Chapter 30
THIRTY
THEA
I will not hide away while others fight.
My eyes are blurry as I finally decide to take a break and head downstairs to get something to drink. The sun is setting and the men have all been in the Church room for hours. Theo is now guarding the door and he nods at me when I walk by. I look around but don’t see any of the other women. Maybe they went to bed. Or they’re all doing their own thing. Either way, Rose was the only one who came up to see me in the last few hours, and that was mostly to make sure I wasn’t wasting away in Sniper’s room.
I’ve managed to decode half the journal in the hours since I left the Church room, and just like I thought, there is a pattern starting to emerge, but I can’t quite figure it out yet. But I know I’ll get there. Except, I need to get some food and water or I’m going to be useless in a few hours. My head is starting to ache so that means it’s definitely time to take a break.
When I walk into the kitchen, I hear laughter coming from outside. I look out the window and see all the women and kids outside, Crypt standing guard just a few feet away, head on a swivel. His face is dark, hard, and I get the sense that he doesn’t want to be out there. Or, that he’s not keen to be out in the open like they are now. I get that, but if they’re outside, that means someone has said that there isn’t much danger, right?
I make myself a quick sandwich, grab a water and a banana, and then head outside. Might as well get some fresh air and sunlight, I guess. Macy sees me first as I head their way. “Auntie Thea!” she squeals excitedly, running toward me. The other women all grin.
“Hey, sweetness,” I say with a smile down at her when she reaches me and wraps her arms around my hips and hugs me tight. “You out here practicing how to break out of that jail your Daddy keeps mentioning?” I tease her.
She looks up at me, rolls her eyes and says seriously, “Daddy’s silly. Does he really think that I would want to break out when I can just rule everything in there?” Then she releases me and rushes back to her mother, who is fighting hard not to laugh at her statement.
“I’m putting that on her birthday card to him,” Quinn manages to get out when I reach the picnic table they set up. “He might have a stroke, though.”
Rose comes over and sits down across from me, grinning. “And I bet her Auntie Thea could show her a few things to keep those pesky underlings in line,” she jokes.
I grin. “Us girls have to stick together and pass on the knowledge somehow.” Rose laughs outright as I take a bite of my sandwich.
The other women come and sit down as Macy and Archer race around the playset, Macy screeching and laughing. But then I notice Syn isn’t here, or her dogs. Before I can ask, Sage explains, “She’s exhausted and went to take a nap. I swear she’s no fun past five o’clock now that she’s preggers.” Then she grins. “But I can’t wait until she has the baby. I’m going to be the best aunt ever.” Then she looks at Quinn. “And your two, I plan on corrupting from the day they’re born just to give their father gray hair before he’s forty.”
Quinn laughs, rubbing her growing belly. I’ve never been one to imagine being pregnant, but honestly I would think having two in there would be both interesting and terrifying. One kid sleeps while the other just kicks the shit out of you? Yeah, no I’m good on that front. Still, Quinn is glowing, and clearly none of that bothers her. “Honestly, I never thought I would have any more kids,” Quinn admits. “And the thought of having two at the same time is terrifying.”
“How is Shadow handling that?” Rose asks with a grin.
“He’s already told me that we need to find out the sexes as soon as we can. He keeps saying he needs to know if he’s going to have at least one of them to back him up.”
“Are they fraternal or identical twins?” I ask.
“Fraternal. So there is a chance we could have one of each or just two the same.” Then she smiles softly. “I have a feeling one of them is going to be a boy though.”
“Who wants to put money on Macy making him her little minion by the time he’s five?” Izzy giggles. “If you have a boy, he and Shadow don’t stand a chance. Especially if you have another girl just as strong and stubborn as Macy.”
Quinn beams. “I would love it, honestly. I know Macy is a handful, but I’ll never have to worry about her not being able to stand up for herself.”
“Not to mention, if some little shit tries to hurt her, she’ll have the entire Coven and MC at her back.” Sadie giggles.
“The jail will be full that day.” Eden laughs.
