Chapter 37 #2
“Holy shit,” I curse under my breath as my mind reels with memories from when he’d visit in the past. But then the ground shakes again.
Rocco reaches into his cut and I quickly step forward, catching his wrist.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I purr and reach in, taking his gun in hand and aiming it at him. “Now, like he said, unlock my door.”
With shaky hands and a glare that promises pain, Rocco unlocks it and I keep the gun trained on him. When my door is unlocked, I snag the keyrings from him and toss them through the bars towards Lena.
“Open your door, Lena.”
Rocco grits his teeth as she does as I ask. The Shadow pulls something out of his pocket as Lena steps out of her cell and he hands it to her.
“Zip tie his wrists,” he tells her and then the corner of his lips twitch. “And feel free to make them as tight as you want.”
Lena quickly does as he asks and she damn near smiles when Rocco hisses in pain as the zip ties bite into his skin. The Shadow brings the butt of his gun down on Rocco, striking him along the temple and knocking him out. Then, he tosses me more zip ties as he pockets his gun.
“We need to secure them to the bars. My team will be here soon to take them in.”
I frown. “Team?”
The Shadow zip ties Scooter’s wrists together, ignoring his cries of pain and promises of retribution.
“I’ll explain later,” he huffs out as he maneuvers Scooter closer to the bars and secures his wrists to the bars.
My lips press thin in irritation, but I know he’s right. We need to get out of here.
We make quick work of securing the other men to the bars. Before leaving, I search their pockets, taking their guns, emptying their clips and tossing them in different cells and out of reach.
I pause when I get to the last gun and turn to Lena. “Have you ever shot a gun before?”
She nods shakily and takes it from me. “My dad taught me how to shoot but it’s been years.”
I pat her shoulder. “That’s okay, it’s like riding a bike. Just point and shoot if someone attacks you. Aim for the largest target, their chest, and remember to keep moving.”
I turn toward The Shadow. He said team, but I don’t know who that is. Or if they really are on my side. He must see the hesitation in me because he places a hand gently on my shoulder, guiding me out into the hallway.
“I’m an undercover Fed,” he says quietly as we jog through the corridors. “I’m not a good man, but I have turned. Tico and the club are here. They’re working with us.”
I exhale heavily in relief, but just as I’m about to ask something, he suddenly grabs my shoulders and pulls me back just as a bullet wizzes by my head.
“Fucking hell,” I grit out as he leans around the corner, taking a shot.
A second later, he pulls us behind him and we continue until we get to the breeding room. Dozens of women cower in their bunks, under them, or in corners. It takes me a moment before I realize they’re all chained to the bunk beds.
The Shadow hands me a keyring and I realize he must have taken it from Scooter before. Holstering the gun, I run to the first woman I see.
“Wait, Ember, is that you?” the woman asks and I realize it’s Jezebel, the woman who stitched me up years ago.
“Yes, it’s me, and we’re going to get you out of here.” I sink to her feet and unlock her chain as she sobs in relief at being free. I hand her another keyring and she heads in the opposite direction of me, working quickly to free the others.
Halfway through, a commotion sounds behind me, but I keep working. Suddenly, concrete explodes beside me and I can’t stop my yelp before I spin on my heel.
Standing in front of me is my dead-beat father, Jerry.
Wait. If what The Shadow told me is true, then he isn’t my father.
But then my thoughts screech to a halt when he raises his gun, aiming it at me.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Lena is huddled with the other women in a corner but now there are three men pointing guns at them and her gun is now on the floor by their feet.
Nearby, another two men are fighting with The Shadow.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Shadow,” Jerry says in a sing-song voice as he continues pointing his gun at me.
The Shadow’s head snaps up and his eyes turn murderous when he sees Jerry holding me at gunpoint. He grunts as the two men get him down on his knees and a moment later, I hear them zip tying his hands behind his back.
“Leave her out of this, Jerry,” he seethes.
Jerry snarls. “You’ve taken everything from me!” he yells before he turns back to me. “You cost me so much money, you stupid fucking bitch! I’m going to get what I’m owed one way or another and you’re going to help me whether you want to or not.”
The Shadow struggles against his captors at his words and I try to look around, seeing if there’s any way I can get out of this.
Jerry grins and I know what he’s going to do before he does it.
I lunge out of the way right as he pulls the trigger, but I’m not fast enough.
Pain blooms along my arm as we both collide on the ground, rolling around as we fight.
I try to pry the gun out of his hands but his anger and hate have completely consumed him.
He hits my face with the gun and then another searing pain rips along the same arm as the gun slips a bit in his hand.
I grit my teeth against the pain as I continue to fight him.
Jerry manages to slip a hand free and he backhands me, hard, before I can block it.
A metallic taste coats my tongue, and I see stars for a couple of seconds.
Unfortunately, he takes advantage of those seconds, and I freeze when I feel the barrel of his gun press against my forehead.
“You should have fucking obeyed me, bitch. Now you’re going to pay.”
I close my eyes, sending up a prayer that Pyper and Tico are safe. Regret fills me that I never got to tell Tico that I loved him. I just hope that he knows that I did.