Chapter Six.
Sapphire
I was getting hungry. I knew I should have eaten before leaving the clubhouse. But it was Tuesday, and I was aware my vision would happen today.
“What’s up?” Sparrow asked as I shuffled my feet.
“I’m hungry, and tacos would do fine right now.”
“You’re saying you want to go in?”
“I’ve got a feeling if we don’t, people will die,” I replied.
“Sure, that’s not your belly talking?”
“Shut up, bitch. Seriously, I’ve—”
“Sapphire, I’m getting bad feelings about a child dying,” Fortune’s voice interrupted over our earpieces.
Sparrow eyed me. “What’s the betting he or she gets trampled?”
“Sparrow and I are going in. The rest of you stay in position,” I ordered. I broke from where I’d been lurking and headed towards the Mexican Hat.
“Prez!” Vengeance snarled, but I waved a hand in the air. I had Sparrow with me, and I was fine.
We entered the restaurant, and the hostess paused as she saw our cuts.
“Table for two,” I said, and she nodded before leading the two of us to a table near the middle.
“Guess we’re to be watched.” Sparrow chuckled.
“Yeah, there are eyes on us. What do they expect? Us to suddenly throw down, fuck, they need to get a life,” I replied without any effort to lower my voice. Those who’d been staring close by dropped their heads and were busy with their previous conversations.
“What would you like?” a man asked.
“A water and a taco buffet for me; they smell wonderful. Sparrow, what about you?”
“I’ll take the same,” she said, not even bothering to look at the menu.
“The plates are at the buffet, just help yourself,” the guy said and scurried away.
“I’m not saying a word,” Sparrow quipped, even though she was thinking the same as me.
I rolled my eyes, and we got up and filled our plates.
Eyes followed us, and conversations were hushed as people watched our every move.
The temptation to do something outrageous was there, but we weren’t here for that.
Nope, we were here to save these judgmental asses. Whoop-de-doo. Ignoring those watching, Sparrow began to eat, and I moaned after my first bite.
“S’good!”
“Ain’t they just? Shame we haven’t come more often,” Sparrow replied.
“Yeah.” I couldn’t help but hope they reopened after the fire. The food was great. Sparrow and I chowed down happily.
There was a commotion near the door as we finished eating. I craned my neck as my gut tensed, and it wasn’t due to the food. Two guys were shouting, and I stood up with Sparrow. Both looked to be in their twenties; both were skinheads with tattoos on their heads. They also both wore gang colours.
“Get out!” someone shouted, and one gangster slammed a fist into a man’s face. I guessed he was the owner when he stumbled back and fell.
“You were warned, old man!” one of the men yelled.
Before everyone’s horrified gazes, they yanked two Molotov cocktails out of their pockets and lit them before slamming them down. Screams erupted as fire flared. The window at the front of the restaurant smashed as more flew through it.
Panic started, and Sparrow and I exchanged a look. Without a second thought, I climbed up onto the table.
“Everyone, move back towards the rear!” I yelled as people began pushing and stumbling. The smoke was thickening quickly, and several people were already coughing.
“Stop shoving, you won’t get out any faster!” Sparrow bellowed at a man pushing a woman over. “Shame on you!”
He glanced at her, panic on his face, and then at the woman at his feet. He yanked her up and dragged her along with him.
“The back is blocked. We can’t get out!” someone cried out.
“There! Under the table is a little girl!” Sparrow yelled.
“Stay calm. We’ve called for help. Stay at the rear and get low to the ground,” I bellowed loudly.
“We’re trapped!” a woman shrieked.
“If you don’t calm the fuck down, lady—”
“My baby! My daughter, she’s missing!” another woman screamed, cutting me off.
As I squinted for Sparrow, I called back, “My VP is searching for her,” in the black smoke rolling in. The fire had spread far too quickly for my liking. “Sparrow!”
“My baby!” the mother continued to cry as a man held her back.
“We’re going to die! We can’t get out!” a man yelled as he ran towards me.
“Get back, you fuckin’ idiot! How do you think you’re going to get out? That’s a wall of flames!” I shouted at him.
He looked at me, panicked, and I saw real terror in his eyes. He yanked his sleeve up, and I winced at the twisted, scarred skin there. “I know what it’s like to burn alive.”
As I got down off the table and approached him, I said calmly. “I can see that. Panicking now won’t help you or anyone. Go to the rear; my sisters will come, or the fire department. Trust me.”
His panicked eyes searched my face, and I let him see my belief that we would be rescued. “Thank you,” he murmured before heading towards the back again.
