Page 54 of The Devil’s Escape (The Devil’s Soldiers #7)
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
AVERY
What the fuck?
I don’t know what the hell is going on, but neither Crypt nor Theo is telling me anything. Crypt is standing like a statue at the window, barely moving, his gaze intense on whatever he’s trying to see out the window.
When I heard the shouts and gunshots, I shoved the kids into the bathroom, terrified and trying to plan a way to get the hell out.
Fear gripped me tight by the throat, and it didn’t ease even when Crypt came running in, telling me everything was under control and to let them out.
When I demanded to know what was going on, all I got was Theo barking orders at Thea, who was running by, to get up to watch over Rose.
Why the hell are there two guards on us and only Thea on Rose? None of this is making sense. Where is Hulk? Why isn’t he up here?
He’s handling whatever the hell is going on down there, dumbass.
I ignore the voice in my head. I have to put some of this anger and terror somewhere, and it’s turning on him. I could get mad at Crypt, but I have a feeling that it’s futile, so I bite it back. Barely.
There are pounding steps outside the room, and I turn quickly when the door suddenly opens.
Hulk appears in the doorway, his face tight and grim.
I look at him quickly, assessing, but I don’t see any blood or indications that he’s been hurt.
Thank God. Wait, then that means someone else is.
His eyes look at me, and he holds out his hand.
“We need you, angel,” he rasps. “Theo and Crypt will stay with the kids.”
“Don’t even think of trying to leave this room,” I warn them. “I’ll be back.”
“Sure, just leave the kids in the dark like always,” Isla snipes bitterly.
I don’t have time to deal with her attitude.
I open my mouth to snap at her, but Hulk says simply, “Look, I know this is hard, but until we know one hundred percent that you are safe, then we are going to protect you. I’ll be with your sister, so she’s safe.
Crypt and Theo are former Special Forces and the Army.
You are in safe hands, okay? I’ll explain as soon as I can. ”
Then he takes my hand and pulls me out. I glance behind me quickly and see Sawyer and Isla exchanging a look, but I don’t hear any arguing, so they must have decided to take Hulk at his word.
Or they’re silently plotting on how to get out of there, but Crypt and Theo will handle it. I hope. If not, I’ll have their balls.
Hulk and I run down the hall, and he leads me down to the med bay.
When I walk in, I stop in my tracks at the sight in front of me.
Three dead bodies and five living men sitting in chairs along the wall.
The tension, grief, resentment, and anger in the room are thick.
Medic is working on the man in the first chair, and I recognize him as Angel.
Wait a damn fucking minute. I look again at the five men and see their cuts.
Heaven’s Misfits. I glance back at the bodies, and my heart clenches when I realize that all three of them are wearing the Devil’s Soldiers MC cuts.
My gaze cuts sharply to Hulk, and I see the pain now, but it’s hidden behind a blank expression, simmering just under the surface.
I look from Hulk to Bullet, who stands in front of the three bodies of his friends—no, brothers -- a look on his face that is full of guilt, pain, and determination.
Beside him stands Sniper, who looks like he’s ready to rage and tear the room apart, but is managing to keep himself together somehow.
King, Torque, Cryos, and one of the Prospects are in the corner, all of them with varying expressions.
Kaleb looks like he’s barely holding himself together, but he’s putting on a brave face.
“Avery, I need you to help me get them all bandaged up,” Medic says, not looking around, sensing I’m standing here.
I look at Hulk, and he gives me a quick nod. “We’ll explain as soon as they’re patched up,” he promises me. “You’re safe, angel. I’m right here with you.”
“If you’d feel better, we can tie our hands,” Angel offers, looking at me.
There’s regret, maybe even remorse, in his eyes.
“I’ve never laid a hand on a woman in anger or anything of the like in my life.
None of us has. What Arson and Silver did is unforgiveable and I don’t fly with that shit.
I’m sorry I couldn’t have prevented it.”
I just grab the items I need and walk toward them.
This is one of those moments I need to trust my gut, and I need to trust that Hulk has my back.
He crowds behind me once I stand in front of the guy with the road name Dozer, pulling on my gloves.
