Page 43

Max

The gates to Enzo’s well-protected estate open, and for the first time tonight, I feel like I can breathe.

Calling Enzo Amato for help was an obvious decision.

He and his family control Chicago, and while we’re not blood-related, I’m closer to him than some of my cousins.

He comes off as stoic and cold, but I trust him with my life.

A couple of guards with rifles wave my car through.

His family is constantly at war with other crime families.

For that, I’m grateful, because it means the cult will have to blast through all his soldiers to get to Hailey.

I glance at her, passed out next to me. I stroke the back of my hand over her cheek after parking, and she doesn’t stir.

Enzo walks out to the circular driveway, his black eyes methodically scanning my car. I get out, letting Hailey sleep a few more minutes.

“Enzo, I can’t thank you enough— ”

“What is this?” he cuts me off, looking me up and down. “Some fetish shit?”

I glance at my clothes and then back to Hailey, reminding myself that I look like I’m cosplaying as a sailor, and she’s still in her orange prisoner outfit.

“It’s a long story,” I groan. “You know that cult a couple of hours south of here?”

“Void of Enlightenment?”

“Yeah. That one. My girlfriend’s father is the leader, and the bastard kidnapped her.”

“Those people are no joke. Do you think they’ll come here?”

“They weren’t tailing us, and I swapped cars, so we shouldn’t be expecting them anytime soon. But they know my connections, so coming to you isn’t hard to figure out.”

“Right.” He nods. “I’ll call for more backup to be safe. How long do you both need to stay here?”

“Only a day.” I walk over to the car and open the passenger-side door. “I didn’t know how bad of shape she was in, so I didn’t want to drive all the way home. Plus, I've been up all night, and the last thing we need is a car accident after everything else that’s happened.”

I pull Hailey out of the car, holding her bridal style. “She need a doctor?” Enzo asks.

I nod.

“Let me make some calls. Make yourself at home.” He turns around, heading inside .

Looking down at Hailey, I grip her tighter. I can't fathom why anyone would want to hurt her as badly as they did. She would never harm anyone, and knowing her own father is behind this? It’s inexcusable.

I carry her upstairs to find a bedroom to use for the day.

Enzo’s mansion is decorated with modern furniture: mostly plain, minimalistic black pieces in an open floor plan.

Most rooms feel more like a museum than a home, but this guest bedroom feels cozy.

A fluffy green comforter sits on a king-sized bed, sunlight peeking through the windows, plants adding life to the room.

There’s also a large television if she wakes up and gets bored.

I set her on the bed and sift through the dresser, searching for a change of clothes for both of us.

I find gray sweatpants and a black T-shirt for her, scowling at the thought of her wearing another man’s clothes, but I want her out of that damned prison outfit.

I'd give her my shirt, but it’s too bloody.

I grab jeans and a long-sleeved shirt for myself, wincing as I button up.

I’m so sick of wearing clothes that are too small.

I go to Hailey and try to wake her up. Her hand claws down, nearly hitting my face.

“No, no, stop.”

“Hailey, it’s me.” I shake her shoulder since she’s not fully awake.

Her blue eyes open, wild with fear until she recognizes me. She props herself up, looking around. “Where are we? ”

“A friend's place near Chicago. I wanted to rest here before going home.”

And take care of her father.

I stroke her blonde hair, kissing her forehead. She buries her face in my chest. A lump forms in my throat at the thought of never seeing, hugging, or kissing her again.

“I never want to be apart from you again.” I pull back, looking into her eyes. “They’re going to keep coming for you.”

“I know,” she says, resigned.

“I’m planning on putting a stop to that.”

“How?”

“Your dad knew about this, right? How you were treated in there?” I ask.

“Yes. He ordered it and visited me in the cell.” Her voice breaks.

“Did he hurt you?” I pull her closer.

“He hit me. Not as hard as that guard punched me, but... it felt worse.”

I recall sitting in the jail, sitting next to that creepy fucking guard in the control booth and watching Hailey through a screen–helpless, exhausted, and terrified. The thought of her father seeing her like that and choosing to hurt her even more. It fucking sickens me.

“I think it’s time I pay your dad a visit.”

“Max, that’s crazy! ”

“Is it?” My anger surges at her parents. Who treats their kid like this? “I figure, if they keep sending people, I might as well go on the offensive. Catch him off guard.”

“Are you going to... kill him?”

I rub my jaw. “Do you want me to?”

“No!” She shakes her head frantically.

“Then I won’t.” I keep stroking her face, meeting her gaze. I want her to feel in control. The bastard deserves to die, but people can be protective of abusive family members. “What if I hurt him enough to make him leave you alone?”

Her brow furrows, not committing to yes or no. “Nothing permanent,” I add.

She looks up at me tentatively. “You won’t hurt my mom, will you?”

“Of course not.”

She nods, picking at her nails. “Maybe that is for the best. But I don’t want to know the details.”

“I won’t tell you, and I won’t go over the line. I promise.” I kiss her cheek, feeling her soft skin against mine. “You should rest now. A doctor will check on you soon. Aside from being hit, did anything else happen?”

“Not really,” she sniffs. “It was mostly psychological.”

“I know, baby. But it'd be easier to heal from a beating than what you went through. I just wanted to make sure they didn’t touch you otherwise.”

She shakes her head .

Ensuring she's comfortable, I find someone to make soup for her. She’s starving and not warming up, even after a hot shower. But afterwards, she sleeps easily in the bed. I kiss her before heading out, relieved she's safe in my arms again, to tell Enzo about my plan for her father.

***

"She doesn't want us to hurt him in any permanent way," I say as Enzo runs his fingers across his gun then reluctantly nods his head.

