Chapter 49
Forty-Nine
Charlie
I had just finished putting everything back in the diaper bag and securing the knife to my side when I heard the gunshot. I quickly bent down and picked up Molly, cradling her to my chest as she stirred in my arms.
“Shhh, shhh,” I whispered, trying to comfort her as I watched in horror as the door opened.
My fingers went to my side, reaching for the knife when I stopped and stared in disbelief.
“Axel?” I asked, the words rushing out of me as my lip trembled.
He kicked the door closed and came running to me, putting his gun behind his back before wrapping us in his arms.
“Are you guys okay?” he asked, leaning back slightly as he held my head in his hands and studied my face.
“We’re okay,” I confirmed, knowing the second he spotted the bruise on my cheek. I knew that if he kept looking, he would see the ones forming on my throat as well. “We don’t have time to worry about that. We need to find a way out of here.”
He nodded, but I saw the way his jaw clenched with anger. Before we could say anything else, gunfire erupted down the hall, closing in on us.
I tried not to cry as I stood behind Axel as he shielded us with his body. I knew that we were easily outnumbered, and even with the two guns he had behind his back, it wouldn’t be enough.
Knowing that we were heading into the biggest battle of our lives, I decided I was done trying to run.
I was going to fight to save my daughter and those whom I loved.
While Axel kept his attention on the door, I opened the diaper bag and grabbed the baby wrap that Dr. Foster had given me.
I had only used it a few times, but remembered how to get Molly strapped to my body, making sure she was secure and that her body was protected.
The sound of bullets ricocheting down the hall didn’t cease, which meant it was now or never.
“Let’s go,” I said, mustering all of the confidence I had as Axel turned and looked at me.
“You can’t be serious. Literal bullets are flying out there, Charlie. There’s no way in hell I’m going to let you walk into that with Molly.”
“Do you seriously think they’re going to stop any time soon?”
“No. But I’m not willing to sacrifice you or the baby. We will stay put, and I will put a bullet through the head of anyone who walks through that door.”
“We can’t stay in here forever,” I countered.
Axel opened his mouth to object, but stopped when we heard Jo’s voice in the hallway.
“Let’s go!” she yelled, stepping back enough for us to see her face as she nodded for us to follow.
I reached forward and grabbed one of the guns from behind his back before he could stop me.
“I know how to use it,” I assured him, holding it steady in my hand at my side. “Let’s go.”
He shook his head and then walked forward, leading the way as I followed him into the hallway, where Jo was waiting for us. In front of her, Ashley and Lainy stood in the open corridor, watching every side as bodies scattered along the floor.
“I thought you called in a favor,” Axel questioned Jo as he nodded to Ashley and Lainy.
“I did. He hasn’t gotten back to me, so we’re on our own.
We’ve cleared this area, but the door we came in through is now barricaded.
We’ll have to go out the north exit. There will be a truck waiting for us on the other side,” Jo said, loud enough for all of us to hear her. “Do you guys want me to lead?”
“We’ve got it,” Ashley called back, nodding at Lainy to let her know she would cover her as Lainy started down another hallway.
The place was massive, but the girls seemed to know their way around.
“Keep to the left,” Jo warned them as I stayed behind Axel. It felt weird to trail everyone while holding the gun at my side, so I tucked it into the back of my pants and patted Molly, more so to soothe myself than her.
We were almost to the door that Jo wanted us to exit when I suddenly felt movement behind me. I went to turn but stopped when I felt strong hands grab hold of me, nearly knocking me over as a gun pressed against my temple.