Page 47

Chapter 46

Bang, bang, bang

Maddie

M y nostrils flare with each breath. If my teeth grind any harder, they’ll disintegrate into dust.

I jab my finger into Klein’s chest, accentuating each word. “Get. Out. Of. My. Way.”

His compassionate eyes dart to the right, seeking out Sue. “Can you help with her?”

I adore Klein. I adore all of Alan’s kids.

Right now? I’m boiling over with rage at him.

Logically, I know it’s misdirected anger. I should be mad at the people responsible for what’s happening on that damn yacht. And I am.

However, Klein’s the one standing in my way because he thinks I’m too weak. I don’t want to be protected or coddled. I’m no longer the fragile flower in need of saving.

The last thing I saw before he shoved me out of the lair was a giant man lifting Alan off the floor. His body cam only showed us a glimpse of what was happening due to the close range, but it sounded like he was being choked. Although I’m scared of what may happen, I won’t cower from things out of fear.

I sidestep in front of Sue, blocking Klein’s eyeline with her. “Young man, do not talk about me like I’m not here. The man I love is on that screen. Get back in there and help him. That’s where you’re needed. He needs saving. Not me.”

Until Klein tried to remove me, my presence hadn’t compromised the mission in the slightest. While I can acknowledge his heart is in the right place, I won’t allow him to take this decision away from me.

“I’m sorry, Maddie. He wouldn’t want you to see this.”

Backing up a step, he attempts to shut the door in my face, but I block it with my entire body. “He’s your boss, not mine. I decide what I can handle. Nobody else.”

“Just let her in, Cal,” Mia yells. “Get your ass back over here. We need you.”

Exactly.

Mia gets extra banana bread after this whole thing is behind us. When Alan is safe and sound.

Shoulders sagging, Klein sighs and scurries back to his workstation.

My heart might be in my throat—okay, it definitely is—but I return to the lair with my head held high and steel fortifying my spine. Whatever happens to Alan, I won’t hide from it. Nobody will need to search the halls of Redleg to find me so they can deliver the news, be it good or bad.

Because I’ll already know he’s alive and well.

Lettie grabs my hand as soon as I’m within reach. By the time Alan boarded that yacht, she and I had given up sitting by the wall like spectators. We’ve been careful not to distract the intel team running the op. Aside from a few gasps and yelps here and there, we’ve been silent. Sue’s been in and out, much like Sammy. For different reasons. Sue’s anxiety has caused her to take frequent breaks from the tension in the lair, whereas Sammy has stepped out to tend to the babies. Although Val’s doing great with them, one-month-old twins are a handful for a teenager.

Not once have I felt the urge to leave. Even when Leo and Sawyer were exchanging gunfire with Lenkov’s smugglers. I stood firm.

Well, sat firm.

Alan’s voice comes through the speaker, “Patterson, come get this fucker.”

I find his chest cam feed on one of the screens. He removes a handgun from the huge man who had him in a chokehold.

“ Yes ,” I whisper, pulsing Lettie’s hand in a mini celebration.

About two-thirds of the monitors on the wall are dedicated to various activities in Miami. That op fizzled out about five minutes ago. All our kids are safe there.

I pivot my focus to the camera feeds on the right since they show what’s happening at the marina.

Aaron finishes tying a tourniquet on Josh’s leg, and the two men begin searching for Katia and her baby. Mia’s directing Henderson through the passageways of the boat so he can join them. With Josh moving slowly due to his gunshot wound, Aaron needs the backup. As much as I wish he were watching over Alan, I want the others safe as well.

Speaking of Alan. My line of sight returns to his body cam footage. He sprints down a corridor. The sounds of his lungs battling for air and the pounding of his feet fill the room.

Lettie leans close to me, keeping her volume low. “They think Nikolai Lenkov was the one behind the huge dude. Boss Dad is chasing him now. Aside from a nasty junk punch, that’s all you missed.”

“Not Alan’s, right?”

“ Lawd no. He did the punching.”

I shake my head at my dumb question. Considering he’s running and the other man was vomiting, it’s clear who took the damage. I’ve raised two boys, so I’ve seen firsthand what happens when they take a hit down south.

Alan’s gaining on Lenkov. Go, baby, go.

Nervous energy pulses through me, making me bounce on my toes.

Lettie mirrors my energy, adding her brand of support in excited whispers. “Cream his corn, Dad. Get that no-good snake. Jerk his tail out.”

She called him Dad . Not Boss Dad .

Oh my heart.

I catch a glimpse of something in my periphery and glance to the left. Sue’s peeking around the doorjamb, nervously watching the monitors. I extend my hand toward her, offering comfort if she wants it. After she notices the movement, she flashes a grateful smile and shakes her head.

I nod in understanding, then focus on the screen just in time to see Alan launch his body toward Lenkov. Once they come into contact with each other, his chest cam becomes useless. All we see is darkness.

But we hear plenty.

Metal clanking. Grunts, thuds, and wails of pain. Thankfully, the ever-increasing anguish seems to be coming from Lenkov. As much as I detest violence, it’s a welcome sound.