“Archer will probably lead the charge.” Sadie grins. “Really, you and Viper need to get to work on giving him a little brother or sister. He’s a natural with Macy.” We all look to see Archer standing guard over her Macy as she makes her way up the rock climbing wall, tongue between her teeth in determination. Archer’s eyes never leave her as he stands right beneath her, calling out encouragement.
I look back at Eden and see a soft, loving smile on her face. “Maybe in a year or two,” she finally says. “I want a little time with just him and Archer before we change things up.”
“I give it six month with the way you two go at it.” Sadie snickers. “Or was it not you I heard last night when I was trying to sleep?”
Eden’s gaze moves to her, brow arching. “And how would you know that if you were in your room, huh?” she asks pointedly. “The one that is in the opposite wing of where Viper and I are. But you know whose rooms are close to Viper and I? Bowie and Frost’s. Care to share?”
Sadie’s eyes widen at what she’s just revealed.
“I’m disappointed.” Rose sighs, sounding forlorn. “Honey, if whoever you were with didn’t wear you out enough you were able to hear them when you should have been passed out from exhaustion, I think I might need to change some of my opinions.”
I snort out a laugh, as does Sage. “Sounds like someone needs some pointers,” Sage agrees. “It’s sad, sometimes the pretty ones just don’t know what they’re doing. But good on you for trying to teach him.”
“Shut up,” Sadie groans. “Damn it, I didn’t want to say anything because it’s not like that. Look, Bowie and I…we’re not really anything, but we have become friends, and we…we just have things we like to talk about. And sometimes, I just don’t bother going back to my room. It’s hard when all of you are coupled up and I don’t have much to do here, and Bowie gets it. He gets me. Simple as that.”
Eden loses her smirk and looks at her. “I’m sorry, Sadie,” she starts.
Sadie holds up her hand. “No, that is exactly why I haven’t told you much about it. I don’t want you to feel guilty or feel like you’re not giving me attention. You shouldn’t be anyway. You have a man and a child that needs your attention, and that’s exactly the way it should be. And besides, it’s not like we don’t hang out or have girl’s night. Or, hell, sometimes I come over to climb in bed with you to piss off Viper, though that hasn’t been working because he just moves over and makes room so I can cuddle. But sometimes, it’s nice hanging out with someone who gets you. Someone who understands that sometimes you just want to hang out and not talk or do anything.”
Eden doesn’t look convinced, but I can tell that Sadie isn’t going to elaborate. No one says anything, but I can tell from their faces that they’re not convinced either. Trying to lighten the mood, I ask, “The real question is, boxers or briefs?”
Everyone stares at me for a moment, and then Sadie laughs and wiggles her brows before replying, “Boxers. Though I’ve only caught a glimpse because he always wears sleep pants when I’m around.”
“Mmmm, I do love a good pair of sleep pants on a man.” Izzy sighs dreamily. “They’re just as good as gray sweatpants if you get the right kind.”
“Nah, nude for me all the way,” Sage drawls. “I want access to the goods whenever I feel like. And, of course, I return the favor.”
“What goods?” Macy’s little voice asks suddenly. Izzy, Sadie, and Eden gasp in surprise, while Rose and I just grin, and Quinn looks like she wants the ground to swallow her whole.
“It’s a joke, honey,” Quinn manages to get out. I glance and see Archer standing just behind her, looking both amused and disgusted. “It just means that sometimes adults like to share things between them.”
Macy doesn’t look the least bit convinced. “You mean like the dildo that you won’t let me play with?” she demands, hands going to her hips.
It’s my turn for my eyes to widen as Rose sputters out a laugh, falling forward to put her head on the table as her shoulders shake. Sage and Sadie both turn their heads away as they try to keep from bursting too, but their faces are red with the effort. Okay, there is definitely a story here, and I want to know what it is ASAP. Izzy and Eden share huge grins, and Quinn’s face contorts into one of annoyance. “Macy, how many times do I have to tell you that was a joke Grandma told and there isn’t a toy named that?” she asks in exasperation.
