Chapter 57
Gabriella
After leaving the old ladies and the rest of the club to clean up the mess we had caused, we raced across the fields towards the abandoned playhouse.
Rachel led the way, her small stature flying through the grass with a speed that was almost inhuman. I shouted directions at her, praying she was close enough to listen. Even Dante struggled to catch up with her, and a blast of respect shot through me.
She didn’t wait for the men to take charge. She knew she was potentially running into danger, and was doing so without backup, but such was the love she had for her children, she did it anyway, risking it all to ensure they were found safe and sound.
As the fields gave way to woodlands, the playhouse loomed closer.
It wasn’t even really a playhouse, just a pile of old logs and scraps of tarp accumulated over generations of children who had claimed this patch of woodland as their own.
But time had long since stolen the place.
As the council built newer parks across Leeds—many of them funded by the Devils themselves—the old playhouse had been forgotten, left to rot beneath the trees.
We passed the old tyre swing where Vienna and I had once spent entire summers, launching ourselves into the reservoir without a second thought. We pushed through the bushes and into the woodland, our footsteps growing quieter as instinct took over.
Dante started to recognise where we were, and eventually ploughed forward, overtaking Rachel and leading us in the right direction. None of us spoke—not that I was capable of it with the speed we were running—but no one needed to. We all knew what waited for us somewhere in those trees.
Once upon a time, this had been our sanctuary. Somewhere to hide from clubs, responsibilities, and the rest of the world.
Which was exactly why Nico had chosen it. He knew what this place had meant to us, and just like everything else, he was doing his best to turn it into something ugly.
We slowed as we approached the playhouse, all of us instinctively lowering ourselves as though the trees themselves might hide us from view. Dante raised his hand, bringing us to an immediate halt.
As we all gathered round him, he brought his finger to his lips, indicating he wanted us all to be quiet. He pointed at me and Rachel and gestured to the floor, his face firm.
The message was clear. He wanted us to stay here and keep watch. We both nodded, not wanting to argue at a time like this. He then gestured to Vienna, pointed to the left and made a circular motion with his hand, before pointing at himself and circling the opposite direction.
Vienna gave a curt nod and, staying crouched, made his way around the back of the playhouse with Dante following in the opposite direction.
I shuffled closer to Rachel, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and squeezing her tightly.
She was practically vibrating beside me, her entire body shaking with nerves.
“They’re okay,” I whispered to her. “They will be inside the playhouse.”
“We’re stood in front of the fucking playhouse,” she snapped back. “Why can’t I hear them? They should be crying—we both know they will be utterly terrified. So why can’t I hear them, Gabriella? Why?”
Two fat tears spilled down her cheeks, and I somehow shuffled even closer, wrapping both my arms around her.
“Hey, come on now,” I said, stroking up and down her arm. “Those kids are warriors. And do you know why?”
She shook her head.
“Because you raised them, Rachel. You’ve taught them how to survive. You’ve taught them not to panic in scary situations. And do you know why they aren’t crying?”
She shook her head again, and I grabbed her face, forcing her to look at me as I cupped her cheeks.
“They have no reason to be scared because they know you are coming for them. You are the mum who would banish the wind if it so much as made them shiver with the cold. You are the mum who would—and did—run through a burning building to save them. You are a fucking superhero, Rachel, and they know it. Why would they be scared when they have you in their corner? I know I wouldn’t be. ”
She locked eyes with me then, another tear spilling over.
“I mean it, Rachel. Every last fucking word.”
She expelled a heavy breath and nodded. “You’re right,” she whispered.
She shook her head then, shaking off her tears and sadness, and straightened her spine.
“You good?” I asked, not entirely convinced that I’d got through to her.
“I will be,” she muttered back, her tone blank. Deadly.
Well, okay then.
I stayed close to her, but took a moment to look at my surroundings.
The playhouse looked much smaller than I remembered.
It had always seemed larger than life when we were kids.
It seemed like a castle back then. In reality, it was the size of a standard room in any house.
