Chapter 21 #2
Cupping his cheek, I look into his eyes. “I promise, Noah. I’ll get you out of here to somewhere safe.”
He shakes his head. “Not safe. I stay wiv you. You safe.”
“Okay, baby,” I agree. “We’ll fix it so you can stay with me.” And I will. If he doesn’t have parents or family that want him, I’ll claim him. It wouldn’t be the first time, and it won’t be the last, that my family provides love and safety for someone in need. We build connections for a reason.
“Promise?”
“I promise, sweetheart,” I say, pushing myself slowly and painfully to my feet using the wall behind me for support.
Noah stands and takes my hand, and we walk towards the door.
Well, he walks while I shuffle. My ribs protest every step.
I’m sweating and breathing hard by the time we reach the door.
I’m not sure if I’m up to taking any more hits, but then a little hand squeezes mine, and I know I have no choice but to find the strength to get us out of here.
Bending, I examine the lock with my uninjured eye. I’ve picked one of these before. I hope it’s not bolted from the outside. Removing the lock picks from the hidden compartment in my locket, I press my ear to the door. When I don’t hear anything, I get to work on the lock.
It seems to take forever, but I finally hear the lock release. Replacing the picks in my locket, I remove the other knife from my boot and grip Noah’s hand, pressing a finger to my lips so he knows to be quiet. He nods that he understands.
Cracking open the door, I peer into the dim corridor. We’re on a mezzanine floor, by the looks of it. Not a soul in sight. I’m not sure how to feel about that. I search for cameras but don’t see any.
Opening the door wider, I slip out into the corridor with Noah, and we inch towards the stairs. I peer over the railing but don’t see anyone. This is a different warehouse from earlier. I don’t recognise the layout.
We head silently down the stairs, and I hurry us towards a car parked in the main part of the warehouse.
Unfortunately, when I get closer, I see it’s pointless trying to get it started—the engine is missing.
Looking around, I spot an exit. I tighten my grip on Noah’s hand and my knife and edge us towards it.
Gunshots echo in the night. I duck behind the car, pulling Noah with me.
I hope to God that it’s Copper and the others.
Hunkering down, I whisper to Noah, “I think that’s my friends. We need to be quiet, okay? They’ll come and find us.”
“How?” he whispers, big blue eyes wide and frightened. Flinching at another volley of gunshots and what sounds like an explosion echoes through the night.
I don’t get a chance to answer because the warehouse door slams open.
Samson runs in, phone to his ear. “Yes, boss, I’m getting the boy now. What about the woman?”
A mewl of fright escapes Noah as he huddles closer.
Samson lifts his head at the sound, and his gaze lands on us. My eyes meet his, and my blood runs cold as he says, “Kill her. Yes, boss.”
He stalks across the warehouse towards us.
“Stay here,” I tell Noah.
He whimpers as I stand, but he releases my hand. I move away from the car, one hand braced against my ribs, which I’m pretty sure are fractured.
I brace myself for what’s coming. I know it’s going to hurt, but I’ll take Samson on or die trying to keep that little boy safe.
“You’re a lot more enterprising than I thought,” Samson informs me, stopping a few meters away. His eyes widen slightly as they flit to the knife in my hand.
“You really should check the people you kidnap for weapons,” I say mockingly. “Or maybe you only choose people you know can’t fight back, like most bullies.”
Samson chuckles as he pushes up his shirt sleeves. “You talk too much. I’m not like the boss. I won’t lose my temper when you mock me.”
“No.” I cock my head to the side. “I can see that.”
I wait, and I know he’s wondering why. I’m waiting for the cavalry that is drawing closer with every gunshot.
“Are they with you?” He tilts his head towards the door as an explosion shakes the warehouse. I’m not sure how the police aren’t swarming the place.
I smirk. “They’re here for me. Now, don’t make me wait. Bring it on, big man. Unless you don’t think you can take me? I mean, I’m not tied up this time.”
“Fucking bitch!” he screams, launching himself at me. Seems he does have buttons I can press.
Throwing my head back, I laugh loudly even though it fucking hurts my ribs, and it throws him off. His steps stutter for a moment before he starts toward me again.
Baring my teeth in a snarl, I wait. He barrels into me like a fucking Mack truck, sending me crashing against the wall and knocking the breath out of me. Then, he does exactly as I expect and grabs my throat, tightening his fingers and cutting off my air.
Suddenly, he jerks, and his grip on my neck loosens.
“Leave her alone!” Noah shouts, sinking his teeth into Samson’s calf.
I take advantage of the distraction and wrap my legs around his waist, using my thighs for leverage.
I thrust the knife he seems to have forgotten about deep into Samson’s neck and jerk it up.
I keep my knives razor sharp, so it glides through his flesh like a hot knife through butter.
Blood flows over my hand, and I know I’ve hit his carotid artery.
Samson’s face slackens. He releases my throat and staggers. Pushing away from him, I drop back to the floor. He slaps his hand to his neck and stumbles, tripping over Noah, who’s still gripping his leg.