“I don’t believe you,” Macy snips. “If that’s true, why do you have a bunch of toys in your room I can’t play with? Every time I try, you yell at me. But you make me share mine. It’s not fair!” She stomps her little foot and I have to use every ounce of my training not to laugh or lose my composure.
Oh yeah, Quinn definitely looks horrified now. Nothing like your daughter outing that you and your man have a few things to spice things up lying around. The other women are making a mixture of choking noises, along with snorts of laughter as they try to hold it back. I glance at Archer who is now no longer looking amused, and just plain grossed out. Poor kid. I glance past him to Crypt, whose face is also stoic, but if I also see his jaw flexing as if he’s trying to keep it that way. When his gaze connects with mine, he allows the slightest smile to pull at his lips, before it’s gone and he goes back to scanning the grounds.
“Macy, that is enough,” Quinn says in what I dub the mom-tone. I swear when Theo and I were growing up, our mother practiced that shit to make sure it was perfect. And it must work on Macy, because she instantly loses her scowl and her face goes sugary sweet. Clearly this little girl knows when to retreat.
“Come on, Archer,” she says excitedly, reaching out for his hand to pull him away.
“Macy,” Quinn says warningly. “It’s time for you to go and get ready for bed, so let’s get you inside and ready for a bath.” She gets up from the table, and I can see Macy wants to argue, but clearly thinks better of it. She lets Archer’s hand go and nods morosely.
“Night, baby,” Rose tells her, holding her arms out for her.
Macy loses her sad look and launches herself into Rose’s arms. “Night, Nana Rose. Can we make cookies tomorrow?” she asks.
“Sure we can,” Rose says, kissing her forehead. “And then, I think it’s time we have a girl’s day, huh? You and I and some of your aunties can do our hair and nails, and your Mama can take a nap.” Quinn shoots her a grateful look over her head.
“Okay!” Macy screams excitedly as she pulls away. “Can Archer join too?”
“Of course he can,” Rose answers, and Archer looks like he’s not sure if he should be happy to be included or not. But he just smiles and nods. “Now, you go get your bath.” Macy kisses Rose’s cheek and then she turns back to her mother.
I hear the click before I sense they’re there. Before the first shot is fired. And I know the moment Crypt hears it too. I’m moving with all the speed I can muster and pray that I don’t harm either of them. “Down!” Crypt and I both scream, just as the first shot rings through the air.
You know how they say time goes in slow motion when you’re in fight or flight mode? They’re right, and it’s been a long time since I’ve felt it, but thankfully, my reaction has always been to fight.
I slam into Macy, who screams, and in turn I knock Quinn to the ground, twisting us both so that Quinn and Macy both land on me. It knocks the wind out of me for half a second, but then I’m pushing them off while ordering, “Get behind the rock wall. Now!” Quinn doesn’t need to be told twice, terror covering her face. She grabs Macy and stays as low to the ground as she can. I pull my gun from my back, firing back as Crypt is already doing the same and making his way toward the women.
My head whips around and I see Eden grabbing Archer and them both making a run for the rock wall. Bullets whiz through the air, striking the picnic table, where Izzy, Sadie, Rose, and Sage are all trying to take cover. I rush to cover them, shooting back and managing to duck down to avoid getting struck by a bullet. I hear more shots fill the air, and that’s when I realize that Theo is out here now too, returning fire.
“You need to get to the rock wall,” I yell to the women under the table. “Now! I’ll cover you. Go!” They all hesitate for just a second before they start to move. Izzy makes her break and I shoot one of the men that pops out along the edge of the treeline, gun aimed right for her. The man falls, but I see others making their way. I fire and scream for the other women to move, and this time, they all make a break for it, and I rush to position myself at their backs, gun sweeping.
Finally, they’re all behind the wall, and I crouch with them. I hear Macy crying, and my heart breaks, but right now I have to focus on keeping them all safe. But I’m quickly running out of ammo, which means we’re going to be in shit if I can’t find another weapon, or a way to get the women into the clubhouse, but the door is too far, and they’ll all be too exposed.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
I peer out around the edge of the wall, seeing Crypt now behind one of the pieces of playset equipment, firing at the trees; I scan and see that Theo is along the edge of the clubhouse, also firing, but too exposed, and Kaleb is hunkered down behind the smallish storage shed that I know houses the kids outside toys. Again, not a lot of cover, but enough.
