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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

HAP

We ride for an hour, following a lead Ghost got this morning. Apparently, Eugene was staying at a small farmhouse owned by one of his friends. We ride our bikes as close as we can before we leave them by some trees and bushes to keep them out of sight. We then make the rest of the way by foot. Beast, Hawk, and Acid take the back, with Ghost, Spider, Cash, Scar, and me taking the front. It’s quiet, and there are no cars parked outside.

I pull my gun out as we make our way up the porch steps, pausing to look through the dirty windows. “You really think Eugene would stay here?” I ask.

“Depends how desperate he is, I guess.” Ghost shrugs. Scar places his hand on the handle, ready to open the door. We are all poised to go in when Ghost’s cell rings. He holds up his hand to pause us. “It’s Acid.” He frowns, answering. “Why are—” Ghost starts, but Acids yell down the phone, cutting him off.

“It’s a fucking trap! It’s a fucking bomb! Run!” he bellows down the phone.

“Fuck!” Ghost curses. We all bolt as quick as our legs will take us.

My heart thumps widely in my chest as fear and adrenaline course through my veins when suddenly an enormous BANG! sounds from behind us. We had barely made it even ten feet from the house when the enormous blast erupted, propelling my body forward, hurtling it across the gravel drive. Rocks and stone cut and scrape at the skin on my arms and face. My ears ring at a piercing high pitch. I blink, trying to focus, feeling like the world is swaying beneath me as I try to look around for my brothers. I force myself to move, groaning as my body protests in agony at seeing the farmhouse engulfed in flames. I spot a body to my left, and I quickly crawl to it on my hands and knees, rolling it over with all my strength.

“Scar!” I yell, but he’s unconscious. “Scar!” I yell again. Placing my finger to his neck to check for a pulse, I exhale a breath when I feel a strong beat. I tap his face, calling his name again. “Scar!” I yell. The ringing in my ears distorts the sound of my own voice and the noises around me. He blinks a few times, frowning, and I sigh with relief. “You’re okay,” I assure him before I look around.

Spotting Ghost slowly getting to his feet, his arms are covered in blood, much like mine. He looks at me, fear and pure fury piercing his gaze. I stand, steadying myself on my feet before I reach a hand out to Scar. He grabs it, and I help him up, both of us wobbling.

“Find the others!” Ghost yells. I wince with the ringing but nod. Patting Scar’s back, I spot Acid, Hawk, and Beast making their way from around the back of the house through the thick black smoke. They are all coughing and spluttering, but Beast is limping. It’s then that I notice a large spike of wood impaled in his thigh.

“Ghost!” I yell back to him as I make my way over to them.

“Fuck, am I glad to see you fuckers,” I state, draping Beast’s arm over my shoulder to help him. “Still need to find Cash and Spider,” I say through gritted teeth. I sit Beast down on a large boulder far enough away from the house and go and help search for Cash and Spider.

“Over here!” Scar yells. I move quickly, as do the others, to find Cash unmoving, sprawled out on the ground. His head is placed on a large rock, and blood is cascading from his head.

“Fuck!” I bark. “Call a fucking ambulance. We can’t move him.” I pull my shirt off and ball it up, carefully holding it to his head in an effort to stem the bleeding. Acid pulls his cell out and calls the emergency services. “Spider?” I ask Hawk, but he shakes his head and shrugs.

“A little fucking help!” Ghost yells from over in the longer grass. Hawk runs over to him, and I watch as they both bend down, picking up Spider. I am relieved to see he’s awake. He drapes his arms around each of their shoulders, and the state of his right leg makes me grimace. His foot is facing an unnatural direction, and as they get closer, I can see bone protruding from his shin.

“Fuck!” I hiss, feeling like I’m back in the army, fighting a fucking war with no fucking options and soldiers falling all around me.

Beast hobbles his way over, his eyes flickering to Cash and Spider. “Fuck,” he breathes.

“You shouldn’t be fucking moving,” I remind him.

“How did you know it was a bomb?” Ghost pants, asking Acid.

“I saw the discarded trash at the back of the house. I peered through the back window and saw the bomb just inside the front door,” Acid states.

“Thank fuck you know your shit,” Ghost sighs, flickering his eyes to Cash. “How is he?” he asks, concern filling his gaze.

“He’s got a pulse. As for everything else, not a fucking clue,” I answer. “Has anyone checked in with the house? Alina? Star?” I ask, a new surge of panic filling my chest.

Hawk is immediately on his phone. “Josie, is everyone okay?” he asks, unable to hide the panic in his voice. “Okay, good. Lock shit down and do not leave the house. Do not open the door to anyone. I love you,” he says before disconnecting. “All safe.”

