Luca stops outside a run-down house. It looks like a one-story house with a basement. Vines are running up the side of the house, the concrete walkway leading to the door is cracked, and as soon as we turn, a man standing there falls to the ground. A bullet hole through the head, bleeding all over the ground.
My stomach turns, but I hold it down. No time to pussy out now. I can handle blood.
We walk through the front door, and Luca starts to feel around his pockets for something, when he pulls out a lock-picking kit. I reach out and turn the door handle, opening the door. I turn and raise a brow to him, and he rolls his eyes.
Luca takes the lead and walks into the house, his gun drawn as he looks around every corner. I laugh; he looks like the main character in a spy movie.
"Come on," he whispers and waves his hand, leading Mel and me further into the house. We pass a living room to our left, furnished with all pristine white couches and love seats. To our right is a formal dining room with a solid oak table. We are heading towards the kitchen, which has an old-school black-and-white square-tile floor that completely clashes with the rest of the house.
I guess this house doesn't have to make sense if he just uses it to kidnap people. We walk through the kitchen that screams 1950s. It's not even just the checkered floor; it has teal-blue cabinets, lime-green walls, and an old-school double stove.
I am looking around the kitchen like I am in a museum when I run into a solid wall of muscle. I look up and see that Luca has stopped, his hands are slightly shaking, and he is staring at the door to our right.The only other door is one with a window, and you can see that it goes outside.
Mel walks up to the door first, opens it, then turns back to look at us.
Luca finally steps forward and takes the lead, walking down the stairs. The stairs are old and rickety, and make you claustrophobic with the concrete walls that surround them; you can barely see the bottom. We reach the bottom, and it's a hallway with several doors on each side.
What the fuck is my dad doing with some horror movie shit in the basement?
We hear a laugh that sends a chill down my spine, and makes my skin crawl... my dad.
Luca picks up his pace, and we make it to the end of the hall, in front of the last door to the left. His and Mel's guns are drawn, and I pull out my switchblade and flip it open, ready to take on whatever is happening behind this door.
I look up from the blade that I am flipping around, and I have two sets of eyes staring at me. I can see both of them checking me to make sure I will be ok. I give a slight nod, and then Luca slams the door open, Mel follows, and then I am the last to enter.
I look around the room, and I see Mikey and Kai facing each other, both of them are beaten up pretty badly. Then there is Reyes, standing tall and smiling at me. He is to the left of them, his knuckles are bloody and bruised. Then, to the right is my dad, straddling a chair, looking like he is watching his favorite show.
"See!" My dad stands up, hands raised like he just won something. "I told you she would come. But what a surprise to see a Moretti here and whoever this is." He gestures to Mel.
"Let them go," I say, trying to push my way in front of Luca.
"Now, dear daughter, you know I won't do that until you are fully in my care again. Now tell your dogs to back off." I finally push in front of Luca and stand in front of my father.
"I'll come back home, but the four of them are to be set free." I stand firm.
"NO!" I hear Mikey growl, and then a fist meets flesh.
Before I can process anything, Reyes falls to the ground. I turn around, and Mel is blowing off her gun, like in the movies.
I blink, and Luca is pulling me behind him just in time to miss my father reaching for me. Mikey and Kai are screaming and fighting against the chains, and Mel has her gun pointed at my dad.
His hands go up, and he steps back. I have never in my life seen my father surrender, let alone to a girl.
"Now, let's not be hasty." He says with an unamused chuckle.
Mel steps towards him, and he takes another step back.
"Give me the key, Dad." I stick out my hand.
"I don't have it on me," He laughs again. I swear I have never hated his laugh so much in my life.
"Luca, go with him to get the key, please." Luca nods his head, then steps out of the way for my dad to walk by.
As soon as they are out of the room, I run up to Mikey and Kai, hovering my hands over their broken and bruised faces. Tears are running down my face.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, this is all my fault."
"None of this is your fault, princess." Mikey's voice is strained.
