Torque comes running into the great room just as the power goes out. “I’ve got my goggles on. What do you need?”
I’m blinded by the darkness.
“Whisper is bolted to the table, Jesus-style. I’ve got the second bolt out of her hands. She’s drugged and can’t feel a thing, but we’re running out of time.”
Torque curses under his breath. “I’ve got her feet.” I hear the sickening noises her flesh makes as he puts his all into pulling each one out. “Mother…fucker.” Thank god that fucking drug is cocooning her from the pain. I may not have been able to take my time offing Cezar, but if there is a God, I’m sure Ruby is looking down pretty happy with herself. The bolts clank on the floor. “Done.”
“Take the blankets from me, wrap her up carefully, and then head for the safety of the pier. Keep her warm. We got less than two minutes. I’ll be there shortly.”
I call Drill and use the torch on the phone to lead the way out the great room. “Seven balls are coming down those steps fast. Get ready.” I disconnect.
Feet come running. “Don’t shoot us. It’s Viper and Viking.”
“In the great room, STAT! Grab a ball and coat from the main doors and roll that fucker down the stairs to the pier.
More feet come running.
“It’s Hazard, Lethal, and Blueblood.” Viking announces.
“We all heard. On it!” Hazard shouts.
“One and a half minutes,” I call back. “Where’s Slade and Phoenix?” And then the power comes back on.
Balls roll down the stairs with brothers chasing after them, trying to keep them under control.
“Less than a minute!” I holler from the rear. I can see Slade and Phoenix are at the bottom, ready to field the balls with Drill and Billy. “Let’s hustle.”
We make it down to the bottom. Torque is by my side handing me Whisper. I’m breathing heavily, the adrenalin keeping me warm as fresh snow starts falling. She’s so small, smaller than when I last saw her in the trunk of Ebony and Ivory’s car.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The explosions keep on coming as the sky lights up.
I carry Whisper farther out onto the pier, afraid falling debris will take her from me. That fucker and his home are going up like the Fourth of July. I do a headcount and can’t find Adam or Ghost.
Drill and Billy have a combination of minions and perverts lined up on the pier. There are only a baker’s dozen in total, all cuffed together in a row, shivering from the cold, while Lethal and the other men are unzipping the balls and pulling out naked, disoriented females and wrapping them in coats.
I sit down a couple feet away from Mathias who is quietly holding Ruby’s dead body, staring out at the frozen lake. I’m careful not to jolt Whisper and cradle her in my lap. I can tell mentally he’s washed out and he’s beating himself up he couldn’t have saved Ruby and her unborn child. I can’t even begin to process all the emotions and questions I have there.
For now I need to concentrate on Whisper. “Boxer and Miss Catherine can’t wait to see you.” I dig my hand inside my jacket, pull out Jenny, and hold it over Whisper’s unblinking eyes. I hope it will give her comfort as I gently place it inside the blankets close to her heart.
I rock Whisper gently, thinking about Ruby. I made a promise to Whisper I couldn’t keep, but then that fucking Dean Martin song enters my head.
I quietly start singing, my version of course, as we all watch the fire consume the property.
“Oh, the fuckers inside are frightful
But the ire out here is delightful
And since you assholes have no place to go
Let it blow, let it blow, let it blow
Minions, the smoke won’t be stopping
And I’ve got a front seat for popcorning
These fuckers are ready to roast
Let it blow, let it blow, let it blow
Cezar finally got what was owed
And his sentinels are baking in the glow
While the perverts sit real tight
The chopper will come right on by
My rage I’m still a fighting
And you motherfuckers, we’re still goodbye-ing
As long as I hate you so
Let it blow, let it blow, let it blow.”
My phone starts vibrating like it’s dancing, pulling me out of my stupor.
Boxer: Three choppers incoming Ghost requested
He has Adam
Doc Evelyn will be in one if she’s needed
How’s Whisper?
Where do I even begin?