Chapter 27
Crash wasn’t sure what happened, but Emir bolted past him and out through the back of the building. The sound of gunshots echoed through the building, and he lifted his head in time to see dozens of police swarm around him.
“He ran outside,” Crash told an officer who’d started to release the restraints.
The officer shouted at someone, and several ran out the back. Crash winced as someone lowered him to the ground, where he could lean against the cool concrete wall. He glanced over to Axel. He’d managed to push up against the wall but seemed to struggle for a deep breath.
“Jesus, I’m still alive,” Axel huffed.
“We need to get you to the hospital,” Aaron crouched in front of them.
“Not until… you get that son of a bitch in cuffs.” Axel lifted his hand from his stomach.
“You’re bleeding. Badly,” Aaron pressed something against Axel’s stomach.
A police officer stepped beside Aaron and Crash holding a first aid kit. Aaron worked to stop Axel’s bleeding, but he was right. Axel was going to bleed to death if he didn’t get to a hospital.
“Did you get him?” Crash asked.
“He took off into the woods and had an ATV waiting for him. He’s in the wind,” the officer looked pissed.
“Fuck,” Axel groaned.
Crash was about to ask where the paramedics were when he looked up and saw her. Allyson walked into the opening of the room, and her eyes widened. He was probably a frightful sight if he looked as bad as he felt.
“What is she doing here?” Crash asked Aaron when he saw Allyson.
“Talk to Keith. She came with him.” Aaron waved for Allyson to come closer.
She dropped next to Crash and gently cupped his cheek. A tear ran down her cheek as she slowly turned his head and examined his face. He tried not to wince when she touched the swelling across his cheek.
“I don’t think anything in your face is broken,” she said softly.
“I’m fine,” Crash told her, trying to smile.
The movement of his lips was painful, and from the look on her face, he didn’t fool her for a minute. He was about to ask her to check on Axel, but he saw Sidney beside him.
“Jesus. Is Rusty out of his fucking mind?” Crash looked up at Aaron.
“Rusty didn’t have a choice.” Keith walked in from the back of the building. “It was either let them come or run them over.”
“We kind of hijacked his back seat.” Allyson smirked sheepishly.
“He needs to get to a hospital.” Sidney stood up and waved for the paramedics rushing toward them.
“They both do,” Allyson agreed.
“I’m…” Crash stopped when she narrowed her eyes. “I’m going to the hospital.”
An hour later, he sat in a hospital bed, regretting coming to the place. The doctors poked, prodded, x-rayed, and poked again, but considering the pounding he received from that bastard, he only ended up with a couple of broken ribs and some stitches above his eye.
Axel was in surgery because of three stab wounds. There was some internal damage, but they were lucky because they could be dead. Crash wasn’t a fan of the the man, but he didn’t deserve to die.
They needed to catch Emir soon because while he was free, nobody was safe. Although, he didn’t have his men since they’d been arrested. The guy had no loyalty to his people because he ran and left them to face the music. Crash wanted two minutes alone with Torch to give him a taste of what was done to Axel.
“Are you having any pain?” Allyson asked where she sat next to him.
“Not much,” he lied.
“You know there are medications that don’t have narcotics in them,” Allyson smiled.
She’d obviously picked up on his concern about taking anything that may cause him to relapse. He’d had a harder time kicking the pills than the alcohol all those years ago. He didn’t want to go back there again.
“I know, but I’ll take something if it gets too bad. I promise.” He lifted her hand to his lips.
“I was so worried about you,” she admitted.
“I’m sorry, but we didn’t know… wait… did they find Felicity?” Crash asked.
“I don’t know. Everyone in the diner was either brought to the hospital or treated in the parking lot.” Allyson stood up. “Let me go check.”
She was out the door before he could stop her, but since Hulk was outside the room, Crash knew he wouldn’t let her get too far. He lay his head back against the pillow and tried to take a deep breath. There was nothing worse than rib injuries.
A few minutes later, Allyson returned with an iPad. She tapped the screen several times and seemed to spend forever scrolling through it.
“Nobody brought in with the first name Felicity,” Allyson said as she continued to tap the screen. “I’ll check the other hospital.”
“She was at the table with us,” Crash told her.
“No, she wasn’t at St. Clare’s Hospital either,” Allyson held the iPad against her chest.
“They must have taken her too,” Crash muttered to himself. “She had to be in on it.”
“Wasn’t she Axel’s ex?” Allyson asked.
“Yes, but I’m pretty sure it didn’t end well. He was pretty cold to her. Especially when she told him she was pregnant.”
Crash closed his eyes to try and remember if he saw anything. He did have a fuzzy memory of being dragged down over the steps of the pub, but he couldn’t lift his head. That was it until he woke up in restraints.
“Let’s not worry about it now. Get some rest, and we’ll deal with it tomorrow. A.J. said they were going to leave you alone until tomorrow. Mostly because I threatened him.” Allyson smirked.
