Page 79 of Angelic Acts
And Vincent Maroney stands expectantly, gun raised, not aimed at me, but at Nikolai, who’s restrained on the ground, several injured men surrounding him. Them and the one with a bullet to the chest prove even though he was ambushed, he fought back.
Which is all I can hope to do.
Chapter 43
Lizzy
My stomach drops as light illuminates the screens, unveiling the nightmare unfolding in my house. I barely have time to register Nik bound on the floor and Vincent looming in the center of the living room before Bash starts moving.
He’s graceful in his motions. Vincent used to watch boxing at the house, so I’ve seen vicious men fighting, but that’s not how Bash is. He’s lithe as he takes down one armed man then another. I can barely track his motions with how quick he is. There’s minimal bloodshed as men drop at his feet. Until Vincent ends it all.
“Stop or I shoot him!” Vincent booms, gun pointed at the unconscious Nik on the floor. My heart clenches at the sight of him in such a vulnerable state.
The gun’s aim halts Bash in his tracks. My sweet boyfriend stills, dropping the man he had in a strange headlock position. But his features remain pinched in fury.
“Vincent Maroney, we finally meet face to face,” Bash growls. I’ve never seen him so uncomposed. His lack of self-control has more fear seeping into my bones.
“The boyfriend,” Vincent sneers the word. “You’re more capable than I gave you credit for. I’d be impressed if you weren’t making sex tapes with my woman.”
My cheeks heat as a mixture of embarrassment and anger flood my senses. Embarrassed that he knows and announced it to an entire room, and anger that he watched us together. How dare he? Andhis woman?He’s insane. I haven’t been his woman in six years, and I’ll never be his again. I would’ve thought the bullet wounds would’ve been message enough.
Bash roars and lunges at Vincent, but two men grip his arms, pulling him back. Even though Bash took down three of his men, there are still six more not including Vincent. Bash can tell he’s outmatched, so he doesn’t fight back.
“How does a computer nerd know how to fight so well?” Vincent asks, his voice filled with a mixture of disbelief, annoyance, and awe.
Bash meets his glare head on, a menacing look overtaking his usually kind features. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“I know you’re fucking my girl. That’s enough of a reason to kill you. What I don’t understand is who that is?” Vincent is pointing at Nik’s unconscious form, then strides over to him and kicks him. He studies Bash for a reaction, and when he doesn’t give one, Vincent sighs. “I thought maybe Elizabeth turned into a real slut and is fucking two guys at once. Or that her boyfriend has a boyfriend. But I guess not. This fag sneaks away at night to go fuck some black guy anyway.”
If Bash is surprised by the reveal, he doesn’t show it. His expression remains neutral. But I’m seething. I don’t even know Anthony, but I still feel protective over Nik’s boyfriend and calling him ‘some black guy,’ is unacceptable.
“So, I’m going to ask again. Who are you? And who is he?” Vincent’s missing piece is the Syndicate, and that’ll behis demise. He won’t be expecting them. We have to keep him in the dark.
“I’m your worst nightmare. I’m the man Lizzy chooses to be with. The man who treats her well. The one she goes home to. The one she–”
“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Vincent shouts.
“Am I pushing your buttons?” Bash stares directly at a hidden camera while he says it, and I realize the message is for me. I need to push the button. I curse myself for all the time I’ve wasted. Precious minutes that the Montclair brothers could’ve already been on their way. I slam my hand under his desk and hit the button. When nothing happens, I contemplate hitting it again. But without knowing how it’s set up, I refrain.
“Take out your fucking phone.” When Bash doesn’t move, Vincent stalks up to him. “NOW!”
Bash shrugs his shoulders, but his arms barely move with their restraint. “I can’t reach it.”
Vincent studies Bash, then steps back out of reach, proving he’s wary of Bash. As assurance, he points his gun at Nik, who’s starting to stir. “Let go of his arms,” he tells his men, then turns to Bash. “If you try anything, I’m killing your little boyfriend.”
When Bash’s hands are free, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and hands it to Vincent. The sly smirk on his face is all the confirmation I need that there’s nothing Vincent could find on that encrypted phone. He was never very smart and certainly not tech-savvy.
Vincent pushes it back towards Bash. “Call Elizabeth. I want to talk to her.”
“If she wanted to speak with you, she wouldn’t have shot you.” Bash’s sass earns him a punch from Vincent causing blood to spill from his nose. I know Bash could’ve blocked it,so he must have taken the hit on purpose, but that doesn’t stop the cry that comes from my lips.
“Fucking call her. Now!” Vincent demands.
Bash bares his teeth at his opponent but taps on his phone. He pulls it to his ear, but Vincent shakes his head. Bash rolls his eyes but puts the phone on speaker.
To my surprise, my phone actually rings. I figured he’d call someone else, but I guess that doesn’t make sense. Slowly, I answer the call, knowing whatever happens now is up to me.
“Elizabeth, is that you?” Vincent’s voice has softened to an almost human tone when he breaks the silence.
