Page 25 of The Devil’s Escape (The Devil’s Soldiers #7)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

AVERY

I don’t know how I became his angel, but if it means calming him down, I’ll be whatever he needs me to be.

The room that Rose eventually leads us to is decently spacious, but I can already tell that they squeezed an extra bed in here because there isn’t much room to maneuver around.

“Sorry for the tight quarters, but I figured that you wouldn’t want to be separated considering the circumstances,” Rose explains as she gives us a small smile.

“Thank you,” I say with a tired, but grateful, smile.

“And we also made sure to give you a room with a private bathroom,” Rose adds, moving to the left side of the room to open another door.

I move forward to peek inside and see a small bathroom with just a toilet, sink, and stand-up shower.

“I put some items in there for you like soap, towels, and shampoo, but if you need anything else, just let me know and I can get someone to get you anything. And I had them grab a change of clothes for each of you so if you want to change into something else, you have the option. Hopefully, they will fit.”

“I think we’re good,” I assure her. “Thank you again, Rose. It’s really appreciated.” She has no idea how much.

“Honey, because of you, one of my boys is home, so you have nothing to thank me for. It’s me who is thanking you. Now, all of you relax and feel free to get some sleep if you need it. If you need anything, just come on downstairs, alright?”

We nod and then she leaves, shutting the door quietly behind her. “I’m getting my own bed,” Sawyer announced immediately, moving to the twin bed and flopping back on it. “You two can share the bigger bed.”

“Fine.” Isla shrugs, flopping on the larger bed as well.

“I don’t want to share a bed with you anyway.

You stink. And you’re a sheet hog.” Sawyer doesn’t reply to that, he just lifts his hand and flips her off.

I probably should tell them to cut it out but I’m too fucking tired, and some of the banter between them is comforting.

I’m bone-deep tired, and I don’t even know what to do with myself right now.

But I also know I need to get a shower. “Both of you get some sleep or figure out something else to do, but I’m going to shower,” I tell them as I head for the bathroom.

“And no snooping around. Stay in the room until I’m done, and don’t open it to anyone. ”

“I thought you said we’re safe here,” Isla says, her voice quivering slightly.

Sawyer sits up quickly, his face also concerned.

“As far as I know, we are, but we don’t know these people, and I think we need to remember that,” I answer honestly. The suspicious faces filter through my mind. “They helped us, and yes, they took us in to keep us safe from Vlad, but that doesn’t mean we can let our guard down either.”

Both share a glance and then slowly nod. “Yeah, you’re right,” Isla agrees softly. “I like everyone here, especially Rose, but you’re right, we don’t know them.”

I nod. “Good. Both of you relax. We’ll talk more once I get out of the shower.”

“You’re okay though, right?” Isla asks, softly. “You weren’t hurt?”

I shake my head and give her a reassuring smile. “No, I wasn’t hurt, I promise. But it’s been a long day and we’re all exhausted. Might be a good idea to get some sleep.”

“I can’t sleep now,” Sawyer huffs. “It’s like only suppertime. If I sleep now, I’ll be up at like two in the morning.”

I shrug. “Fine, then the two of you figure out what you want to do, but I’m going for a shower.

” I shut the door, but leave it unlocked just in case.

When I step under the hot water, I close my eyes and let it pour over me.

I’m so tired. Bone-deep exhaustion in a way that I haven’t felt in a very long time.

Both from relief, the adrenaline crashing inside me, and a lingering fear that this isn’t over.

That Vlad or Nikolai are going to be after us more than ever.

Another small part of me worries that they might kill our mother to try and get her to tell them where we might be, but that’s on her, not me. She’s the one who put us in this situation in the first place, and I have more to worry about.

Namely, that we don’t all end up dead alongside her.

Have I made the right decision? Was coming here, helping to get Hulk out, the right one to make?

Or am I going to put us in even more danger?

Hell, will I put the MC in more danger with us being here?

Surely, Vlad will know by now where we are, and if he decides to strike at the club because of it, that’s another thing to add to my conscience.

Fuck, this entire situation is a lose-lose in one way or another, but there’s also no point in moaning about it.

We’re safe, for now, and we can only work through this one day at a time.

I need to finish my shower, and hopefully get something to eat before I go to sleep.

Maybe tomorrow things will be a bit clearer.