I rush to Noah and scoop him up, hugging him to me even though my body is a mass of pain.
“You did so good, Noah. You were so brave,” I whisper as we watch Samson bleed out on the warehouse floor.
“He not hurt me no more,” Noah murmurs, tucking his head under my chin.
“No, baby. He can’t hurt you anymore,” I assure him, rubbing a soothing hand over his back.
The firefight outside sounds as if it’s dying down. Carrying Noah, I limp toward the door, my knife again gripped in my hand.
“Lady, what’s your name?” Noah asks, and I can hear the tired slur in his voice.
“Bee, baby. My name is Bee.”
At that moment, as I tell Noah my name, I realise it fully. Bella belongs to my past. Bee is who I’ve become.
And I like her.
The pedestrian door to the warehouse flies open with a bang. And there he is, framed in the doorway, his dark hair wild around his face, worry written all over him, handguns clenched in big fists, blood covering him from head to toe.
I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight.
For a minute, time stands still.
Then, I’m moving toward him as fast as my battered body will allow. I don’t stop until Noah and I are wrapped in his arms.
“Cop,” I whisper brokenly, lifting my face to his.
He touches a gentle finger to my eye. “Fuck, Bee. We found you. God, we found you. I want to kiss you so bad, but I don’t want to hurt you.”
Rolling to my toes, I slant my lips over his, taking the kiss he’s worried about giving me.
Does it hurt? Fuck, yes, it does.
Do I care? Not a fucking scoobies. It lets me know I’m alive.
Noah’s whimper pulls me away, and I’m gutted when I see the fear in his eyes as he looks at Copper.
I tilt Noah’s face towards mine. “Hey, little man. You don’t have to be frightened. This is Copper, and he’s my Old Man. He won’t hurt you. I promise.”
Noah tucks his head into my shoulder and peeks at Copper from under his lashes. “You no hurt me?”
Copper swallows hard. Anguish darkens his eyes as they meet mine.
“No, bud.” He rests a big hand on Noah’s curly head and gently rubs it. “I won’t hurt you. None of the men with me will hurt you. They’re here to look after you.”
“You promise?”
“I pinky promise.” Copper holds up his little finger.
A ghost of a smile appears on Noah’s face as he reaches out and hooks his little finger with Copper’s. My heart melts into a puddle.
Copper wraps his arm around us and turns us towards the door. Outside, I see the Queens Wraiths brothers milling about along with the Cursed Skulls. It looks like a war zone. Huddled on the far side are a group of women and young girls.
Cahir turns as we walk up. Well, Copper walks, and I limp with Noah still in my arms.
Relief lights up Cahir's face when he sees me, even as he catalogues my injuries.
“Bella,” he whispers, taking me from Copper and gathering me into his arms.
Noah squeaks in alarm, but I soothe him. “They’re friends, Noah. Don’t worry.”
“They all big.”
Smiling at him, I agree. “Yeah, they are, but they’re the best of the best. You’re safe with them.”
Silas, Cai, and Ramzi push past Cahir to get to me, but they’re careful of the boy in my arms. I welcome their embraces; they’re my family just as much as my own blood is.
“Did we get him?” I ask Cahir.
He shakes his head. “No, but we’ve got a tracer on him, so we know where he’s heading. We’ll get him.”
“I’m coming with you when you go after him,” I warn them. I need vengeance, not for me, but for Noah and the women currently huddled on the far side of the parking lot, talking with Thea and Jeanie.
Cahir nods. “Okay, but first, the hospital. You heal, then we go hunting.”
“Perfect,” I agree. “You got a cleanup crew coming?”
“On their way,” Silas confirms. “We’ll get the women to safety first. Thea and Jeanie are calming them and will get them on the bus. We’ll then take them to the safe house, which isn’t far from here. Our volunteers are ready and waiting to help them.”
There are so many moving parts, and I’m flagging. I lean heavily on Copper.
“Come on, Spice. Let’s get you to the hospital,” he murmurs.
“I’ll drive,” Cai says gruffly, walking towards a black four-by-four with tinted windows.
I’m too tired to argue. Copper and I settle with Noah between us in the back.
Noah clings to me. Just before we drive away, I lean across Copper and open the window, calling out to Ramzi.
He jogs over to us, and I give him the information I have on Noah, which isn’t much.
Ramzi is good, and I know he’ll find out what he can with the little I’ve given him.
“If you don’t find any family for him, I want him to stay with us,” I say, then pause. Shit, I should probably check with Copper first. I’m not a lone wolf anymore. I capture his gaze. “Is that okay with you?”
Copper cups my uninjured cheek and smiles, “Yeah, Spice. That’s fine with me. He’s ours if he needs a home.”
I press my lips to his palm. “Thank you.”
“Leave it with me,” Ramzi says, knocking on the car roof so that Cai knows we can leave.
I slip into sleep before we’ve even left the docks, my head on Copper’s shoulder and Noah in my lap.
The next time I wake, I’m surprised to see Rea’s familiar face asking me questions I need to answer before I’m out again.