I look back at the women. “We need to stay here until the guys come,” I tell them loudly. “No one moves.”
That’s when I hear yells and turn my head to see the MC members moving out in a large wave, guns drawn and already firing. Thank God.
Suddenly, Macy screams, and I whip around to see three men coming out of the trees behind us, all of them with weapons drawn and pointing right at the group. My stomach sinks, but I’m already moving to get in front of them, firing. I manage to hit the first one square in the middle of the forehead, and he drops like a stone, but the other two immediately start firing back and I know I need to lead them away. We’re pinned down here, and I can’t let any of these women die on my watch.
“They all die but the blonde one with the gun,” one of the men yells to his partner. “The Boss wants her.” He looks and points at me as he says it.
Well, that’s not ominous at all. “Tell your boss he can get fucked,” I snarl, firing again, managing to get one of the men in the shoulder, making him scream and drop his gun. It fires, and the women scream. I instantly turn back, terrified that one of them has been hit, but I quickly register that they’ve scattered and seem to be fine. My head whips back to the one with the gun, and see him lift it, aiming toward Izzy.
I rush him, hitting him hard and sending us both flying and falling to the ground. The gun goes off, and my ears ring, but I don’t stop. I knee him in the gut, then land a quick punch to his face, even as he grabs my wrist and makes me drop my own gun to the ground. He tries to headbutt me, but I narrowly manage to avoid it. “You fucking whore,” he spits, trying to get me off him.
Thank God I trained with men so much bigger than him, because I don’t allow him to get the upper hand. I manage to flip us, my arm around his neck as I put him in a chokehold, my entire body straining with the effort to keep the pressure steady. Finally, after what feels like an eternity, he goes slack, and I release him, scurrying back so I can grab my gun, and his.
I get shakily to my feet, just in time to see Shadow pulling Quinn and Macy into his arms, and Viper doing the same to Eden and Archer, then running out from behind the rock wall toward the safety of the clubhouse. But just as they get past the wall, I see men come from the other side of the house already aiming for them. I’m moving as fast as my legs can carry me. There are four of them, and I manage to get between the two men and their families, my bullets hitting two of them before they can even get their guns up, while the other two fall, from other bullets.
“Go!” I scream at Shadow and Viper, who don’t waste any time. I cover them as they get them inside. Crypt is at my side quickly. “We need to get the other women inside,” I yell to him, bracing myself against the building.
Crypt looks down at me and nods, his eyes hard and grim. “How many can you get?” he demands.
“I’ll get Izzy and Sadie. You handle Rose and Sage,” I tell him.
“I got your six,” Crypt says, and we’re moving.
I feel like I’m back in the middle of a war zone. There are men everywhere, bullets flying, and the bad guys just keep swarming. We’re missing the desert heat and the bombs, but it’s definitely the same feeling. Crypt and I manage to get back to the rock wall, where the other women are huddled down. Rose looks grim and determined, as do the others, but I don’t miss the fear on their faces. Especially Sadie’s. She looks seconds away from breaking down.
“We’re going to get you to the clubhouse,” I bark at them. “Sadie, Izzy, you’re with me. Rose, Sage, you’re with Crypt. You’re going to stay on our left sides, perfectly in line with my body so you don’t give them an open target. Understood?” All of them nod. “Good. None of you are dying on my watch today. Let’s move.” They scramble to their feet, get into position just like I told them, and then we make our break.
I don’t slow my pace until we get to the side of the clubhouse and manage to get to the door. “Inside,” I yell to Izzy and Sadie, who quickly rush inside.
I turn to see the others right behind us, but just as Sage clears the door and Rose rushes forward, a masked man comes turns the corner, gun already raised. And it’s aimed right at Rose. “No!” I scream, already lifting my gun and firing, but I hear the gun go off.
