Rowan 34.
“ Emergency services required at 537 Chestnut Street. Fire reported. Patrons trapped inside.”
My head snaps up and I look at Scotty. “That’s the Queen’s Rook .” He shifts the squad car into Drive and takes off. I click the radio on my shoulder, “4209 en route to 537 Chestnut Street. ETA 2 minutes.” Others call in after me, but we’re closest.
“He’ll be fine. Rowan, he’ll be fine.”
I nod at my partner, but I can’t unstick my tongue from the roof of my mouth. Steve’s club is on fire with him in it. My club family is there too. Scotty slams on the brakes about 50 feet away from the front of Queen’s Rook . The exterior is nothing but flames. I can’t even see the front door. It doesn’t stop me from throwing my door open and rushing out of the car.
“Rowan!” I ignore Scott, pushing my body harder, needing to get to my boy faster. Up close, the heat is blistering, but I’m able to see the front door through the flames. It doesn’t appear anything is blocking the entrance, so why aren’t the occupants running out? Because it’s on fire, you fucking idiot!
“Prospect!” Shit, I spin to find Mars, Kevlar, Heimdall, Pluto, Apollo, Terminus, and Ceres about 5 feet away. Jupiter pulls up seconds later, Drusilla carefully getting out of their vehicle, tears streaming down her face as she watches the flames grow.
“They can’t get out. None of the doors will open,” Mars relays, his perma-scowl contorted in anguish. Marlena is in there. His and Etta’s baby, the worst kept secret of the GGMC. Sirens blare as all of us try to assess the best course of action.
Jupiter rushes forward, Heimdall, Pluto, and Terminus holding him back. “The kitchen is on fire!” I’m not just standing here and waiting for the fire department…it’ll be too late.
On my watch, I press the button to call Steve, then run past my club and Scott, and jump into the driver’s seat of the squad car.
“D-d-daddy.” I exhale in relief. Scott slams his fist on the closed window of the locked door, but I can’t answer him.
“I’m here, baby boy. I’m right outside.”
“It’s on fire. The doors won’t open.” Fuck.
“I know. But everything is going to be fine. Where are you?”
“We’re in the main room.”
“That’s good.”
“On the ground.”
“That’s even better.” I shift the vehicle into Reverse, put my right hand on the passenger seat and look out the rear window as I step on the gas and back up as far as I can, maybe 100 feet or so. “Baby, I need you to tell everyone to go to the stage or the dressing room in the back.”
“Why—” His fear is breaking my heart. When I find the fucker responsible, they will wish for death, and I will not give it. They will feel every second of pain and fear my boy has felt.
“Boy. Get everyone to the stage.”
“Y-yes, Daddy.” I hear him relay my instructions, then I think Addy and Rufio repeat them louder. “Ok, we’re by the stage.”
“Everyone?”
“Some are in the back trying to get out.”
“No one is at the front door?”
“No, Daddy, the flames—”
“Alright, put your head down and cover it with your hands.”
“Ok.”
I take a deep breath, exhale slowly, then punch the gas. Mars and the others push the emergency personnel who arrived while I was getting into position out of the way. I aim for the brick wall next to the front door, fold my arms in front of my face, and brace for impact. My body jerks as the front-end crashes through the brick. Airbags deploy, hitting me from what feels like everywhere. It takes me a second for my head to clear, I think I broke something in my arm, but I need to get to Steve and the others. Opening my eyes, I blink a few times, then sag in relief when I find my boy staring at me wide-eyed, wearing a big red wig, fake tits, a corset, garter, stockings, and a jock.
I duck when something thumps on the top of the car. Boots appear in front of me, denim, leather, a very pissed off Mars. My club brothers climb over my squad car to get inside and begin ushering people out of the hole I’ve made. Pluto pries open the driver’s side door and helps me out, then takes my seat. He fiddles with something, then the vehicle is moving backward. Once it’s gone, EMT and firemen swarm the building.
“Daddy!” Steve barrels into me, nearly knocking us both over. I manage to stay upright, wrapping my body around Steve’s and holding tight. “I can’t believe you…why did you…you could have died!”
“Shh, I’m ok.” Finding his ear with my mouth, I whisper, “You could have died too, and I won’t live in a world without you.”
“Don’t say sweet things! I’m mad at you. And turned on. And mad!” He’s out of my arms in the next second with a stricken expression. “Marlena! I need a doctor! Apollo!” He’s running back toward the stage, the club doctor following him. I make my way over to them slowly, my body feeling like I got hit by a truck…or a brick wall.
Marlena’s voice is patient, “Steve. I’m ok.”
“No, the baby. You inhaled smoke.” Steve turns to Apollo. “She’s pregnant. Help her.” Marlena finds me over a panicked Steve and tilts her head his way.
“Boy. Let’s get out of their way.” I manage to pull him out of the building. Archie, Benny, and Brad head over to us.
“Brad, what happened to the sprinklers?” Steve asks as soon as they’re close enough.
Brad scowls, “Fire system isn’t responding. The camera feed for the exterior is on a loop. Someone fucked with my shit and I’m not happy.”
“Mercury!” His head pops up and Brooks’ does too. I wave them over. “Talk to Brad. Some tech shit happened.”
Mercury smirks at me, “You giving orders, prospect?”
I straighten my posture and shake my head subtly, “No, Kemran, Officer Doherty is directing you to where you can be the most helpful in an emergency situation.”
“Officer Doherty might not have a job once this emergency situation is handled.” Fuck. I glance over my shoulder and find Chief glaring at me.
Jupiter appears out of nowhere, “Chief Thomas, so glad to see you.”
“Jupiter.”
“Had Officer Doherty not acted so swiftly, the delay waiting for the fire department to find a way into the building could have been dire for the patrons trapped inside. Including Mars’ sister, Marlena, who is pregnant.”
Thomas rolls his eyes, then points at me. “I want a detailed report on my desk by the morning explaining why you acted without consulting anyone else, including your partner, and the arriving fire department.” He gets close, his eyes hard, “It better be convincing.”
“Yes, Chief.” Thomas walks away, stepping over mangled brick as he heads toward one of the fire engines.
“You better be one hell of a wordsmith,” Jupiter mutters. “Mercury, Brooks, get with the security team and find out what happened here. Mars, gather the others and start cleaning up the debris. Apollo is with Marlena, but Rowan still needs checked out. Everyone has smoke inhalation, let’s encourage them to head to the hospital to be evaluated.”
“I’m—”
Mars rounds on me, “You drove a car through the side of a building. You are not ok, fine, hunky dory, or just peachy. Your arm is probably broken, and your face is already bruising.” He steps toward me, and it’s by sheer will and stupidity that I don’t step back. He clasps the back of my neck and holds me still. “You probably saved my sister’s life. And my…my baby.” He shakes his head, firming his jaw as he drops his head back. “I’m really fucking tired of other people stepping in to do my job!” he growls, releasing his hold on me. “I don’t like thanking people!”
“Aw, Mars, it’s ok, buddy. People need people.” Kevlar raises his hands in the air when Mars roars at him.
“ Daddy, ” Steve whispers as he steps under my good arm and clutches my uniform in his fists. “You need to go to the hospital.”
I look down at my boy and feel my muscles relax. He’s alive. In my arms. That’s all that matters. “Yeah, I probably should.” I kiss his mouth softly, wincing in pain. “I drove a car through a wall!”
“I know, Daddy. It was scary but so hawt.” He leads me past the crowd of people, and I let him take care of me. I think he needs something to focus on and I’ll never be upset that I have his attention. “I bet if you ask nicely, Dr. Runs will write you a prescription for medicinal blowies!”