Devil's Girl(37)

"Here," she said, sitting between us and gathering us close. She pulled us both in so our heads were resting on her lap. "Stay awake," she said. Her fingers shook as she smoothed my hair. "We're gonna be okay. Just stay awake, both of you."

"Cold," Irish mumbled. I could feel him shaking next to me - violent shudders that wracked his whole body.

"Stay with me, Prospect," Dawn said, her voice low with warning. I couldn't see what was happening, my eyes were drooping shut again, but I could hear the increasing panic in her voice, and could feel when the shaking stopped.

Dawn cried out with despair. I tried to roll and sit up, but she pushed me back down. "Shhh, she said, laying her hand on my forehead. "Shhh."

Then, above all the chaos, we heard sirens. Gunshots were replaced by the roars of engines, speeding in every direction.

I tilted my head up as a bike pulled to a stop on the road in front of us.

"They need the hospital, Bill," Dawn called. The president dismounted and looked down at our prone forms, grimacing at Irish. I struggled to sit up - this time, Dawn let me.

"I don't," I said. I reached for Bill's hand. "No hospitals. No cops. Please."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm not injured." He looked doubtful, but he helped me stand.

I finally got a better look at Irish. His arm was badly burnt, his leather cut charred and ruined. The side of his head and face was burned, too, though thankfully the awful red and black wasn't near his eye. And he's breathing. Dawn won't leave him.

"Will you be able to hold on?" Bill asked. More motorcycles raced past. Where the hell was Theo? I nodded emphatically. "Okay."

We climbed onto his bike, and once he was satisfied that my arms were locked around his middle, we sped away.

Too fast. Everything's moving too fast. I leaned my head against Bill's back and clung to one thought - don't fall.

My heart ached leaving Irish behind, but I knew that I was worse than useless in the condition I was in. I didn't belong on the back of a motorcycle either, but it was better than being at the hospital. What the hell would they think, finding me at a scene of so much carnage with such a high dose of heroin still burning through my body? I couldn't begin to guess. So I clung to the president and fled, simply grateful to be back amongst friends. But it was far from over.





Bill took me to the clubhouse. I noticed the changes right away as we pulled up. Cameras and foglights set high on poles around the parking lot. A big, burly bouncer sitting on the bench near the front door. "This is the most secure place right now," Bill said as the motorcycle quieted. Two more were parked in the lot, but neither of them looked like Theo's. I climbed down on exhausted legs and let him lead me inside.

The bar was closed but the door unlocked. We found Mort, Anchor and Bars inside. Their eyes skimmed past me uncomfortably, though Mort said, "Glad you're home, honey." I just nodded.

It was all the older men. Where were the rest? "Don't tell me those hot-heads all went chasing after those fucking Eagles," Bill said. He looked between the three of them. "One of you misplace a bike?"

Bars held up a wrapped hand, the sleeve of his shirt in charred tatters. "May I see it again in hell, the ugly old hog."

"Gunner and Jester went chasing after them," Mort said, "No clue where Theo went. All I know is he took a prisoner."

"Will the Prospect be okay?" Bars asked.

"He's on his way to the hospital." Bill sighed heavily, then turned to me. "If it wasn't for your warning, there'd be nothing left of Irish or Bars here. We probably would have lost more. Would have been gunned down. So, we're in debt to you."

I spoke slowly, "No debt. I tried to warn them faster, but..." He silenced me with a hand on my shoulder.

"But nothing. You did good." He aimed me towards the back rooms and spoke low. "I want you to stay here for a few days. You'll be safe, and we've got some talking to do." I must have made some sound, something like a whine. "Just for any information you might have picked up that can help us get this guy." His voice was gruff, but the hand on my shoulder was gentle. "Go rest. Have a shower. Nella's on her way, she'll check up on you."

He sent me along with a little shove. A shower. God, that would feel amazing. I took the second room and shut the door behind me.

It was quiet. In all my time in that awful place, I hadn't had a single moment of privacy. Now, I could feel the silence around me like a blanket. There was something frightening about it. Ominous. I was too aware of my own pulse. I'll clean up and sit out front with Nella, I told myself, undressing on my way to the bathroom.