An attempt had been made at a second storey, but that was long since rotten and ruined, left in a pile of wood to the side.
The tarp that had once kept the rain off was ripped almost clean in half, hanging limply between the branches, and the old logs had begun collapsing in on themselves.
Someone had clearly been using the place recently, though.
There were fresh tyre tracks leading up to it, discarded food wrappers on the floor, and empty beer bottles scattered around the entrance.
Nico had made himself at home.
“It’s clear,” Dante said, coming back to us.
“All clear on the other side,” Vienna confirmed.
“Any sign of Nico?” I whispered. Vienna shook his head.
“So they’re inside?” Rachel asked.
Dante nodded.
Rachel wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and then pushed forward, entering the playhouse.
“Rachel!” Dante hissed, but she was already through the door. I jumped to my feet, following her immediately, wanting to have her back.
Vienna made an attempt to grab my arm, but I dodged his movement, walking through the same door Rachel had just gone through.
And then immediately gasped in horror at what was waiting for us.
Axel was asleep on the floor, sucking his thumb, a warm jacket underneath his head. He looked peaceful, not at all aware of what was happening.
But Bee?
Bee was in the arms of a savage-looking Rider, who was practically licking his lips in glee. He had a gun held to her temple, hard enough that there was a small dint in her skin from the force of it.
Her face was pale, her body trembling, and from the dampness on her jeans, the poor girl had wet herself with fear.
“It’s okay, baby. Look at me. Just look at me,” Rachel’s face was pale, her voice trembling. Her hands were held up in surrender, showing the Rider that she didn’t intend to attack.
“Let go of her,” she told him, her eyes still locked on her daughter.
“Fat chance of that I—stay where you are!” he barked as Rachel inched forward.
“Just let my daughter go,” Rachel said, halting her footsteps.
“Nah, not worth it,” the Rider sniffed, wiping his face with the arm that wasn’t pointing the gun. “She’s the grand fucking prize.”
He laughed then, pressing the gun against Bee even harder. She whimpered in return, a sob ripping from her body.
I heard Rachel gasp next to me, and I knew then that she couldn’t do this. She was too distraught, too caught up with terror for her children to do what needed to be done.
Which was understandable, of course it fucking was. But it didn’t leave us many options.
“Take me instead,” Rachel said suddenly.
That got the Rider’s attention.
“Send my daughter over here. Let Gabriella pick up my son and take them both outside. You have my word I won’t move a muscle.”
“And why would the boss want that?” he asked.
“I’m the old lady of the president of the Devil’s Disciples,” Rachel shrugged.
“Not only that, I’m the woman who shot Nico in the back.
I’m the one who led the ambush on the Riders, killing numerous members.
Trust me,” Rachel said firmly, all trace of fear gone.
“He’s going to want me more than these kids. ”
“Mummy, no,” Bee cried.
“Shut it!” The Rider hissed, slapping the gun against her temple.
A growl erupted from deep in Rachel’s chest, and I knew then she was about to make a catastrophic mistake.
I reacted on instinct.
I didn’t feel my arm move. I didn’t register anything.
One minute I was frozen in horror, watching the scene unfold as Rachel went to launch at the Rider. The next I was snatching the gun from the waistband of her jeans and shoving her away. With my arms held straight and steady, I looked the Rider dead in the eye.
“Big mistake,” I said coldly.
And then I fired.
The Rider crumbled to the floor, knocking Bee sideways as blood spurted from the hole in his forehead.
Everyone seemed to freeze for that split second, watching the Rider fall backwards, smacking against the floor with a thump.
And then we sprung to life.
Rachel shot forward, seizing hold of Bee and wrapping her in her arms. Bee cried out and Rachel grabbed the back of her head and pushed her face into her chest, shielding her from the view. She placed her hands tightly over Bee’s ears so she couldn’t hear anything and sank to the floor with her.
Rachel crossed her legs and placed Bee on her lap, singing softly to her, drowning out the rest of the horrors in the room.
