Page 124 of Vegas Daddies

“Do I kill you now?” Vlad asks. “Or do I find you a front row seat out on the main stage so you can watch your daughter strip for all of my guests?”

“You’re the devil,” spits Peter.

“Word of advice,” says Vlad. “Don’t have a daughter if you don’t know how to look after her.”

Instinct lunges me forward.

I swing the iron rod at Vlad.

But one of his pets gets there first. Catches it before it makes impact.

“What do you think you’re doing?” The man drives the contraption right back toward me. “Ugly bastard. Scurry away, all three of you.”

This guy’s voice is familiar. I remember him from before, when we stormed into their HQ and slaughtered a dozen Russians. This was the guy that opened his mouth and spilled Alice’s location.

“How much isyourlife worth to you, hm?” the bastard asks as he circles around me. “It never has been much, has it? But now it’s very valuable. You’ve found a purpose.” His disgusting eyes veer over to Alice, and he adapts a falsetto. “Aww.You want to protect the pretty lady?”

I go to retrieve the rod, but his grip around it tightens again.

“You’re her little bodyguard.” His eyes scroll up and down my body. “Not-so-little.You know she’s just using you, right? For your strength? It’s your only asset. Why would anybody love you? I get the other two, they’re slightly more tolerable to look at, but you?” He shakes his head. “She doesn’t give two shits about?—”

BANG!

The bastard falls to the ground, revealing Lifesaver, gun recoiling in his hands.

I nod a thank-you and glance at the man at my feet.

Words hurt more than wounds, but I still wouldn’t have killed him. As foul-mouthed as the bastard is, the guy still has family that need him. It’s why he told us where the syndicate was keeping Alice that time.

He’s only alive for those he loves.

We have that in common.

Blood pools to the floor. I look around the room. Dead bodies litter this place, and they outnumber the living. Five other Russians surround us, but Vlad raises his hand and instructs them to pause their activities.

“Dead or alive, what does it matter? You don’t know how to protect Alice anyway,” says Vlad. “But rest assured. After you’re gone, I’ll make sure your growing family doesn’t get hurt.”

“Growing family?” Alice snaps, eyes wide. “What are you talking about?”

“Honey, I have spies everywhere. I am God. I know all.”

Somebody needs to put this fucking man in his place.

I don’t like his style.

In one fell swoop, I slip the gun from Lifesaver and stride forward. Squinting into finder, I line the muzzle up with Vlad’s back to penetrate the muzzle straight through his heart.

But a force knocks the weapon to the ground before I can pull the trigger.

BANG!

Vlad falls to the floor, blood pooling out of his chest. His eyes, glued open, stare vacantly at the ceiling, even blacker than before when they were alive.

I look up to put a face to his killer.

And see Levi.

EPILOGUE

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