We all release a breath of relief, and Ghost quickly thumbs through his cell, hitting call. “Rage, I need you to get back to the house with Star and Alina now. Don’t say anything to them; just get them fucking home. The house was a trap. When I next call you, I want you to bring Maggie, Belle, and Nova to the hospital. They’re going to want to be with their men,” Ghost orders. “Good. Let me know when you’ve got them home safe,” he adds before disconnecting. “It’s good, everyone is good,” he assures us, looking at me, and I can already feel some of that worry lifting from my shoulders. The siren of the ambulance approaches, and we all exchange a look, praying the police aren’t close behind them, because the last thing we need is to be stuck explaining shit to them.

As the ambulance draws near, we breathe a sigh of relief. Ghost waves them over, and the EMTs jump out of the truck with a cautious glance. I’m not sure what Ghost says, but he pulls out a thick amount of cash from his back pocket. They nod, and one of them runs back for the stretcher, while the other drops to Cash’s side. She works fast, and I step back to give her some space.

“How are we getting Beast’s, Spider’s, and Cash’s bikes out of here?” I ask.

“There’s a thick pull five minutes up the road. Ride each one down there. Hawk, you go with him to ride him back. Do it now, and do it quickly. They only have so long before they have to report back in,” Ghost states. I nod and follow Hawk.

Once I’ve hidden their bikes out of view and proximity to the house, I ride back with Hawk. As we ride up, the EMT turns to me. “You have three minutes maximum until the police and fire service will be here,” she warns us before she jumps into the seat.

I nod and run for my bike, feeling every part of my body aching in pain, but I don’t have time to stop and think about that now as I jump on my bike.

“Meet at the house. Shower and change, then straight to the hospital,” Ghost orders.

We nod and head back to the house.

We make it back before Rage with Alina and Star. I shower quickly, cringing as the water stings the cuts on my skin. I dress quickly in jeans and a black T-shirt, just in case any of my cuts start bleeding again. Less chance of the blood showing on a black T-shirt. My body still aches when I move, but we didn’t have time for me to whine about it. Right now, all I wanted was to have Alina back here in my arms and for my brothers to be okay.

I walk into the living room, seeing Queenie comforting Maggie. Belle is pacing back and forth anxiously, and Nova is curled up on the couch deep in her own thoughts.

I walk to Ghost. “Any word from Rage yet?” I ask.

Ghost shakes his head. “No, they should be back here in the next ten minutes if Rage managed to get them to leave right away.” I nod. “What if I take the other truck and take them to the hospital?” I suggest.

Ghost shakes his head no. “Right now, I know they’re safe in the hospital. I can’t risk losing another man. I don’t know what the fuck is coming next. I want my woman back here, then I can plan,” he sighs, looking out the window.

“Where are the kids?” I ask.

He smirks. “Oliver is sat with them in one of the bedrooms with a movie on. They are safe in their playpen. Rhea didn’t want him seeing everyone so upset, so she gave him the job of guarding the babies,” he says, forcing a tight smile. He shakes his head. “I should have been more cautious. Fuck, I should have known it was a fucking trap,” he hisses.

I sigh. “You weren’t to know. We all want to find him, and we all want that mother fucker dead. Now more than ever. We will find him Pres, and he will fucking pay for everything he has done,” I vow.

Ghost gives me a brief nod. I turn around to give him some space. Pulling out my cell, I send a quick text to Alina. No one has told her or Star what’s happened yet, not wanting to panic them.

H: You nearly back at the house?

Alina replies instantly, lifting a heaviness off my chest.

A: I think so. I don’t like to ask Rage. He seems to be in a mood.

That has me smirking, knowing full well he wouldn’t even talk to them. Only focusing on getting them back safely.

H: I’m sure he’s fine. Just leave him be.

A: I am, but Star is singing to him to try and cheer him up. I don’t think he appreciates it.

I cough out a laugh before walking back to Ghost, showing him the screen on my phone.

His lips twitch with amusement. “That’s why she hasn’t fucking replied to my texts,” he tuts.

H: Just make sure she doesn’t distract him while driving. I want you home safe.

I click send and wait for her reply.

I wait some more, but nothing comes.

Minutes pass as I stare at my screen, waiting. My gut starts to twist as worry seeps in. Suddenly, the three dots appear, telling me that she’s typing. I sigh with relief, thinking how ridiculous it was of me to worry so soon.

That is until her message comes through. All colour drains from my face as fear trickles up my spine as I read her one word.

A: Help.

“What are they up to now?” Ghost asks. I look at him and hand him my phone. His grip tightens so tight on my phone, I’m surprised it doesn’t crumble into a million pieces. “FUCK!” he roars.