I quickly finish my shower, climbing out and wrapping myself in a towel. I groan when I see how knotted and a mess my hair is. I’m probably going to have to get Isla to help me, at least until I can ask if I can get the normal products I use. Having curly hair is a pain in the ass most of the time.

I dress in a pair of black leggings and a large black T-shirt with the club’s logo on the back that dwarfs me.

A faint scent hits me, and I lift the shirt to my nose, drawing it in.

I don’t know whose shirt this is, but it smells wonderful, and I want to burrow my face in it and go to sleep.

It’s a mixture of woodsy and smoky, one of my favorite combinations on a man.

If this is one of the MC guy’s shirts, then I definitely want to meet him.

“Avery!” Isla calls out urgently.

I still, panic instantly filling me, as I quickly open the door and rush out, uncaring that I probably look like a total mess with my still dripping hair. I stop when I see that Bullet is standing in the doorway, a grim expression on his face.

He doesn’t even bat an eye when he sees the state of my hair. “We need you down in the med bay,” he tells me tightly. “Hulk’s fighting the sedative and keeps trying to get up and try to find his angel. Can you come and calm him down? Please?”

I nod, and hurry out of the room after him, with both kids on my heels.

There’s no point in even trying to tell them to stay in the room, so I don’t bother.

When we get back downstairs, I see a few of the men look at me in shock, and then a few snicker, but I ignore them.

I hear the yelling before we reach the med area.

Then I hear the crash of something and wince.

I turn around and tell my siblings, “Stay here.”

“I’ve got them,” I hear someone say, and when I turn, I see Frost standing there. His eyes glance at my hair, but he wisely keeps any thoughts to himself. Rose moves to stand next to them as well, her face a mix of fear and pain.

I give them both a quick nod, and then I hurry inside the room, where I see Medic, Shadow, Viper, and another man I don’t recognize holding a pissed-off and drugged-up Hulk down in his bed as he struggles against them.

Even as weak as he is, he’s strong enough to have them working hard to keep him down.

“Enough,” I bark, startling them all, including Hulk.

His angry and mildly delirious blue eyes immediately shoot to me. “Angel,” he rasps, relief filling his tone, and his body sagging back against the bed.

“Yeah, well, I’m not going to be your angel if you tear open any of the stitches that Medic and I worked hard to put in,” I tell him shortly, but I walk through the large men to stand next to his bed.

I let out a yelp of surprise when he suddenly reaches out, grabs me, and hauls me half into the bed with him.

His arms wrap around me so tight that there’s no way I can pull away.

My heart pounds, but I force myself to stay calm, even as the men all curse.

I shake my head quickly when they move to intervene.

“Angel,” Hulk says, burrowing his head into my chest and nuzzling his nose into the center of my breasts.

Any other time I’d be pissed, but I’m reminding myself that he’s mostly out of it and probably has no idea what’s happening right now.

“Thought you were gone. Need you. Protect you.” It’s whispered words, but I can feel him calming down.

I’m not sure what to do in this situation.

Sure I’ve been grabbed at before while working, but this, this is something different.

And my heart squeezes hard in my chest. “I’m safe, big guy,” I assure him calmly, trying to sound soothing, even with the worry just under it.

I must pull it off enough because he nuzzles me again, and I can feel him relaxing some more.

Being at an odd angle, I need to get him to let me up.

“How about you let me go so I can see to your back, huh? Make sure you didn’t undo all our hard work? ”

“No, stay,” he mutters, but he does ease up enough that I can move up onto the bed in a more comfortable position. I don’t plan on staying here long, but I’d like to not pull my back out in the meantime.

“I’m not leaving,” I assure him softly, my hand coming up to gently run over the back of his head, gently probing to make sure that he didn’t hit his head again.

His hair is gritty from blood and not being washed in who knows how long, but I ignore it.

He gives a soft moan, his grip around me tightening as he holds me tight.

I still my hand, before I gently do the process again, noting his reactions.

Nothing that would indicate he hit his head again, but it’s certainly sore.

“You smell good,” Hulk rumbles.

“See if you can get him to roll to his side so I can look at his back,” Medic murmurs, stepping up to the other side of the bed, gloves already on.

I nod. “Alright, Hulk, we need to adjust positions, okay?”