“Afraid of his sister-in-law, huh?” Crash smiled as he opened his eyes.
“I can be pretty scary when I want to be,” Allyson sat next to him.
She placed the iPad on the side table and linked her fingers with his. It was as if her touch helped ease his discomfort.
“Try to sleep,” she whispered as he let his eyes close again.
He wasn’t sure how long he’d been asleep but woke to voices outside his room. He looked around the room and saw Allyson curled up in the small chair near the window. Her eyes were closed, but there was no way she could be comfortable.
“I need to know if he is okay,” a female voice said.
“I’m sorry. I can’t disclose any information on any patient.” Hulk’s voice echoed through the room.
“Are you a doctor?” the woman shouted.
“Nope,” Hulk answered.
“Then you can’t keep me from going in there.” the woman didn’t know who she was dealing with.
“Actually, I can. If you want information, go talk to the police.” Hulk’s body blocked the doorway.
“Who is that?” Allyson whispered.
“I have no idea.” Crash shrugged.
Allyson uncurled herself from the chair and fixed her hair into a messy bun. She walked out through the door and stepped around Hulk.
“Keep your voice down. There are ill people here who don’t need someone shouting and disturbing them,” Allyson said.
“Who are you?” the woman asked.
“I’m Dr. Allyson Sullivan, and who would you be?” Allyson asked.
“I’m Felicity MacLeod. I need to speak to Axel or his friend. I didn’t know what he was going to do. He said he was an old friend of Axel’s and wanted to surprise him.” Felicity started to sob.
“Why don’t you come in here and we can talk?” Allyson guided the woman into Crash’s room.
Hulk stepped inside, looking less than happy that the woman was getting her way. She didn’t look the same as she had at the restaurant. Her hair was a mess, and her makeup smeared.
“I didn’t know. I got Axel to the diner and then… I woke up in a motel room. I don’t know how I got there.” Felicity dropped down on the chair Allyson had been sleeping in.
“How did you meet him?” Crash asked.
Felicity looked up and gasped when she saw him. Her face paled, and for a second, he thought she was going to pass out, but she sat up straight and shook her head.
“Did he do this to you?” Felicity whispered.
“Depends on who you’re talking about. Can you describe him?” Crash asked.
“He wasn’t as tall as you or Axel. He had dark hair, and his eyes were almost black. He said he served with you both. He showed up on my step about two weeks ago. At first, I told him to go to hell because I didn’t know where Axel was, but… he’s charming. He asked what happened with us, and he seemed so interested.” Felicity pulled her hands down over her face.
“But you live in Nova Scotia. Why are you here?” Crash knew she was the reason Axel left that province.
“When I found out where Axel was living. I told Titus,” she said.
“Wait, did you say Titus?” Crash sat up.
“Yes, that’s his name. Titus Gibson,” Felicity told him.
Crash asked Hulk for his phone and searched for Titus Gibson because there had to be a picture of the man somewhere online. After all, he was a high-ranking officer at one time. It only took a few minutes, and he found a picture taken before they were sent overseas. Titus aged a bit, but there wasn’t much of a difference.
“Is this the guy?” Crash held up the phone.
Felicity stood up and approached him, staring at the phone. When she looked up at him, she shook her head.
“No, this guy has a darker complexion.” She sat back down.
That meant Emir was also using Titus’ name to get information. How many identities was he using? Hulk stepped out of the room with his phone to his ear. Chances were he was calling either the police or Keith or both.
“Where is Axel?” Felicity asked.
“He had to have surgery, but he should be out by now,” Allyson glanced at her watch.
“Can you check to see if he’s out?” Crash asked her.
She glanced from him to Felicity and then back to him again. When Crash gave her a nod, Allyson headed out of the room, but Hulk stepped inside right away. Were they really worried that Felicity was going to hurt him? The woman was barely a hundred pounds and looked ready to fall apart if she moved too fast.
“A.J. is on the way to talk to her,” Hulk informed him.
“Who’s A.J.?” Felicity suddenly seemed very nervous.
“He’s a police officer,” Hulk said.
“Okay.” she seemed to relax.
Allyson returned a few minutes later with Keith behind her. Clearly, he hadn’t gone too far when Crash came to the hospital. Then again, Alice, Nanny Betty, Tom, Adrian, Rex, and Damon were brought in from the diner, not to mention the other patrons.
“Axel is out of surgery and in recovery. Everything went fine, but he’ll be in hospital for a few days.” Allyson sat next to Crash.
“I’d ask to see him, but I doubt he will want to see me. I can’t blame him. We weren’t a good match to begin with.” Felicity sighed. “But I’d never wanted anything to happen to him.”
“I’m sure he understands that, and once you talk to A.J., maybe I’ll see if he is taking visitors.” Allyson smiled at the woman.
Crash wasn’t sure Axel would be so forgiving, but the woman seemed genuinely remorseful. Maybe she knew something that could help find Emir and end all this.