Dozer adjusts himself, sitting on his hands in what I take to be a gesture to show he’s not a threat. That remains to be seen.
I get to work on cleaning and stitching them all up while Medic sets Angel’s nose, who lets out a sharp curse at the snapping sound. “Fucker,” Angel gasps.
“You should be used to it with the amount of time this thing has been broken,” Medic replies lightly, unoffended. He looks over at me. “You good with the others?”
I nod, stepping away from Sting, the last one in the row.
“They’ll all live.” I glance at the bodies still being guarded by their friends and brothers.
“Though I don’t know if that’s a good thing.
” I don’t keep the dark tone out of my voice.
The five men don’t even flinch. I look at Medic again. “Do you need help with them?”
Medic looks at his friends and swallows hard, grief clear on his face. “I’ll need your help once we get things figured out here. I have a spot we can keep them until we’re ready to involve the authorities.” The words are sad and soft.
“Fuck!” Bullet roars, the pain that rips from him is sharp and so angry that I can feel it even from here.
He turns and slams his fist into the wall next to where King and the others are standing.
They all jump, but none of them back out of Bullet’s way.
“Three more. Three more fucking dead,” he snarls.
I can feel his fury even from here. Raw and visceral.
“One of them is barely a fucking adult. He was just a fucking kid.” He rounds on Angel and the others.
“You’re going to fucking tell me every fucking thing you know,” he spits, stalking forward.
“Or I’ll beat it out of you before I kill you. ”
I step back into Hulk, wary of this exchange.
I get it. Grief and anger will make people do stupid things, act in ways they don’t normally, and I definitely don’t want to be in the middle of it.
Hulk wraps his arm around my waist and holds me tight to his front.
His entire body is vibrating with tension, and I put a soothing hand on his arm, stroking against the skin comfortingly with my fingers.
I’ll give Angel and the rest of his crew props for not backing down at Bullet’s anger and getting in their faces, though I think he’s pretty stupid. The man looks ready to murder them. “We’ll tell you everything,” he promises. “Do you want us to talk now or when your other men get back?”
“We don’t have the time to wait for them, and we’ll fill them in when they get back,” Sniper states sharply. “Start talking.”
Angel glances at me briefly, but I hold his stare. I don’t give a flying fuck about any of their club business bullshit that was being spouted earlier. I’m here to support Hulk and help where I can.
Before Angel can speak, there’s a commotion, and we all turn our heads to see Rose rush inside, her eyes wild as she looks around until her eyes land on Bullet and then her sons.
Thea rushes in behind her, looking frazzled and apologetic, but she moves straight to stand next to Sniper, a silent show of support.
I half expect Bullet to blast Rose for being down here, but instead, he doesn’t say anything and just watches her as she walks over to look at the bodies lying on the tables that were brought in.
I expect her to cry, but I watch as her face hardens, her eyes full of vicious fury. “Who killed my boys?” she asks quietly, her tone making me shiver. There’s death there, just as deadly as her husband’s. It makes my respect, and a healthy dose of trepidation, grow.
I’m starting to see just how perfectly matched they are.
Bullet gives her a quick run-down, which also informs me and Thea as to just what is going on.
Knowing that Arson and the other men are gone eases some worry, but not when he explains that those who went with him are as well and will probably be coming back to try and kill us all.
Fuck, this entire situation is a mess.
When Bullet finishes, Rose looks over at Angel and the others.
Her gaze is cold, assessing, and I swear I see them all shuffle awkwardly, unlike how they had been with Bullet.
The power of this woman knows no bounds.
Finally, she states, “I trust my man, and if he trusts you, then I’ll trust you.
But hear me now, if I find out that you had anything to do with my boys’ deaths, or anything else that’s going to happen before this is over, I’ll kill you myself.
And I’ll make sure that it’s far slower and much more painful than anything the rest of them do to you. ”
Angel and the others all nod. “The only thing we want to do is deal with Arson and the others, get rid of them, Vlad, and the bullshit that’s going on.
Then, we want to go home and fix our fucking club.
I have allies ready to help us, and I’d ask them to come here, but I doubt they’d get here in time. ”
“I’ve already called in help,” Bullet states. “They’ll be here shortly if things go to plan.”