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Thirty-Five
Malakai
Covered in blood,bruised, battered and in fucking pain, I grip the sobbing child to my side and head towards the dining room, taking out two more guards with one fatal head shot each. I cover the little girl’s eyes as best I can when we pass them by, but her trembling body tells me she’s seen far more than a child of such a young age ever should.
“I’m so sorry, little one,” I murmur, gently cupping her head against my shoulder as tears cascade down her pretty heart-shaped face. “It’ll all be over soon.”
“Daddy,” she whimpers, her breath hitching and her heart breaking for a man who doesn’t deserve this child’s heart-wrenching sobs.
“I’m taking you to him now, sweetie,” I soothe, fucking hating myself for what I’m about to do. Grayson’s instructions were very clear when we spoke earlier today. Get the girl. Get out. So whilst he turned up in the nick of time, twenty minutes ago during an ambush, I snuck off to find this little girl, having every intention of handing her over to Grant and heading back for Connie. But my plans were thwarted when a voice sounded on one of the dead guard’s radio. Asia and her crew had been captured and I knew, at that moment, if I didn’t go back for them, they’d be dead, and so would Connie and Ma Silva.
There was really no other choice but to act.
As much as I despise myself for doing it, I have to see if the King cares for this little girl as much as it appeared, because she’s my only hope of saving all of our arses.
“I want my daddy,” the little girl laments, and despite holding her close to comfort her, I allow my heart to harden just a little to do what I must. Gently placing the little girl onto her feet, I take her hand.
“Here we go, sweetie. Here’s your daddy,” I say, gently pushing open the door into the dining room.
“See, Asia, love makes you weak,” the King says, his eyes narrowing at Grayson as we step silently into the dining hall. The King is sitting at the head of the dining table with his back to me, Connie and Grayson sitting on one side, Ma Silva and Asia the other. Around the room are the guards, every one of them holding guns to Asia’s crew. Pink is with them, but barely conscious, and the King’s son, Monk, has Kate in his arms. He’s leering over her, just like Abel did to Connie when I found them both down that alleyway. The little bastard must have ambushed them in the car. Goddamn it.
Stepping out of the shadows, I make my move. “Is that the lie you tell yourself these days?” I ask, holding onto her hand tightly as she tries to break free and run to her father. My cousin stands, twisting on his feet. His mouth drops open in shock when he sees who’s by my side. She reaches for him with her free hand, tears flooding her cheeks.
“Daddy?”
The King blanches and the room takes a collective breath. Asia and Connie are staring at us both in shock, and the rest of Asia’s gang are just as confused. The only people who aren’t are Grayson and Ma Silva. They’re both looking at me with anger. I know what they’re thinking, that I should’ve got the little girl out.
“Don’t be afraid, Ronnie. Malakai won’t hurt you, I promise,” he assures her vehemently before focusing his attention on me. I recognise the look he gives me and it’s one of both fear and blind rage. He’d kill me if he didn’t think there was a chance I’d hurt his daughter. Of course I never would, but he can’t be certain I won’t. I amthe Punisherafter all.
“You have another child?” Asia asks, finally finding her voice.
The King snatches his head around. “Yes, surprise!” he says, waving his hands wildly in the air, the fucking maniac. “Veronika was the product of a short affair that I had with a woman before I met your mother, Camden,” he says, glancing at him across the room. “Another whore who’s only worth in this world was to give me Ronnie. When I found out about her birth I made sure I didn’t repeat the same mistakes as I did with Asia. So, I took her. She’s been our little secret, hasn’t she, Monk?” he adds, staring at his son who just grits his jaw and nods.
“Why didn’t Mum say anything?” Camden blurts out.
“Because your mum knew if she did, I’d kill both her and you.”
“You’re a fucking arsehole!” Camden shouts, earning him a whack from the guard standing behind him. Ronnie yelps and the King’s shoulders stiffen before he turns his attention back to Grayson, who’s glaring at him with unbridled hate. “Grayson, meet your niece,” he introduces.
Grayson’s gaze softens as he looks at Veronika, who peeks at him from behind a curtain of dark hair. “Hello, Veronika. It’s nice to meet you,” he says gently, before glaring at me. “I told you to get her out.” Next to him, Connie flinches and my gut fucking twists as I lock eyes with her. She’s looking at me like she doesn’t know who I am.
“You have people here you care about and so do I…” I say to Grayson, drawing my gaze away from her.
“Malakai, what were you thinking?” Connie hushes out. “She’s just a child.”
“All the more reason to make sure both she and you are safe from this monster,” I respond, picking Ronnie up and tucking her into my side.
“You need to get her out of here. Now!” Connie shouts, shaking her head and looking at me in horror. God, what must she think of me?
“And leave you with him? No.”
Connie turns to Ma Silva. “Grandma, did you know about this?”
She grimaces. “Malakai told me about the little girl he’d spotted here. I put two and two together and made him promise me to rescue her too when the time came. I hadn’t bargained with them getting caught,” she replies, glancing at Asia and her crew.
“You fucking conniving, old bitch,” the King snarls.
Ma Silva ignores him and turns to Grayson. “Why didn’t you come see me, Grayson? It’s been almost twenty-five years. I promised your mother I would always watch out for you. Maybe we could’ve gone about this differently.” Her surprise that he’s here is very evident.
