feet and the other his hands, and they carried him out.

Miguel looked at The Gambler and then at me. “You’ve got twelve hours. Bring the baby to the safe house if you want your boyfriend back. She knows the way, so you’d better be careful with her. See you tomorrow.”

I was certain all the blood drained from my face at the idea of the choice I would have to make. In that instant, my heart shattered.

* * *

After Miguel passed my gun to Ritchfield, he left. She locked the door, and all of my instincts told me to run, but then I had a better idea.

“Well, looks like we have some time. That’s what you want, right? I saw the cutout of me in your bedroom. You like to finger fuck yourself and pretend it’s me, don’t you? Maybe we can see if my fingers are better? When did you catch me with a boner? When I’m around you…” I shut my mouth because no ending to that sentence would get my man back.

As I swallowed, I was reminded of the earwig, surprised nothing had been mentioned about our comms. I wondered if they’d found London’s. Did they harm Smokey so he couldn’t get to us?

Ritchfield held up the gun and motioned toward her bedroom. My gut was churning at the idea of having to touch her, but for London, I’d do anything.

The comm was still in my ear, but I couldn’t hear anything, so it was worthless. I trudged down the hallway, dreading what was coming, but then suddenly, the earpiece came to life.

“Kelly, copy? Say something.” It was Smokey, thank god, and he was breathing hard. Had he been attacked as well?

“What do you think about when you stare at that picture of me, Frances?”

“Thank god you’re okay. I can’t raise Dom, Noble, or Narc. I’m coming up,” Smokey whispered into my ear from the comm.

My mind raced at what to do, but when I reached the bedroom, I turned to face Ritchfield. “You’re quiet, Frances. Do you like me calling you Frances?”

I slid my jacket off and tossed it on the bed as I studied her. Her eyes lit up as she watched my every move, so I shut down my mind and reached for the hem of my Henley.

I slowly slid it up my chest but stopped before I took it off, seeing Frances had lowered the gun and wasn’t gripping it as tightly. “Did you want to take it off me?” I asked, smirking at her.

As Frances licked her lips, I lifted my leg and kicked the gun from her hand. I dove for her and took her down to the floor, her head hitting the hardwood like a melon. Just then, there was a knock on the front door.

---