There’s a loud scream, and my heart sinks, but it’s then I hear the grunt of pain as I see Crypt tackle Rose to the ground, and the bullet hits him in the side. He falls to the ground with a grunt of pain, and Rose is scrambling, trying to get out from under him even as I rush forward to roll him off her. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I curse as I put pressure on the wound.
Crypt’s face is twisted in a grimace. “I’m good,” he tries to get out, but then his body shudders with pain, and it’s sticky and flowing under my fingers.
“Like fuck you are,” I snap, looking desperately around.
“Medic!” Rose screams, moving to help me put pressure on the wound as well. The sound is loud, shrill, and I’m sure the entire field hears it, even over the chaos. “Don’t you dare die on me, Crypt,” she tells him then through gritted teeth. “I want to know what books you modeled for and you are damn well going to tell me.”
I’m too focused on trying to keep the pressure on his wound to figure out what the hell that’s all about it. Where the hell is Medic?
“I’m taking that one to the grave, Rose,” Crypt tells her, pain filling his voice.
“Yeah, well, you’re not going to the grave today, so that means I’ll have to figure it out,” she snaps at him, but I can see the terror in her eyes.
Thankfully that’s the moment that Medic runs out. “Fuck,” he curses, as he quickly drops to his knees and moves our hands to assess the damage. “We need to get him inside,” he says grimly. “I need to get the bullet out as quickly as I can before he bleeds out or it goes any deeper.”
“Let’s go,” I say, already moving. Medic looks at me, as if to argue, but he must change his mind when he sees the look on my face.
“Rose,” he tells her, looking at her with a fierce determination. “Thea and I are going to get him up, but you need to stay with us and I need you to try and keep pressure on that wound as much as possible. Crypt, can you hear me?”
“Yeah,” he rasps out, his eyes already going glassy with shock.
“I need you to try and help us get your big ass up and to the med bay, okay?” Medic says firmly. “Give us your weight, but you need to help us or you’re going to die. Do you understand?”
“I got you,” Crypt grits out. “Help me up.”
It takes a moment, and the groan of pain I hear escape him is one that I won’t forget for a long time, but we get him up. The walk through the kitchen to the med bay is long, and I’m covered in sweat by the time we get him in the bed from his weight, but the relief of getting him there is huge.
“Get down to the safe room while I work on him,” Medic barks as he’s already moving to cut off Crypt’s shirt and Prospect cut.
“No,” we both say immediately. Before he can argue, Rose barks, “I’m staying and I’m going to help.”
“And I’m not staying in here when I can fight,” I tell him. Then I’m leaving the med bay and heading back out into the common room. I see guns and everything else lying around from the men moving to get outside, and I make quick work of grabbing more ammo before I head toward the door.
The moment I clear the door, my gun is up and I’m firing, killing a man that’s sneaking up on Timber. Timber whirls, staring at the man on the ground and then looking back up at me. I just nod at him and keep moving, taking down man after man as I go, trying to make sure I don’t hit any of the Misfits or the Devil’s Soldiers in the process.
God, did Vlad send every single one of his men? Because more and more keep showing up. The ground is littered with bodies, but I don’t pay it any mind, as I stay down and rush to get to a covered spot on the edge of the building. The same spot that Theo is now hunkered down. I move to his side and he does a quick double take. “Sniper is going to kill you,” he yells, even as he peers around the corner and shoots another man emerging from the woods. “You need to get in there with the women.”
“No,” I say simply, checking my clip. “I’m not going to hide away, you know that.”
“Thea, now is not the time for women’s power and all that bullshit,” he snaps at me.
“And this isn’t the time to fucking argue with me,” I snap back as I lock the clip back in place. “I’m trained to handle this shit.”
“And if you die?”
I look at him, deadly serious. “Then I die knowing I wasn’t hiding away and wasting all the talent the Forces gave me.” Then, I’m moving away from him and head around the other side of the building, even as he yells after me, cursing.
He’s going to be pissed, but I don’t give a damn.
