Chapter Eighteen
Davin wiped the sweat from his brow and dusted the dirt from his pants. It had taken nearly all day, but they had finally done it. No way some Russian prick was getting into their neighborhood unless his crew brought them in themselves.
He picked up a water bottle and sucked down the whole thing in no time flat. He’d just picked up another when he spotted Noel speeding down the road.
“What’s up?” Torin asked.
Davin shrugged. No one had called him.
They stepped over to the side of the road where Noel came to a screeching halt.
“Get in,” he said quickly.
Davin frowned. “What’s up?”
“It’s Morgan. Her store is on fire.”
Davin’s heart stopped, but luckily his feet knew what to do. He hopped into the car, Torin and Kane close behind him.
Noel waited just long enough for the doors to close before he peeled away from the curb. The gates were open at the front, waiting for them to make their way out.
“How do you know?” Davin asked, his grip on the water bottle so tight that it creaked under his grip.
“Because of Anton,” Noel said quietly. “I’m always tuned in to calls for fires. When they said the address, I knew they were after her.”
Davin turned to stare at his cousin. He knew more than anyone the price of grappling with Anton. “Are the police there?”
Noel shook his head. “No,” he said. “We have a few minutes on them.” He turned to stare at Davin. “We’ll make it.”
Davin wasn’t a praying man. Hell, with the shit he had done in life, he didn’t much think that God wanted his prayers, but maybe just this once it would be okay. Maybe if it were for her.
He chanted every prayer he could remember from when he attended church with his grandmother.
They could smell the smoke before they had even turned the corner. Black smoke filled the street. It was a fucking bookstore. Like fuel for the fire.
Noel screeched around the corner.
“Holy shit,” Torin mumbled from the back.
Orange flames leapt high into the sky as the little bookstore glowed with flames. People from neighboring stores where standing outside gaping at the blaze.
Before the car had even stopped, Davin was out the door, whipping his shirt off.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Kane yelled at him.
Davin pulled his gun out and pointed it at the older man. “I’m going to save her, and not one of you is going to stop me.”
Torin and Kane stepped back, raising their hands. He tossed the gun back into the car. The metal would just heat up and be a problem.
Davin poured water over the shirt and then dumped the rest over his head.
Not even looking back, he covered his mouth and ran through the blazing door.
Hot didn’t even begin to describe the room. Every inch of paper was up in a blaze of deadly glory.
The heat burned his eyes as the smoke choked him through the shirt. He pushed inside. He had to find her. She had to still be alive.
Davin pushed into the back of the store. He found her body still on the floor. Blood matted her hair, but luckily, the flames hadn’t reached her yet.
He placed the shirt over her mouth and lifted her body into his arms. He started chanting the prayers again, hoping one would be heard, and she might be okay.
He turned to go back out the way he’d come, but the path was engulfed now. There was no way to go but follow into the back where there were still flames but fewer.
Above him, the ceiling creaked, and he knew it wouldn’t be long before it collapsed in on them. Sirens cried in the distance, and although that brought some relief, there was no way the firefighters would be able to get to them in time.
Davin stepped into the back room and groaned at the sight there. Part of the ceiling had already given way, blocking the back door and crushing his only chance out.
His eyes caught a small side window. It was just big enough to squeeze one person out.
Davin heaved her over his shoulder and grabbed the nearest heavy object he could find. It crashed through the window with ease.
Carefully he pulled the shirt away and placed it over the glass.
“Davin!” yelled someone.
He looked down. Noel stood just outside the window.
“You got her?” Noel said.
“Yes! But she’s out cold. You’ll have to pull her through.”
He climbed onto the chair he’d found and met his cousin’s hands as he gently lifted Morgan through the hole.
“I got her,” Noel shouted.
The ceiling gave a great rumble. Something crashed in the front of the shop.
He watched as her feet slid out the window.
Davin didn’t wait for the all clear. He needed to hurry, or it was going to be lights out.
His head popped through the window. Fresh air filled his harsh lungs.
He could see Noel in the distance, setting Morgan down far enough away from the fire to be safe.
“Give us your fucking hands,” Kane said.
Kane and Torin appeared out of nowhere, and for a moment he just looked at them stunned.
“Give us a hand, you fucking maniac, or was your plan to burn to death here?” Kane shouted.
Davin reached out to the two men, who both pulled him hard through the window.
An arm over each shoulder, they partially dragged him away from the building just moments before the whole thing fell in on itself.
* * *
Davin stared at Morgan as she lay on the hospital bed, the oxygen mask over her face as she breathed in deeply. Her eyes watched his as the doctor moved around the room.
“I’ve gone over the labs,” the doctor said as he glanced down at the charts in his hand. “You got a nasty bump, and your oxygen level isn’t where we want it, but otherwise, you’re in very good shape for someone who just escaped a burning building.” The doctor turned to him. “I hear you’re the hero here.”
Davin shrugged and looked away. He wasn’t a hero. If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t have even been in danger.
“We’ll need to keep an eye on her overnight to make sure the concussion isn’t serious, but she should be free to go home tomorrow.” The doctor turned back to Morgan. “You’re really very lucky.”
His throat closed as she nodded in agreement.
“Just try and take it easy.”
When he’d left, Davin made his way over to the bed. “I’m so sorry,” he mumbled as he took her hand. “I shouldn’t have ever let this happen to you.”
He kissed her soft fingers. A hand came up to his cheek. “You didn’t do this,” she said from inside the mask.
He shook his head. It was all his fault.
Morgan leaned forward and tilted the mask down.
“It was two men,” she said in a hushed tone. “They were Russians and said I was an example. One had this cross on his face…” She shivered.
Davin leaned forward and placed the mask back on her face.
“You need to keep breathing that in and just don’t worry about this. I’ll take care of it.”
He stood, but she didn’t let go of his hand.
“Tell me you won’t do anything dangerous,” she pleaded.
Davin looked down at the small woman in the bed hooked up to several machines. It killed him a little inside.
“I promise you that I’m not the one in danger tonight,” he said. “Now get some rest.”
He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead before making his way to the door where Torin and Noel stood.
“I want two men at her door,” he said to Noel. “I’m not putting her at any more risk.”
His cousin clenched his fists. “Finn has some men on their way. I’m coming with you.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Davin frowned. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, but my guys work better as a unit, and they haven’t worked with you.”
Noel pointed to the scars on his face. “Anton will be there. I deserve to be there.”
Davin glanced over to Torin who nodded. He was right. He was due a little vengeance.
“Fine. Let’s roll.”