Page 111 of Bad Boy
He huffs out a disbelieving breath, flinging his hands up in the air in a fed-up way. I take the opportunity to dive for him while the gun isn’t pointed at either of us.
Pop!
It fires as I make contact with my father’s stomach, taking him down with a grunt. The steaming hot piece of metal skitters away, stopping under my desk in the corner.
I vaguely hear shouting and yelling from outside the bedroom and down the hall. But my ears are fuckingringingbecause of the pistol that just went off a foot from my face.
I’m disoriented as Logan rolls us, striking me in the face twice, this time with a closed fist. Before he can take another shot, the door bursts open. Suddenly, he’s ripped away from me as Otto tackles him to the ground.
I stare at the ceiling, breaths ragged. My heart ricochets around inside my chest. Linc crawls over to me, still in his periodic table underwear, and pulls me into his lap, cradling my head.
“Remi,” he whimpers, hand hovering over my bruised cheek. “Say somethin’,” he pleads, eyes darting over to the commotion and then back down to me.
I can feel blood dripping down from a split in my eyebrow, but at least he didn’t get my piercing. I’d have been extra pissed if he ripped that shit out.
“Have to help Otto,” I mumble, shaking off the shock. I sit up a little too quickly, and my vision wavers.
“You’re not okay,” he implores, trying to get me to stay back with him. But Logan’s on top now, and Ineedto get up.
“I’m fine, baby. Trust me. Stay here.” I crawl over to Otto on my hands and knees before grabbing my father’s arms and wrenching them behind his back.
Otto clambers to his knees and rears his fist back. “For Raina. And for the son that should have been mine all along.”
Fuck. Did he really just say that?
My father cackles like a lunatic as he continues to struggle against me, but he’s gassing out. It doesn’t matter that he’s bigger than me. “Ahhh. The new boyfriend. Enjoy the whore. She’s the reason I’m here right now. It was really convenient, actually. The alarm was off. The dumb bitch never remembers to—”
Otto slams his fist straight into Logan’s face with a sickening crunch. I let go, and he drops to the ground in a pathetic heap. I stagger to my feet just as Lurch barges in.
And holy fucking shit, Clifford.
He’s got his own piece, equipped with an extra-long silencer aimed straight at the pile of trash by my feet.
That is. . . unexpected. And completely fucking badass.
Lincoln tip-toes over, curling into my side and handing me a pair of athletic shorts that I quickly slip on.
“Threat contained, sir,” Clifford speaks into a tiny earpiece I’ve never noticed before and wonder if he’s had it this whole time.
Lincoln must notice my confused expression because he whispers into my ear, “Clifford is part of Mr. Keller’s secret security.”
“Huh,” is all I can say. I wasn’t expecting the uptight man to go all James Bond, but damn, my respect for him just skyrocketed.
“I’ve reached out to Richard’s contacts on the force. This will not be called in like a regular domestic disturbance. But you will need to stay and give your account, young sir. And I’ve called the family doctor over.” He eyes me like he expects me to object, but I’m too fucking tired. It’s the middle of the goddamn night, and my adrenaline is starting to tank.
Linc and I leave the bedroom and my unconscious father behind. I don’t want to be in the same space as Logan when he comes to. I’ve had enough of his hate my entire life; I won’t spend any more time around it.
I grab Lincoln’s hand, squeezing tight, both of us lost for words. The weight of what happened is heavy and unyielding. That was close.Too close.
We go downstairs, heading toward the kitchen to grab a bag of ice and find Mom and Gramps.
And if I have to speak to the police, I’m gonna need a fucking sandwich and a cigarette.
In that order.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE
REMI
