~Chapter 29~
H earing Charlie’s “Alpha tone” sends shivers down my spine and straight into my toes. Dear Lord that man could convince me to do anything he asked; maybe even cut off my own arm.
Delicious.
Decadent.
Molasses .
I have to concentrate on keeping myself in check and focus back on the mission. If not, I’m liable to go run to my room and grab that damn flower Even loves to use on me. Cheeky Butthead.
Even’s voice breaks me out of my head just in time to hear that they’ve arrived. I suck in a deep breath and slowly exhale. Then I get to work.
I pull up the alarm systems and plug in the code Stu made for me so I can disable any technical security systems. I wait for a moment as the code tracks what it needs before pinging loudly. “Got it. Bloodlines down.”
Danny responds, “Damn that’s hot,” before a smacking sound reverberates through my earpiece and he yelps. I chuckle, knowing Stu or Charlie probably whacked him. He’s always getting into trouble.
“Green is a go,” I state clearly and watch as they all appear on a security feed from a nearby shop. It’s already been hacked and is currently looping a recording of the empty, dark sidewalk, instead of my men running in front of it.
I watch as Danny takes off towards the front, tucking his gun behind his pants, and walks in the door, smiling wildly.
I watch as Even rounds the back of the bakery and kills the two men guarding the back door; his silencer making it impossible for anyone nearby to hear the shots.
I watch as Stu and Charlie press themselves into a crouch near the wall and wait for Danny to walk the remaining bakery team out; telling them there was a gas leak in the area and he needed to clear it. One of them tripped an alarm before walking out with Danny but, it was disabled…so, no one was alerted.
And then… then, I watch as Even enters the back, Danny joins the others, entering the front, and I lose them all. Every last one vanishes from any security feeds.
And all I’m left with are the comms.
Hours. Hours pass without a word, a breath, a sound.
Ok, maybe not hours, but it felt like that; before all Hell broke loose.
Shots are fired, sounds of glass shattering and men cursing fill my ears and my mind provides me with absolutely horrific images based on the grunts, groans, and thunks.
A grunted curse comes from Charlie and I break my silence. I was trying so hard to leave them be; I didn’t want to distract them, but I needed to know what the fork was happening.
“Alpha! Delta? Someone!? What is going on!?” My voice is high-pitched as panic takes root.
After a few more grunts and yells, Danny roars, “Fall back! Now!”
My eyes go wide as I hear the raw fear in his voice.
“Go, go, go!!!” Stu screams. Suddenly, a flash of movement brings my attention back to the screens in front of me.
Out of the bakery runs one of my guys with a man over his shoulder. Two others are holding up a third who’s limping. They look to be dragging him more than anything.
Stupid Balaclavas. I can’t even figure out who is who.
Just then, the man that is being carried, rolls his head back and shouts a curse, “Fuck!”
No, no, no, no. This can’t be. I know that voice!
“Ch-Charlie. Oh God, Charlie, are you ok?”
He mumbles something incoherently and I feel a warm tear slither down my cheek.
“Omega, call Doc. Tell him we have two and we need a lot of meds.” I nod vigorously as if they could see, and pull up Doc’s number. Clicking on his name, I put it on speaker just in time for a harsh orange glow to balloon out before the video feed goes dark The comms rumble with the sounds of what must have been a forking bomb. Then, they screech loudly, before turning to static... then cut out completely.
I scream out.,“Nnnoooooo!!!!”
Panic consumes me, clawing at my throat until I fall to the floor.
Gasping for breath, my world becomes fuzzy before a voice cuts through the haze. “Beatrice! Beatrice! What’s going on? I’m on my way but I need to know. I need you to take a breath, can you do that for me?”
I nod, forgetting he can’t see me before gulping in mouthfuls of air. “No, no Beatrice; deep breaths. Ready, count one, two, three, hold. Now release.” I follow his instructions three more times until I finally come back down.
“OK, sorry. Um, Charlie’s hurt, and some other guy but then there was an explosion and I don’t know, Doc. I don’t know!” I’m spiraling, hyperventilating again, but Doc stops me and forces me to breathe deeply, once again.
As soon as I’m in more control, he gives me instructions to prepare for their arrival.
For the next ten minutes, Doc has me running around the house gathering supplies. But, half the stuff I’m pretty sure was just an excuse to give me something to do; something to take my mind off of the what-ifs swirling around. Like, why does he need a spatula? And do I really want to know?
No, I probably don’t.
Just as Doc gives me another order, the front door bangs open, startling a shriek from me.