Lettie’s anxious bouncing turns to jumping, and she’s virtually strangling my hand with hers. I don’t care if I lose all feeling in my fingers.

As Alan rises to a seated position, his chest cam view is no longer obstructed. The pakhan of the bratva is splayed out like a starfish, held down by Alan.

He did it.

He stopped Lenkov. In more ways than one.

Oh Alan. You did it, my love.

My vision is briefly diverted by the sound of a baby crying. On a different screen, it seems Aaron’s team found Katia’s baby hidden safely in a closet.

Glad the baby is safe. Now back to Alan.

We get our first glimpse of Nikolai Lenkov’s face when he swivels his head to the side to gasp for air. Blood pours from multiple injuries. My stomach threatens to revolt.

Not a fan of blood. At least it’s not Alan’s.

No longer trying to modulate her volume, Lettie provides the color commentary. “ Heavens to Betsy . He looks like he’s been eaten by a wolf and shit over a cliff. Couldn’t have happened to a better person.”

Tomer backs away from his computer, casting his intelligent gaze over the sea of screens. A smile lifts the corner of his mouth. Entirely possible that’s all we’ll get out of him.

As for me? I’m a statue on the outside but vibrating with joy on the inside.

“That’s Nikolai.” Mia smacks Klein’s arm to get his attention off his screen. “He got him. Boss fucking got him!”

Sue finally braves a few steps into the lair. “Is it over?”

Klein launches to his feet, forking his fingers through his hair. He stares at the screen with his jaw unhinged.

My chest quivers with jerky breaths as relief surges through me in increasing waves.

After Alan’s done restraining Lenkov’s hands behind his back, he yanks him to his feet. “Up you go, asshole.”

That’s hot. I’m gonna bang him so hard later.

Mama likes.

Silence falls across the room. Everyone leans in to hear whatever Alan may say to Lenkov.

My knees wobble and my vision gets hazy as I get lost in the glorious sight and sound of Alan telling that prick nozzle off. Or whatever curse Alan and his kids would use for someone like him. More than likely, it’d be something far worse.

Let’s just call him a fuckface shit monster for simplicity.

In the sexiest voice I’ve ever heard, Alan finishes eviscerating Lenkov. “You’re going to prison, you sick fuck. And you’ll never hurt another person for as long as you live.”

The lair erupts in pandemonium. Everyone is on their feet, cheering and screaming like we just won the lottery.

“Let’s fucking gooo!” Klein hollers, literally jumping both feet off the ground and punching the air.

Lettie releases my hand to toss both of hers in the air in jubilation. Springing from his chair, Tomer eats up the distance to Lettie and immediately folds himself around her in a victory hug.

Gah . I can’t wait to hug Alan like that.

My daughter flies into the room, her face brightening as she realizes what’s happened. “Holy shit!” She bolts to me for an embrace.

I hold on to my baby girl for dear life, finally able to speak. “He got him, Sammy. Alan got Lenkov.”

She breaks the hug, cups my cheeks, and beams at me. Nothing but light surrounds us. “It’s over, Mommy. It’s finally over.”

Suddenly, Mia screeches, “What the fuck? No, no, nooo .”

The cacophony of celebration doesn’t gradually fade. No. It cuts off in the blink of an eye, dropping off a cliff into nothingness.

All faces whip to the screen. Detective Patterson has just cut off Lenkov’s wrist restraints and is pointing a gun at Alan. Gasps reverberate around the room.

My heart and jaw both clamor to the floor.

“Hands up, Lancaster,” Patterson orders, voice menacing.

Every last shred of happiness is ripped from me, thread by thread.

Time freezes. The world goes dark as if a shroud covers me.

I can barely see or hear as Alan is divested of his weapons and Lenkov is handed a gun.

Alan’s gun.

The urge to run from the room slams into me, stealing the oxygen from my lungs and practically hurling me toward the door. My feet and legs thrum with energy as adrenaline sparks to life my fight-or-flight instinct. And we all know which one of those is my preferred modus operandi.

But I don’t run. And I don’t hide.

I don’t back against the wall or curl into the fetal position.

I don’t even take comfort in the arms of the others.

My instincts scream at me to do all those things.

But this time, I refuse.

I stay here, letting hope shine a light inside the darkness threatening to overwhelm me.

Over the thrashing of blood behind my ears, some of what Alan’s kids are saying comes through. Although I have no clue who says what.

“Fucking traitor.”

“What do you mean there’s no SWAT called in?”

“This has Katia’s name written all over it. Where is she? Find her!”

“Team, double-time it to the engine room corridor. Patterson has a gun on Boss, and he’s freed Lenkov.”

“Bigsby’s almost to the marina.”

“No, no, no. I just met him. I can’t lose him.”

That one’s Lettie.

The sheer terror braided into her tone shakes me into the present, yanking me out of the haze.

I blink, and my vision locks on her. She hangs onto the back of Tomer’s chair like it’s the only thing keeping her upright. Apparently, he returned to his desk to assist when I was in that inky mist.

