Chapter 21
BEAR
“I either need someone else with me or I’m gonna have to fall back,” Toxin said.
“What are you covering again?” I asked.
“He’s across the street in the woods,” Diesel said.
“Climbing trees already, are you?” Rock asked.
“I’ve got four men underneath me and seven more men pushing their way through the woods. It’s not good, guys. Not from my angle,” Toxin said.
“I’m getting off the roof and headed your way,” Grave said.
“Negative, we need you on the—shit! Hold on!” Diesel exclaimed.
“Toxin, I see three men coming out of the woods. You’re not one of them, right?” I asked.
“Nope. Still stuck in this fucking tree,” he said.
“Okay,” I said curtly.
I took aim at the window I was hunkered down behind and aimed the sights of my gun.
My station was the front door. The only way in or out other than the garage, which was Diesel’s area to protect.
I didn’t like how the gunfight sounded coming from my left, but I saw Rock quickly rush in front of the building.
The three men across the street quickly took aim, but I popped each one of them in the shoulder.
“Thanks,” Rock said.
“Anytime,” I murmured.
We all had our earpieces in with multiple conversations going at once.
And my only regret was that we didn’t have hookups to the girls.
I mean, they could talk to one another. But we couldn't converse over platforms. Which I didn’t like.
I wanted to know how Margot was doing. But I also had to keep my attention trained on what was in front of me.
Which were those three assholes still moving. Still trying to shoot, despite the bullets in their shoulders.
“Fine. Let’s see how your head works,” I said, sighing.
Toxin and Ryker chuckled in my ear as I downed the three men just before they stepped into the road. But two more emerged from the woods. Toxin was trapped and had no way of getting out of that damn tree by himself, which meant someone had to help him.
“Saint, how are you looking?” I asked.
“The cliffside’s secure for now,” he said.
“You need to get to Toxin. He’s still pinned,” I said.
“Yep. And bring some ammunition if you can,” Toxin said.
We all paused until it finally clicked.
“Their main entry point is the woods. Grave. Off the roof now,” Diesel said.
Then, I heard him grunt before a slew of bullets popped off near the garage.
“We need help!” Rock exclaimed.
“Heading to the garage now,” Saint said.
“We have to get these women out of here,” I said.
“They’re the only defense between us and the kids,” Rock grunted.
“Well, that’s why we get them out of here, too. They’re too many of them. We’ve been ambushed,” I said.
I heard the sounds of Rock growling as fists connected with jawlines. I kept popping off the men that emerged from the woods, but it wasn’t looking good. Diesel cried out. Gunfire kept ringing out around the warehouse. And before I knew it, I heard a door kick in at the back of the warehouse.
Holy shit, Rock and Diesel had been taken down.
“Rock! Diesel! You two come in now or I swear to fuck—”
“They’re in. They’re—”
Diesel coughed as Rock groaned, and I knew the two of them were hurt.
“Saint. Sitrep, now,” I said.
“Diesel’s got dislocated shoulders. About to fix—”
“Fuck!” Diesel roared.
“Fix it. But Rock’s got bullets in his legs,” Saint said.
“I’m sorry. Was that plural?” Brewer asked.
“Yes. Plural,” Saint said coolly.
“Fuck,” I hissed.
“Execute plan D,” Diesel choked out.
And he sure as hell didn’t have to tell me twice.
“Saint, woods with Toxin. Take down anyone you see in the process. Get him out of that fucking tree because he leads the caravan pool out of here,” I said.
“Bear, stay at the door. Prospects, go around and gather the girls. You know where the kids are. Get them the hell out of here,” Diesel said breathlessly.
Saint dashed across the lawn as Ryker appeared at the doorstep.
I let him in and quickly closed the door, then saw Cage come into view.
I let him in as I kept a lookout for the other two.
Gunshots sounded in the distance. I heard tousling around on the intercom jammed into my ear.
Toxin grunted as he climbed out of the tree, falling to the ground with a thud.
Then, a few seconds later, Saint and Toxin came rushing across the street.
Thank fuck.
“Toxin, go start up the two vans. Have them ready to get the hell out of here. Saint, deal with the kids. Use the tunnel access in the basement to get them into the woods and be careful about it. That was their main entry point and we don’t know if anyone’s gonna be waiting for us,” I said.
“Done,” Saint said.
“Ryker, find the girls. They’re in the closets. I’m going to make sure this front door is secured before I start helping. When you find them, get them into the basement—”
“Yeah, yeah. I know. We need to go, though. Now,” Ryker said.
I nodded and the guys dispersed. Toxin grabbed the van keys out of the secured kitchen drawer, then rushed toward the side of the building.
It was utter chaos, listening to him take down the last of the men before cranking up those engines.
Everyone yelled in my ear at once, holding multiple conversations over our intercoms. Trying to figure out what the best plan would be since every plan from A to F had completely fallen apart.
“I got the kids. Heading into the tunnel now,” Saint said.
“They’re in the hallways, guys. I repeat, they’re in the dead end hallways,” Ryker said.
“What!?” Diesel exclaimed.
“I’ve got no one coming for the front entrance. Where do you need me?” I asked.
“You stay there. We need someone covering these damn doors!” Toxin exclaimed.
I heard him pop off another shot before Toxin grumbled in my ear.
“They won’t stop coming.”
“I’ve got Piper and Makenna.”
“They’re coming up the cliffside!”
“There’s more in the woods.”
“I’ve got Brynn and Everly.”
“Monroe, too?”
“Headed there now.”
“I’ve got the kids in the vans. Hurry the fuck up!”
“Found Monroe!”
“What about Sutton?”
“And where the hell’s Margot?”
But when silence came over my intercom for the first time in almost an hour, I abandoned my post.
“Where is Sutton’s station?” I asked.
“Bear, stay at the—”
“Where the fuck was her station!?” I roared.
“I’m headed there now,” Ryker said.
“Kids are strapped in with Moms. Where are Sutton and Margot?” Toxin asked.
“We’re figuring that out,” I growled.
“Hello? Can anyone hear me? Come in, can someone—”
“Brynn?” Diesel asked.
“Hey guys. Stole Toxin’s intercom. Hope you don’t mind. Sutton and Margot are down the last two dead-end hallways you come to before the hallway of rooms. The last defense between the outside and the kids. I can’t get either of them on intercom, either. Get down those hallways,” Brynn said.
And without a second thought, I took off in a dead sprint. Winding my way through the warehouse, hoping and praying to God on high nothing had happened to Margot.
Because if they’d harmed one hair follicle on top of her head, I’d level the entire mafia in order to get even.
I’d wipe those fuckers off the face of this planet with a smile on my face.