I know he's struggled with his recent promotion to captain; he loved the danger and violence that comes with being a low-level soldier.

I'm sure I've made his day by asking for help.

We're watching Hailey's childhood home from across the street—an impressive mansion designed to mirror the White House, complete with black fencing similar to the compound's. Two guards patrol the front door. Hailey provided tips for bypassing the security system, even the override code if needed.

Enzo flashes a dark smile. "I'm hoping he gives us a reason to ignore your girl's request."

I smirk at the crazy bastard. "Are we ready?"

With our numbers, there's no need for stealth—we can handle the guards easily. Hailey was terrified when I left, but after infiltrating that base, this seems simple. The key is avoiding attention from the entire fucking cult.

Enzo has enough Chicago PD and Illinois troopers in his back pocket that law enforcement won't interfere.

They' re actually pleased—VOE's abuse of the First Amendment prevents them from touching these people, even with the whispers of torture inside those walls.

They won't mind us clearing some out this morning.

Enzo signals his men, then nods to the sniper. We're about an hour south of the city but north of the compound, deep enough in the country that gunfire might pass for hunting.

From our position in the roadside ditch, we watch the sniper set up. His military background shows in his reputation for accuracy.

A loud pop rings out. One guard drops—clean shot through the chest, likely instant death. The second shot takes the other guard in the head.

Easy.

"Let's go!" Enzo shouts.

We rush the gate. I punch in Hailey's code, and it opens smoothly. Speed matters now—we need to reach him before he accesses the panic room. We have the override, but there's a phone inside he could use for backup.

Gripping my rifle, we sprint across the manicured lawn, jumping over the bodies.

The main door is unlocked.

This might be even easier than expected.

I take the stairs, searching for the master bedroom. The sniper shots weren't quiet—her parents must be panicking.

Scuffling and furniture moving echo from the left hallway.

I lead us down it, ready to shoot. I kick in the door to find a man shifting a bookcase and a woman cowering nearby.

The resemblance to Hailey is instant—both parents share her blue eyes, but her mother looks exactly like an older version of Hailey. My expression softens briefly.

Her father's presence snaps me back. "On your knees!"

They drop. "You, you." I point to Enzo's least sadistic-looking soldiers. "Take the woman to another room. If either of you touch or harm her unnecessarily, you’re fucking dead."

Enzo taps his gun as his men comply.

Once she's gone, I face her father. "Now you—that's a different story."

"Oh fuck, it's you!" He scrambles into the corner. "What do you want? Money?"

"That's part of it," I smirk. Then my expression darkens as I remember Hailey sobbing in that cell. I turn to Enzo. "Hit him with your gun. The ear."

Enzo beams as he approaches.

"Don't knock him out," I warn, concerned about the demon I've unleashed.

The hit lands perfectly—enough to draw blood and cause pain, but he remains conscious.

"Hailey's been hiding with me all summer. Then your fucking people took her and tortured her in your prison. You ordered that, right? For your own daughter?" I growl.

He curls into a fetal position, clutching his ear.

"Answer me."

"Y-yes. But you don't understand—"

"Shut the fuck up. I don't want your brainwashed excuses. You hurt your kid, now you pay. With blood and money."

"Whatever you want. Name your price."

"First, no one from this fucking cult comes near Hailey again."

He hesitates. "Fine."

I study his face, trying to get a read on if he’s bullshitting me or not. But this man bullshits for a living. I can't trust my instincts. I nod at Enzo. "Got pliers? Pull some teeth."

"W-what? I agreed!"

"This is insurance. So if you ever think about coming after Hailey again, you'll remember today's pain."

Enzo grips his jaw before he can protest. His screams fill the room as teeth come out. At five, I say, "Enough."

Hailey said nothing permanent. Dentures exist.

He cradles his bloody face.

"Now the money. I want one hundred million wired today."

His eyes widen as he shakes his head.

"Don't lie about having it. This was your offer for delivering Hailey earlier this summer."

He spits blood. "I can do that."

"Great."

One of Enzo's men finds his computer. His hands shake violently as he processes the transfer.

It goes through.

"Pleasure doing business with you. Now, if you decide to retaliate, remember that this is a fraction of our manpower.

And for once, law enforcement's on our side.

They loathe your weird, fucking, cult. Despite you hitting Hailey and verbally abusing her as she rotted in that cell, she didn't want us hurting you too badly today. But if you make me visit again, let’s just say I'm fine sleeping on the couch for a week if it means removing you from her life permanently. "

I nod at Enzo, who strikes him in the back of the head once more.

He collapses. "Fine, fine. I'll let her go," he sobs.

My teeth grind. Part of me rages at how easily he surrenders her. I thought he wanted her back because some part of him loved her.

Now I doubt he's capable of love.

"Let's go," I command.

We collect the men watching her mother, who sobs on the bed. I turn to leave without a word.

"Wait!" she screams.

Her desperate tone stops me. I raise my eyebrows.

"Help me," she pleads. "He's insane. He controls every aspect of my life. I don't feel safe anymore." She gasps, eyes darting toward her husband's room. "I begged him not to hurt Hailey but he laughed and said she deserved it. Is she okay? Where is she?"

"I got her out," I answer. "She's fine. Physically, anyway."

Her mother covers her mouth, crying.

"You can come with us. But you can't see her unless she agrees. "

"Of course." She nods frantically.

I take her arm and lead everyone out.

In the living room, I notice the wall decorations. All him.

Paintings of him. Speech photos. Celebrity handshakes.

Nothing of their child. Nothing of his wife.

I shake my head. "Let's get the fuck out of here."