“Sparrow!” I screamed over the roar of fire, searching for her. Where the hell was she? Surely, she should be back by now.
Out of the choking smoke, a figure appeared, and I relaxed, seeing it was Sparrow, who carried a toddler in her arms.
“Move to the kitchen; our sisters should be here by now,” I said, and Sparrow nodded.
“My baby!” the mother cried as we entered the kitchen.
Worry hit me as I saw the back door was still locked. The fire was spreading faster, and smoke was already beginning to pour in.
“Take your coats off and pass them over,” I snapped at the men. They looked shocked but began dragging them off. A guy stepped up beside me.
“Anything I can do to help?” he asked, and I shook my head. “I’m going to try kicking the door down.”
“Be my guest,” I muttered as I swapped a worried glance with Sparrow. Where the hell was my MC?
Vengeance
I couldn’t believe what happened in literally a minute. The restaurant went up like a forest after a dry summer. No way would that have been possible without an accelerant.
“Get those two assholes,” I yelled at Dagger and Blade as two men ran up to the window and slammed four Molotov cocktails through it.
Dagger and Blade gave chase, and I turned and pointed at the other two fleeing from the restaurant. I didn’t have a chance to say anything because Nun and Tinkerbell were on their heels.
I led the charge around the back and came face-to-face with four more gang members.
“Back off, bitch. Walk away,” one hissed, yanking a wicked-looking knife out.
“Put it down before you get hurt!” I warned.
“Last chance, bitch,” he snapped.
Did this little prick really think I was afraid of him? “Walk away and I’ll let you live,” I replied.
He smirked at me and looked me up and down. “Heard about you bitches and the men you share.” He grabbed his dick and thrust at me. “Tell ya what, babe, after this, come and find me, I’ll show you a real man.”
“As if I’d want a fuckin’ tiny dick! Last warning, get out of our way. I’ve sisters in there, and we will go through you,” I said.
“Fuck you, cunt. Say goodbye to your sisters!” he spat at me and smirked.
“Pain!” Heart intoned, and he screeched. Guess Heart had heard enough bullshit.
He spasmed in front of me, hitting the ground. Moments later, he pissed his pants as he writhed on the floor.
“What the fuck?” one of the gang members demanded, looking at us.
“Take them down,” I ordered and moved into the fight.
They seemed to realise they were in trouble when we didn’t back off and began throwing punches.
Heart continued playing with her new toy while I stepped up and began attacking the tallest one.
He seemed to think this was a game until I smashed his jaw and kicked his balls so high he swallowed them.
As Maid and Sailor took out the remaining two, I headed for the door. A thick chain was wound through the door handle and attached to the grip bar at the side of the door. I cursed when I saw the padlock.
“Check them for keys,” I yelled as Sailor knocked her asshole unconscious. She dropped to her knees and rummaged through her pockets.
“Nothing,” she called, and moments later, Maid confirmed the same.
“Check mine,” I hissed as worry built. The smoke coming from the front of the building was thick and black, and we could all smell the burning. Inside, I could hear people screaming and pounding on the door.
“Hey, hey! Calm down, this is Vengeance from the Royal Harlots. We’ve called the cops and fire department and are trying to get the door open,” I bellowed, banging back.
“Vengeance, it’s Saph. What’s the fuckin’ issue? We’ve got kids here!” Sapphire yelled back, and relief hit me.
“They’ve padlocked the door, and we can’t find a key on them. Hang in Saph, we’re coming for you!” I shouted.
“Hurry up, smoke’s coming through the doors even though we’ve blocked them,” Sapphire yelled.
“Okay, Prez.” I looked around; none of us present had an ability that would help.
“Tinkerbell!” I bellowed. “Maid, go get her.”
Maid shot off, leaving the man she’d been kicking and punching. He wasn’t going anywhere, nor was he awake, but clearly, Maid had wanted him in pain. Moments later, Tinkerbell raced around the corner. She looked slightly mussed but fine.
“Freeze the chain,” I ordered as I looked around for something to smash it with. Tinkerbell stepped up and began freezing the thick chain as I saw a broken pipe by a trash can. I grabbed it and waited for Tinkerbell to step back.
Sailor and Heart were zip-tying the four assholes’ hands and feet together and dragging them out of the way.
“Close your eyes!” I ordered, praying that this would work. I whacked the chain as hard as I could, and it shattered.
“Open the door, Saph!” I screeched, and it flew open. A tall guy stood there and began passing people out to us. Maid and Nun returned and began helping people down the alleyway. Thick smoke rolled out of the kitchen, and I realised how close it had been as people coughed and choked.