Chapter 28
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
KAI
“ I ’m never taking the trolley for granted again.” We tie the boat to the building and drag gallons of water inside with us as we fight to close the door against the rising water.
“Fuck I’m tired.” Mayhem sighs as we start taking off our drenched clothes.
A crashing sound makes me pause with my shirt halfway over my head.
“Did something just hit the building?” Phoebe asks, and I put my shirt down to go check.
“STOP! Put the knife down.” Fabien throws his shirt and is running for the shouting that follows those words.
We all follow him up the stairs and slide to a standstill when the way is blocked.
“MOVE!” Fabien calls out, and his club members make a hole for him to get to his room.
Skull is right inside the doorway talking to Charlotte, who is holding Leah up to her chest with a knife to her neck.
She must have already cut her because their blood was rolling down her temple and chest. Phoebe gasps and covers her mouth at the sight. I try to move her away, but she shakes me off.
“Baby, you ok?” Fabien keeps his voice even, but Leah doesn’t say a word.
“Easy with that knife, Charlotte. She’s already bleeding enough. Put it down, and let’s talk.” Phoebe pulls me down to whisper in my ear.
“The balcony,” I shake my head, not understanding when her eyes narrow.
“Cowboy, come with me.” She grabs the man and goes over the the next room.
“No! This bitch doesn’t get to live the life that should have been mine! You’re my family, not hers.” Charlotte’s voice shrieks at Fabien, who is only a few feet away now.
I watch in horror as Leah’s eyes roll, and she passes out.
“PLEASE GOD NO!” Fabien lunges for them but doesn’t make it.
Charlotte is forced to support all her weight, and she is unprepared for it. They both crumble to the ground, landing with a thud.
Skull rushes to assess them, but Charlotte, having regained her hold on the knife, places it back at Leah’s throat.
“STAY BACK!” She screams, and I stop moving.
“LEAH, BABY, OPEN YOUR EYES!” Fabien pleads, but she doesn’t move.
I glance up and see Phoebe and Cowboy carefully opening the balcony doors. Charlotte glances behind herself and gasps.
That’s all the opportunity Skull needs.
He grabs Leah and pulls her under the knife and into his chest. He rolls away with her body protected by his. Fabien grabs the wrist to stop her from moving the knife, and Phoebe comes in and slams a fist into the bitches eye knocking her out cold.
“Tie her up!” I call out as I move to Skull and Leah.
“Clear out! Move her to the bed.” The club’s medic takes control of the situation, and everyone follows his commands.
“I need towels and light. Tell Nova I need my kit.” I turn to shout, but Nova’s right behind me, sprinting down the stairs to do what is needed.
“LEAH!” Fabien shakes her, and I see SKull ready to knock him out as well.
I got him.
I pick their President up like a child and pull him away.
“You need to calm down and let him work.” I hiss into his ear as he kicks and fights me the further away we get from her.
“I can’t leave her.” I cup his face in my hand.
“We aren’t, but you aren’t helping Cher. Let the man work on her.” His eyes fill with tears, but he relaxes some and nods.
Phoebe
Kai has Fabien in a choke hold, dragging him back and away while Skull and Cowboy lift Leah off the floor and place her in our bed. I have her hand clutched in mine.
It’s warm, solid, but utterly limp.
My chest hurts as I watch and pray silently that she’s going to be okay. We can’t do this again. We can not lose anyone else.
Skull lifts her chin and checks her neck first.
He wipes away the blood to reveal two lacerations, both less than an inch long. Next, he moves to her head, where a goose egg is growing on her temple. However, the cut from that trickles down her face to pool in her right ear.
“All this blood is from the cut on her head.” Skull sucks his teeth as he shines a light into her eyes.
“She’s probably got a hell of a concussion, but without scans, I can’t do much but watch her. Breathing is good. I’m going to stitch her head and clean the other cuts.” I sigh in relief and glance over at the guys.
Kai slowly lets Fabien go, and they move closer to the bed. They both place a hand on each of my shoulders while I clutch her hand and put it to my chest as Skull works on her head.
“She’s ok,” I whisper more for myself than them.
“I’m going to make sure our guest is secure,” Fabien growls as he leans in to kiss Leah.
Skull hisses as he backs up to allow the caress but does not look thrilled by the action.
Fabien leaves with Cowboy on his heels while me and Kai stay with Leah and Skull.
“Mmmm,” Leah groans as Skull cleans her neck up a few minutes later.
“Hey, Cher. Try not to move.” Kai whispers to her.
“CHARLOTTE,” the scream sounds like it’s wrenched from the bottom of her soul.
Her eyes fly open with terror, and Skull holds her down.
“Let her go. I got it.” I cradle her face in my hands and wait until her eyes focus on me.
“You’re safe. She’s gone.” I nod slowly at her.
“Safe?” she whispers, and I wipe away a tear that has escaped her lashes.
“We all are.” She stares at me and then glances to both sides.
She frowns and then starts to shake.
“FABIEN!” Kai shoves into our little circle and yells over her.
“He’s fine, Baby. Just downstairs. He’ll be back soon. Do you want me to go get him?” She calms slightly and nods.
“Ok,” he brushes his lips across her temple, careful to avoid her new stitches.
“She can’t be left alone. She can rest, but wake her every other hour. I’ll leave pain meds if she wants them.” Skull taps my leg as he stands.
“Thank you.” Now that the bed is empty of all the men, I gather her in my arms and snuggle up against the headboard.
Leah doesn’t object as I move her to lie on my chest. In fact, she holds me tighter as we move to get comfortable.
“How’s your head?” I whisper as the door closes behind Skull, leaving us alone in the room.
“Bruised, sore. Like a train hit me.” I chuckle softly as I gently move her hair from her wound.
“You scared the shit out of us.” I mummer.
“Sorry,” her voice slurs.
“Leah?”