“You and Rita need to stay in the car.”
“What?” Rita shrieked.
“Alex, drive to the side of the house, stay as out of sight as you can.”
“Gideon!” Rita smacked my arm. “Matteo’s in there, I’m going.”
“I’m going to find him, and Olivia and Owen, and get them to you. I need you here so they have someone to go to. Please.”
“Hon, he has a point. When they get here, we need to keep them safe.” Dean wrapped his arm around her.
Tears filled her eyes. “You bring those kids out here, Gideon!”
“I will.”
Once Alex had the SUV off to the side, Danny handed Dean one of his guns, and the three of us got out.
Everything was quiet…too quiet. I made out another dead body by the front entry and another to the side. My guys were good; Lorcan had to have overpowered them. I didn’t see one of Lorcan’s guys dead, and that didn’t bode well for what was inside.
Alex moved to the back of the house—there was a sliding door that would be the best way to get into the house.
There was no need to punch the security code in to open it because the system was dead. I’d assumed from the rain, which had let up, but as we drove up the street no other houses were dark. That storm had worked well in Lorcan’s favor.
We walked through the house, hugging the wall, listening for any sound. As much as I wanted to storm in, my babies were in there, Matteo…Penn.
A sudden scream followed by athudsnapped us out of stealth mode, and we raced toward the living area. Sheets and pillows were tossed, one man was unconscious by the foot of the stairs but it was the other man, the one holding a gun to Penn’s head while he covered Owen with his large frame.
“One down, three to go. I’ll just take you out of the equation.” I didn’t give him the chance to do a damn thing—I shot him in the leg, and he fell as Alex and Danny tackled him.
Penn looked up, not a flicker of fear in his eyes, just determination. He was once again willing to die for my son.
Owen was shaking and once he saw me, he launched into my arms. “Daddy,” he cried.
“I told them to hide. He got scared when this dickhead threatened to shoot me. As soon as he jumped out, I didn’t think, I just?—”
“Protected him.”
Once Danny and Alex had him subdued, they dragged the other guy over and tied him up. “How many are there?” Alex asked Penn.
“I don’t know, I just saw these two.”
“No way two men took out all your security.” Danny smacked the conscious man in the head. “How many?”
“Fuck you.”
While Danny dealt with him, I faced Penn. “Where are Olivia and Matteo?”
“Livy?” he called out, and she slid from under the couch, tears pouring from her eyes.
“Oh, baby.” I opened my other arm, and she came running.
“Matteo is upstairs. I gave him my phone, told him to text you and hide in your closet.”
“Alex, please get Olivia and Owen to Rita and Dean. We’ll wait here. Won’t move.”
He nodded. Reluctantly, the twins went with him. I glared at the man who was awake. “You will talk.”
He chuckled. “You can try.” His gaze shifted to Penn. “Lorcan is going to kill you slowly.”