The door ripped open behind me, and without waiting to see who it was, I darted to the left and snatched up a sleeping Axel, scurrying over to Rachel. We both huddled in the corner, our backs to the entrance, protecting the children with our bodies.
“You’re okay, sweetheart, you’re okay,” Rachel soothed Bee. “You were so brave, my darling. So brave. I am so proud of you.”
My heart was racing, my breathing frantic, but one look over my shoulder showed me it was Dante and Vienna who had entered. I locked eyes with Vienna, and he gave me a thumbs up. I nodded back.
We were fine.
They went over to the Rider, searching him for ID, and I pulled Axel closer to me, kissing the top of his head.
“Is… Is A-Axel okay?” Bee sobbed, clutching at her mother’s shirt with shaking fingers.
“He is. He’s safe and asleep. Look,” Rachel said, releasing Bee’s head just enough that she could look at her brother.
“I g-gave him my c-coat,” she whispered. “So he w-wouldn’t be sca-scared and col-cold.”
“Of course you did, my love,” Rachel half-laughed, half-sobbed. “Of course you protected him because you are the best big sister in the world. And he’s fine. I promise you, he’s fine.”
“Mummy,” Bee sobbed, her words completely failing her.
“Shh, shh, baby, shh. You’re okay. I promise you, you’re safe. Mummy would never let anyone harm you.”
She stroked Bee’s hair as she talked, tears falling freely down her cheeks. She reached out an arm, waving it towards me and I took the hint. Placing Axel in her arms, half of his body on top of Bee’s, I pulled away and let them have their moment.
They looked cramped and uncomfortable, but none of them seemed to mind. Rachel cocooned them in her arms, rocking them both against her.
They were safe.
They were together.
Axel opened his eyes and gave his mum a gap-toothed smile. “Boo-ey?”
Rachel sobbed with laughter. “You can watch all the Bluey you want, my love,” she said, kissing his hair and squeezing them both to her even tighter.
And then we heard the gunshots outside.
Bee whimpered, burying her face in Rachel’s shoulder.
“It’s okay, it’s okay,” she soothed, her terrified eyes meeting mine.
“I’ll be right back,” I said to her.
“Be safe,” she whispered back. I barely heard her, and I knew it was deliberate. She hadn’t wanted Bee to hear.
I got to my feet and raced back to the wooden door, almost crashing into Dante and Vienna as I ripped it open and flew outside.
Both of their faces were grim, and my heart froze.
“Are you hurt?” I demanded, seizing hold of Vienna and running my hands over his body to inspect for myself.
“I’m fine, Gabriella. I’m fine. Hey,” he said firmly, cupping my face. “I’m fine.”
I looked at him then, almost feeling frantic but one look in his eyes had me calming.
He really was okay.
“I’m fine too,” Dante muttered dryly from behind me. I turned to him, a sheepish expression on my face.
“Good. I’m glad. I—”
“Don’t worry about it, Gabby,” he laughed back.
“So what happened? What was the gunshot for?”
Dante jerked his chin towards the trees.
Twisting my head, I squinted my eyes and looked at where he was gesturing.
I saw a bike not too far ahead, almost concealed by the shadows. “Little fucker tried making a run for it,” Dante announced, pocketing his gun. “He won’t make it very far with two blown-out tyres.”
“Nice shot,” I said, my lips twisting in approval.
“Get the kids home, Gabriella,” Vienna said, already marching forward.
“Vienna, wait, I—for God’s sake,” I snapped. “Why do we keep fucking separating?”
“Nico was trying to get on the bike. He must have stashed it away from here to try to get away. Clearly he thought his men would stop us. Just take my children home, Gabriella. We’ve got it from here.”
“But—”
“Home,” he ordered firmly, spinning me around by my shoulders and pushing me back into the playhouse to Rachel. She was already getting to her feet, patting down the children, checking for injuries.
And as I scrambled back outside, Dante was already half-way to Vienna.