Then, my four bloodied and bruised men limp through the door; having already stripped off their balaclavas.
Well, three of them do.
Even brushes past me looking pissed as all heck while Danny and Stu drag Charlie in by his arms and legs. “Oh, God. Charlie. What the fork happened?” I yell as I hobble behind them toward my bedroom. I don't comment on their choice as I assume they're taking him there because it’s the closest one to the door.
Maybe that’s what they used to use the room for.
A bitter chill runs down my spine as I realize that Charlie isn’t moving. He’s barely even groaning while they maneuver him through the house.
I watch helplessly as they hoist him into the bed and begin stripping off his boots. Not knowing what else to do, I hurriedly make my way over to the bed, scoot myself up using my one good arm, and begin looking him over.
He has cuts and gashes along his face and what appears to be road rash down his right arm. His black, long sleeves are shredded, but it’s the worst on the right side.
“Help me get this off,” Stu says in a shaky voice. His hands are trembling as he fumbles with the velcro of the Kevlar vest.
Danny bumps Stu over a little, swiftly unfastens the vest, and slides it out from under him. Charlie’s agonizing groan causes a sob to burst from me and I immediately find the dark, wet spot that’s causing him pain; directly to the right of the spot the Kevlar was protecting. It looks like he was shot from the side, and it dug into his chest neat his heart.
Danny wastes no time in ripping the shirt down the middle before ripping both sleeves, as well; letting them lie open and dirty on the bed below.
“Ch-Charlie?” I whisper as Stu starts to pack the wound.
His face is ashen, pale, and covered with sweat. “M-My sweet Omega. I-” His cough breaks through his labored breathing.
I impatiently point toward one of the cold pots of water and fresh cloths Doc requested. But I can’t seem to find the words to tell anyone what I need.
Thankfully, Danny interprets my silent request. He rushes over to one of the large pots in the corner, picks it up, and swipes a cloth from the dresser. When he returns, he slides it on the nightstand next to me. I deliberately ignore his rueful smile because I just can’t handle his sadness right now.
Wearing my own miserable smile, I dip the cloth in the water and start rubbing the cool liquid across his cheeks, his forehead, then against his scalp.
“Sshhh, it’s okay. You’re going to be ok. Doc’s coming. He’ll be here soon.” I’m not sure if my rambling is more for me or for him but I can’t stop the twin waterfalls sliding down my face.
I should have made more of an effort with him. He was so hot and cold when I first got here. Then, he said he had feelings for me…then he went dark-ish. He hung out with us, and even watched more than one of our little trysts, but he never spoke, never participated, and never stayed in the room if I was by myself. Maybe he changed his mind.
Honestly, I’m totally fine if that’s the case, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care for the big grump.
A cold, clammy hand meets mine and I’m shocked out of my head. “Guys…” Charlie’s breath rattles and blood has trickled out of his mouth.
“I need,” cough; deep breath , “a minute.”
Confusion racks my brain as I look up to see a devastated Stu. I rip my gaze from his to Danny’s and find resignation and a sullen stare. “N-No. They need to help. I don’t have enough strength to put pressure on the wound. I can’t, I can’t…”
Deep breath. “Beatrice, Baby,” deep breath, “Please. Breathe,” deep breath.
A sob rips from my soul as I stare into his once icy, blue eyes. Now, they’re almost pale compared to the redness streaking around his cornea.
Danny and Stu slip from the room and Charlie pulls his shredded arm around me, forcing me to snuggle up next to him with my head on his chest. I can’t even be excited about seeing him half-naked. It’s not right.
None of this is right.
He groans and shakily lifts his other arm and places a meaty finger under my chin. He encourages me to look up at him, even though I fight the gentle pressure from his finger for a moment.
“P-please, stay with me, Charlie. You can’t give up.” His eyes fill with tears as he smiles the sweetest dang smile I’ve ever seen.
“The only regret…” he hoarsely whispers, “Is that I never took you out on a date.”
My tears fall faster and his beautiful, dirty face blurs in front of me.
“I love you Beatrice.” cough- cough; deep, rattling breath .
He gently urges our lips together and electricity shoots through me in the most horrifically beautiful way.
There’s no way. This can’t be happening. We didn’t even get to start…
Breaking the kiss, he coughs again, blood flying everywhere. After a couple of deep-ish breaths, he barely breathes out, “M-My, little, Omega.”
His eyes close. His body relaxes and his hand falls away from my face.
Then the floodgates of tears are ripped open; just like my heart.