I flinched, my eyes opening, and I looked down to see Mael standing there. He was alone.
I let out a happy cry, drawing his attention. He looked up until he found me. His eyes flared a bit, and he made his way up the stairs. Dad had already reacted, moving over closer to me and kicking Victoria’s body out of the way.
He held a gun to my temple.
Mael froze when he saw us before he aimed his gun at my dad.
“Let her go,” he gritted out.
“I’m afraid we can’t do that,” Leo said, coming up the stairs, a gun in his hand. Mael moved further onto the platform, his gun moving from my dad to Leo.
I struggled with the binds, keenly aware of the knife still in my hands. I just had to get free, and then…
I didn’t know how I was going to help Mael, but I needed to get free first. I struggled harder against the binds.
“What do you want?” Mael asked calmly.
“Easy. I want you dead. Put the gun down, or Luckas is going to blow his daughter’s head off.”
“No!” I screamed. Dad hit me in the head with the butt of the gun.
“Don’t fucking touch her,” Mael yelled.
“Then put down your weapon.”
Mael looked at me. I shook my head. His eyes turned away from me and took in my dad, then Leo. I watched as he lowered his gun to the floor.
“Good,” Leo said. “Now kick it away.”
He kicked it away.
I struggled to breathe.
Leo walked over to Mael. Even when he was the one holding a gun, Mael still looked more intimidating, and I knew Leo could see that. He walked over and kicked the back of Mael’s legs until he was kneeling on the ground. I could feel the binds giving way from my wrists. Just a little more.
Leo pointed his gun at Mael’s head.
“No!” I screamed out. “Don’t hurt him. Please.”
“Shut the fuck up, girl,” Dad said menacingly in my ear. I tried to pull away from him.
Mael shook his head, telling me not to say anything. But how could I not? Did he expect me to just watch him die?
His eyes implored me.
I stopped struggling.
Was this all a part of his plan?
Mael had come here alone. But he didn’t work alone.
Where was Theo?
I nodded, finally understanding.
Mael twisted his head to look up at Leo, who punched Mael on the side of his face.
He lost his balance a little from the move but managed to right himself back to a kneeling position.