My motherly instincts compel me to comfort Lettie. She needs one right now.

Scratch that. I’m not merely compelled to soothe her. I’m thrust by the damn mama bear that Alan swears dwells inside me.

Maybe he was right.

And he better find a way out of this mess so I can tell him that.

I keep one eye on the screen where he’s in a standoff with an evil monster and a dickbag detective.

Sparing my daughter a quick glance to ensure she’s steady, I stride toward Lettie. On the way, I pass Sue, who’s standing like she’s made of stone.

“Sammy,” I whisper, then tip my head at Sue, giving my daughter wordless instructions.

She reacts instantly, dashing to comfort her sister-in-law. They’ll be fine if they stick together.

In the shelter of others, we will persevere.

Once I reach Lettie’s side, I place my hand on her middle back. “Come here, darling.”

She launches into the solace of my open arms, and I hug her with all my might, whispering comforting words. Looking over her shoulder, I seek out Alan’s chest cam view.

Before I find his, I notice that we’ve got problems on other parts of the yacht. Dammit . That huge man from earlier is tussling with Aaron and Henderson. Another of the mafia’s henchmen joins in.

My attention is jerked back to Alan as Lenkov launches into a villain’s monologue. I block out everything except what he’s saying, clinging to every word the way Lettie clings to me.

Lenkov’s voice and the scathing look he gives Alan send chills up my spine. “No matter how many people you have around you. No matter how many you try to save from sad lives. You still want the one you never can have again. Because nothing can bring back dead brother.”

Oh, Alan.

This is it. This is the thing that haunts him. The thing he’s punished himself over for years. Or perhaps decades.

The chest cam’s frame moves in waves as if it’s being rocked. The sound of Alan’s heavy breathing tells me why.

Not done tormenting my love, the demon adds, “Poor crazy Daniel. Killed because big brother trusted wrong person. Like today, yes?”

No, no, no.

I want to run.

Not away from this nightmare. I don’t want to run and hide.

If I could, I’d run to Alan.

I’d take him in my arms and tell him he’s not responsible for anyone else’s actions. And that even if he made mistakes, he’s still a good man. He’s still worthy of love.

There’s no way he intentionally did anything to cause his brother’s death. Just like he didn’t cause Lettie’s suffering. Or my gunshot.

The only people to blame are the perpetrators.

Just like Travis. And my father.

Not me, Tilly, Sammy, Drew, or Leo. Not my mother.

And there’s no damn way Alan’s responsible for this tragedy.

Lenkov points the gun. “Say hello to sweet Daniel for me.”

I hold my breath, every muscle in my body tensing.

From the corner of the screen, I catch sight of Alan raising a gun. “Say hello to Viktor for me.”

I flinch and release Lettie, covering my ears at the deafening pops of gunshots.

Three of them. Nearly simultaneously fired.

The camera doesn’t tip over or flash to the ceiling. Because Alan’s still on his feet.

However, Lenkov is not . Neither is Patterson.

They were knocked over at virtually the same time, presumably by the force of the bullets. Lenkov falls onto his back while Patterson flails in the opposite direction, landing on his belly with a resounding thud.

Although I don’t know how fast a handgun can refire, I seriously doubt Alan shot fast enough to take them both out. Even if he were the fastest gunslinger in the world, it wouldn’t explain why Patterson fell in the opposite direction.

Alan spins around to look behind him, still holding his gun in front of him.

Standing a few feet away is someone else with a weapon. A petite woman with long, dark hair and sad eyes. She must have fired one of the three shots.

“Katia,” Alan announces in a hushed tone.

She drops the gun, and it clatters to the deck. Dropping to her knees, she immediately bursts into tears.

Alan’s chest cam spins partially back toward Lenkov and Patterson.

Standing behind them is a third shooter—a police officer—slowly lowering his gun to the floor.

No, wait. That’s not quite right. Not an officer.

It’s the chief.

He’s the one who shot Patterson, knocking him forward.

Alan swiftly approaches Katia and grabs the weapon off the ground. “Are you okay?”

She nods, continuing to sob into her hands.

Alan turns on his heel and hoofs it to Lenkov and Patterson, removing the stash of weapons surrounding their dead bodies.

Two gunshots took down Lenkov. One in the chest and another in the forehead.

The chief blows past Alan, saying nothing. Aaron, Henderson, and Josh arrive on the scene, giving us a better view via their body cam footage.

Alan lowers to a crouch a few feet behind the bodies, looking toward the woman who joined him in taking down the pakhan.

When Bigsby reaches Katia, he falls to the ground beside her. They come together in a tearful embrace that has every one of us in tears.

Except Tomer.

No surprises there.

Lettie releases me to hug her fiancé. Mia and Klein embrace as well. Behind me, Sue and Sammy stay wrapped together.

They’re all gonna be fine. No matter what happens. Not just today or tomorrow.

My daughters reach out for me, eager to let me join in the hug. I wave them off and face the screen again.

And I wait for Alan.

I’m saving my celebratory embrace for him. I’m waiting for him.

Exactly like he’s done for me.