When I make my way around the building, I see that most of the men that have come through the trees are dead, or in the case of a couple, trying to flee, but the MC guys make quick work of them. I watch for a moment, and that’s when I see a man climbing into the trees, rifle in hand. My blood goes cold as I see him quickly start to set up and aim his gun right at Bullet, who’s in the middle of the field, barking orders for people to search the woods to find any stragglers.
I’m running before I even tell my legs to move. “Bullet, move!” I scream, even as he whips around. And that’s when I see Sniper on the other side of him, and when he sees me, his gaze is hard and shocked. But I can’t focus on him. I need to get to Bullet. “Shooter in the trees,” I roar, and Sniper is whipping around, gun up and firing, but it’s a second too late.
The two shots fill the air, and I slam into Bullet sending him flying back, even as pain sears through my shoulder and we’re both falling to the ground.
“Shit,” I hiss, the pain swimming through me, even as I roll to the opposite side, gripping the one that’s now oozing blood.
“Thea!” Sniper bellows, getting to his knees next to me. “Let me see,” he orders, pulling my hands away, and already cursing.
“Get her to Medic,” Bullet orders, his voice gruff. My hazy eyes connect with his, and I see something there that I can’t make out. Relief? Gratitude? Anger? I’m not sure, but the pain is too much for me to care. Fuck, that hurts.
I managed to keep from getting shot in my time during the Forces, despite everything. I’ve been sliced, bruised, and beaten, but I always had that one claim to fame. Guess I have to give up my streak.
Sniper scoops me up and he’s running for the clubhouse. The pain of the movements has me shutting my eyes and gritting my teeth to keep from crying out. “Medic!” he yells as soon as get inside.
When we reach the med bay, I see that Medic is still working on Crypt, Rose helping him, face pale, but eyes laser focused as she hands Medic the items he needs. When he hears us, Medic quickly turns his head our way. “I told you to fucking go down to the safe room,” Medic gripes. “Sniper, put her on the other bed. I need to get Crypt done or he’s dead. I’ll be over in a minute to give her a sedative.”
“No, I don’t need one,” I protest as Sniper is already moving to put me on the bed.
“Shut up,” Sniper bites out at me. My gaze whips up to his, furious that he dares to speak to me that way, but some of my anger dissipates when I see the fear in his eyes, along with the feral look on his face. This is not the cool and collected Sniper that everyone knows. This one is slowly losing control. “You’re going to do what you’re told and not argue. Your ass is already in trouble for not following orders, and the minute you’re healed, I’m going to make sure you understand that. Do you hear me, Athena?”
“Alright, fine,” I huff, deciding it’s better not to push him much farther. But before I can stop the words I add, “Now calm the hell down before you give yourself a stroke or a heart attack. Medic doesn’t need to worry about your ass too.”
Sniper’s eyes narrow at me, and I hear Rose give a soft chuckle, even as Medic tells her to keep pressure on whatever he’s doing, his gloves snap off and he rushes to grab whatever he needs to knock me out. Sniper doesn’t move, holding my hand as Medic checks the wound quickly, making me cry out in pain, before he stabs me with the needle, tosses it aside and heads back to Crypt, leaving Sniper to take care of me. Sniper soothes me as I breathe through the pain. Alright, Medic might not be my favorite person after that. Damn, that hurt worse than getting shot.
My eyelids grow heavy quickly, and a silly smile pulls at my lips. Oh yeah, I remember this feeling. It’s so good. I look up at Sniper, who’s watching me with a bemused look on his face. “You’re so hot,” I slur as I look at him. “You’re really going to be a silver fox ’fore long. Just have to hope that your dick doesn’t shrivel too. Cause I like it. ’Specially that piercing. That’s really nice. Can I feel it again soon?” I ask him.
I hear laughter somewhere, but I see Sniper’s lips twist in a smile. “Close your eyes, baby girl,” Sniper encourages, his hand stroking my hair as my head starts to loll.
“Okay,” I agree, more than ready to slip into such a comfy slumber. “Love you.” Then there’s nothing but darkness.