42. With Me
Chapter forty-two
With Me
Owen
I’ve lost her. I don’t know where the fuck she is, other than she’s still in that building somewhere. By her fucking self, when I promised I could have eyes on her all the time. I knew I couldn’t be next to her, but I could keep watch while she did what we planned.
How could I do this to her?
“Cole, where the fuck is she?” I bellow from the side of the road, which is supposed to be our meeting point.
Looking back at the building, running my hands through my hair, I know I need to find her. I thought I felt fear when she was missing before, but this, knowing she’s so close and I can’t locate her, this is fear. My whole body feels it, ice-cold shards piercing my soul.
I watched her go up the stairs. I was right behind her, watching through the window. Those bastards tried to get up after her, but I took them down and tied them up. I was about to follow Charlie up when I heard more voices coming my way, so I had to head in the opposite direction. I couldn’t risk them seeing me. Then all hell broke loose.
The explosion went off and people ran in all directions. I slipped out in the chaos and assumed she went out the exit on the other side.
But she’s not here…
“I can’t track her.” Cole sounds panicked. “They must be using a jammer. I can’t see shit right now.” I’ve got Charlie’s necklace tracker on my phone, but right now it’s fucking useless with a jammer in place. There’s smoke billowing out the windows from the explosion. It looks like the fire’s spreading quicker than we imagined.
Fuck, I should have handcuffed her to the bed and done this without her. Yes, she would’ve killed me when I got back, maybe not have even spoken to me for a few days, that I can live with; this I can’t. I’m fucking losing it. My heart and head are both screaming the same thing:
Run, get her.
Now.
I spot two people staggering towards us. Only two , my hope on Charlie being with them crushed. Dom’s being carried by Harley. Leon runs over and grabs him, sitting him in the back of the truck. His face is beat up and his leg is badly broken from the angle it seems to be facing.
“We got the device in, but we were disturbed before we could get it running,” Harley pants. I know this, I didn’t realise how bad they had it. Harley looks around. You can see she’s mentally checking we are all here, stopping when she sees we are missing one vital member of our team.
“Where is she, O?” There is a flash of fear in her eyes as she says, “Please don’t tell me she’s still in there.” She turns to face the club. My determination rises. I’m not leaving her, not like this. I’m not waiting.
“Not for much longer,” I promise Harley before I turn to run, but hands grab me. Leon, Cole, and Zan all hold me back.
“Get the fuck off me. I need to get to her, Charlie,” I scream, fighting to get out of their grip. I don’t care who hears me. I need to be with her.
Watching as the fire seems to spread throughout the first floor, this is agony. I’d do anything to switch places with her.
“Wait, look at your phone. She’s done it, Charlies done it.” Cole says, grabbing my arm, I take out my phone and watch as the files start to upload. Cole leaps in the back of the van to make sure it’s all backing up, ready to send on.
“If that’s getting through, should be able to locate her,” Cole says, while Leon shouts at me to “Wait.”
Glass shatters from a window on the first floor, as flames burst through, smoke billowing into the sky. People rush outside, fleeing the club, as others step out from the surrounding buildings to watch what's happening.
“Last location was the northwest corner of the building, first floor,” Cole shouts, while I’m running towards the burning building. Hearing the crackle of the comms coming back online.
“O, she’s still there. It’s his office. I’ll keep you updated.” He knows there’s no stopping me. I’d never forgive him if he did.
I leap at the fire escape stairs that lead to the roof. Drawing my gun, I’m prepared to do anything to get my angel out safely. Her words play on repeat as I climb through the hatch on the roof, landing in a small utility cupboard on the top floor.
“I need you by my side, to stand with me. No matter what.”