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Conan walks over, scoops up Legs like she weighs nothing, and carries her to the sofa. I walk over to them and place Hero in her lap, knowing he’s the only one who’s going to ground her.
“He’s coming home.”
“You don’t know that he—”
I cup her face. “He’s coming home,” I tell her softly. She swallows and nods. “Say it.”
“He’s coming home,” she whispers.
I lean over and hug her, my heart in my eyes as I look at Conan, sending up a silent prayer that he’s okay because I’m not sure Legs will cope without him.
“Tina, Rose, round up any other bunny that’s here,” Blade orders before turning to me. “Get Lucy and get back here fast. I want all of you to head to the clinic at the first sign of trouble. After everything that went down with Khan, Havoc has it reinforced. There are panic buttons in each of the rooms. Hit one, and the building will go into lockdown. I’m talking about metal shutters covering the doors and windows. Nobody can force their way in, because you can only deactivate it from the inside, like a classic panic room.”
“You think trouble’s coming here?”
“I’m not taking any chances.”
The phone at the bar rings, so Blade hurries over to answer it. “Alright, I’m on my way.” He looks over at us. “Delphi and Star are here. As are Hannibal’s guys,” he says with relief. “I’m gonna head down to meet them and fire off a text for Smoke and his guys to head back. I’ll send Star and Delphi up. Grab Lucy and be quick.”
I nod and head out as Conan says, “I’ve got them, Blade, but where the fuck is Inigo?”
“He’s covering for Ambros at the gym. Give him a call and tell him to watch for trouble.” Blade heads off as Conan pulls out his cell.
I bite my lip and wait, praying the man is okay. When the call connects, Conan sighs with relief. I don’t hear what he says as I jog down to the apartment. I shove the door open and call for Lucy, who must hear the panic in my voice because she comes bounding down the stairs and heads right for me.
“Good girl. Come on, baby, let’s go.”
I yank the door closed behind us as I run back up to the saloon, almost losing my flip-flops on the way. I just make it inside when a loud explosion has me stumbling. My eyes connect with Conan’s for a second before he jumps into action. “Everyone to the clinic now,” he roars, grabbing Hero from Legs and picking up a scared Rebecca with the other arm.
I follow after them, Lucy running beside me. When I hear someone cry out behind me, I turn and see that Glory has fallen over. But before I can turn back, I hear Blade yelling, “We’ve got her. Go.”
I keep going, and when I get to the clinic, I hurry inside with the others. Conan hands off Hero to Legs and Rebecca to Delphi. I usher them into the back treatment room and turn to Rose and Tina as someone runs in with Glory thrown over his shoulder.
“Thanks, man,” Conan tells him before he hits the panic button. The shutters slide down, and I take a shaky breath, praying that everyone else makes it to safety, too.
“You can put her down here,” Conan tells the biker wearing a Raven’s Soul cut with the patch on the back, saying he’s a prospect from Hannibal’s club.
“You got it,” he replies, almost jovially.
I freeze solid, ice forming in my lungs, before he turns around and I come face-to-face with the evil eyes that have haunted me. Before I can so much as scream, he pulls his gun and shoots Conan twice before turning the gun on Lucy, who launches herself at him.
“No!” I scream, but it’s too late. He fires another two rounds into Lucy, who drops to the ground like a stone.
Tina and Rose are screaming before he shoots a bullet into Rose’s head. She collapses, her scream cutting off as he sends his next bullet into Tina’s stomach. I turn and run, knowing he won’t stop until he’s killed everyone here. I run to the treatment room, tip the table over, and scream at them to hide as I grab a scalpel from the drawer. I whirl around to face him as he enters.
The kids are screaming, and Delphi and Legs are crying as they try to shield the kids with their bodies.
“Did you miss me, Lilac?” When I don’t answer, James looks at me, his eyes roving over my body in a disapproving manner. “Looks like I need to fuck the insolence out of you, wife.”
I grit my teeth and snarl, my fist tightening around the scalpel. “I’m not your wife. I’m not your anything.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. And when I’ve finished wiping out everyone who helped you evade me, you’ll remember all the reasons why staying with me is the only option.” He swings the gun toward Delphi but freezes when a little voice cries out.
“Daddy, no!”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
POWERS
