Chapter 19 - Anson
NINETEEN
ANSON
Ryder burst into my apartment, his hair disheveled, and his face red.
“P-Party,” he choked out. “A-Attack.”
“What?” I got to my feet from my couch. I’d only gotten home from Matteo’s a few minutes ago after spending the day with Bianca. We’d had a good day, even though it was a sad day. Bianca was a good listener and was kinder than Matteo gave her credit for.
“My phone. Died. Fuck. De Luca. Party. Fucking attacked.”
He didn’t even need to finish his sentence.
I’d fought with myself all fucking day on whether I should go or not.
Bianca even told me I should, and said it was unlikely Dom and the kings would attend since that would be dangerous for everyone.
I didn’t want to cause problems and had decided it was best to remain home.
I grabbed a couple of weapons and raced out of my apartment, Ryder on my heels. Trent met me on the stairs, his eyes wide.
“How did you hear?” I demanded, going outside to my car. We piled in and squealed out of the lot.
“We were at Solomon’s,” Trent said from the backseat. “I left my phone at Ryder’s place. I overheard some Russian prick talking about De Luca getting taken out today, and that they were already there. He was drinking to his death.”
I tightened my hand on the steering wheel and pulled my phone out before tossing it to Ryder.
“Call Rosalie.”
He immediately pulled up her number as I took corners at breakneck speeds.
“Nothing,” Ryder said, going through my phone. He called someone else, but clearly no one answered that either.
“Fuck!” He snarled, his leg bouncing. “FUCK. Man.” He looked at me.
“Don’t fucking say it,” I whispered. “She’s OK. She’s strong.”
Ryder didn’t say a word, but he didn’t have to. I knew he was thinking the worst.
I pulled up behind the venue, noting the sound of sirens in the distance and smoke billowing out of the building. Screams sounded out, and more gunfire than I cared to ever fucking hear.
“You have weapons?” I looked at Ryder and Trent, who both pulled out guns. That was a good enough answer for me. “Stay alive.”
I rushed to the back door and kicked it open, my gun out.
The smoke was thick and fucked with my head as I crouched and tried to step over the bodies, my hope fading with each step. There were so many dead and injured. I swallowed my fear and pushed onward.
I pulled the trigger and shot a few men, but the chaos still erupted around us.
Fuck, what a mess.
The place was trashed. The floor was slick with blood. Bodies were strewn about. Flames licked the ceiling in some areas.
And then I saw her.
My songbird.
Sprawled on the floor in a pool of blood, her white dress no longer white.
I stumbled and slid in the mess of blood and bodies as I tried to get to her, Ryder and Trent on my heels, protecting my back.
“LeeLee,” I choked out, scooping her limp body into my arms. “Fuck. No. Goddamn it! Baby, please…” I’d only felt terror like this three times in my life, and two of those times were with her.
There was no way we were staying behind. The screams were deafening around us.
Trent shot a few men, Ryder helping, as we made our way back the way we came.
With one arm, I carried Rosalie, shooting anyone in a black ski mask.
I had no idea where the horsemen were. There was no way in hell I’d be able to find them in that mess with Rosalie in my arms, but I knew I needed to try.
“Is she alive?” Ryder demanded as we got outside to my car.
I pressed my shaking fingers to her pulse point on her neck and felt her heart fluttering lightly.
I nodded, my throat tight.
Fuck, she was a mess.
“I-I need to get her to the hospital,” I said, putting her into the front seat.
“What about Dad?” Trent asked, his eyes wide. “He helped last time—”
“No. She-She might die. The guys… Fuck.”
“Go. I’ll take her,” Ryder said. “If she fucking lives and her guys are dead, we’re all fucked, man. She’ll die with them.”
I nodded, knowing it was true. I had to find Fox first and foremost.
“I’m staying,” Trent said.
“No. Go. Be with her. She-She’ll be scared. I’ll be fine. Keep her alive.”
“Anson—”
“Trent, please. She’s my whole fucking world. I-I need to save hers so she doesn’t leave me.”
He nodded and got into the backseat. I tossed Ryder my keys, and he climbed behind the wheel.
I leaned into the window and crushed my lips against Rosalie’s bloodied ones, not knowing if it were the last time I’d ever see her alive again.
“I love you,” I whispered against her lips, one of my tears dripping onto her pale cheek. “I love you, Rosalie. Please…”
I backed away as Ryder shouted a promise at me that he’d keep her alive. I watched him tear out of the parking lot before I turned and walked back inside, ready to kill some motherfuckers.