Page 35 of Creed

“She’s okay, but I don’t see a fire extinguisher.”

“What the fuck is she doing here?”

“Never mind that, the fire was more smoke producing than anything, but it won’t stay that way long.”

He gave me a nod and started to run to his truck. “Hey Tanner!” He stopped and looked at me as I shook my head. “Callie and Shane are in there, but Morgan said they are dead.”

His face turned as white as a ghost just before he turned and ran for his truck. He came back with an extinguisher asDarren approached me. “Its in the closet in the back.” I yelled out.

“Why the hell is she here?” Darren quickly turned Morgan’s face to look at him.

“She’s going into shock. Addie is in the office with an older woman. I don’t know what happened, but Morgan was trapped in the bathroom. It was Addie that made me stop on the road.”

Finally, the sirens came closer, and I saw all the flashing lights. I looked at the room and Tanner stepped out with a disturbed look on his face. He dropped the fire extinguisher and ran toward us as he called out orders.

“I got the fire out, just make sure everyone is out of the motel, clear it but be careful not to disturb the crime scene. Darren will need a forensic team!” Tanner dropped down to his knees and began looking over every inch of his daughter as her body shook from the shock. He waved over the paramedics and one more fire fighter dropped down next to us. He pulled off his helmet and it was Patrick.

“What the hell happened?”

Darren went to search for Addie as Patrick pulled out his oxygen mask and held it over his sister’s mouth. “I asked what the hell happened?” Patrick snapped at me.

I shook my head. “It was Shane, that’s all I know.”

“We’ve got a pulse!” A fireman said over the radio, and I watched a backboard being carried into the room by a few firemen. I shut my eyes and hoped like hell it was Callie. The paramedics made their way to Morgan and asked everyone to step back. I watched as they assessed her then put an oxygenmask over her mouth then started an IV for fluids. Tanner was barking orders at the firemen while Darren was ordering his officers around. Everything started happening so fast and I couldn’t take my eyes off Morgan. I watched as they put her on a stretcher then I saw that mother fucker Shane being carried out of the motel on a backboard.

“Oh, fuck no!” I marched toward them as they took him toward the only ambulance. “She goes first!” I made myself clear.

Tanner stopped me. “He is critical, so we called for a helicopter. Morgan is going in the ambulance, ease up.”

I turned to him. “Ease up? That son of a bitch tried to kill your fucking daughter!”

“Morgan will be alright, but Darren wants to know some information from Shane and he’s critical. Hell, he probably won’t make it to the hospital.”

I pointed at Morgan. “She inhaled a lot of smoke and she’s in shock, not to mention her head injury! I want her on the flight and that fucker can die. Fuck him!”

Darren walked up. “Axton is on his way with a truck and trailer for your bike. I’m having the child looked over and a second ambulance is on its way. Jenny is already on her way to the hospital, so Morgan won’t be alone. Why don’t you ride to the hospital with Addie?”

“Me?” I pointed at myself.

“You’re the one that found her, so she might trust you. She’s hysterical, go see if there’s anything you can do to help. They’re taking Morgan now.” Darren said.

I turned and saw Morgan being loaded into an ambulance. “Fine.” I dug my keys out of my pocket and handed them to Tanner. “Give these to Axton.”

He gave me a nod and I started for the office. I wasn’t sure what I could do to help the kid, but I’d give it a try. I couldn’t imagine the trauma she was experiencing, but she didn’t know me for shit. As soon as I opened the door I spotted the tiny trembling girl, and the most horrible pain shot through my chest. When her wet eyes met mine, I froze.

“Mommy!” Her little bottom lip quivered, and she reached for me. Me? Why would any kid want me? I’d have thought she would have been scared of me, but she was reaching for me.

“We can’t seem to calm her down.” A paramedics said. I reluctantly stepped forward and a child I never met hopped off the sofa and ran for me. I kneeled down and wrapped her trembling little body in my arms. I kept telling myself not to cry. Dammit, I was an Army Ranger, we didn’t cry, dammit. I held myself together and held her as she sobbed.

“My mommy?” She cried again.

“Auntie Morgan is on her way to the hospital, and you’ll see her soon. I promise.” I held her tightly in my arms.

Shock

Morgan

I laid on my side and stared out the hospital room window as my mother ran her fingers through my hair. Callie was dead, Shane died not long after arriving at the hospital, and Addie lost both of her parents. It was all my fault. I never should have went to that motel without calling the police. I thought Callie and Addie were alone, but Uncle Darren said Shane drove them all in a piece of shit truck to that motel. Shane used Callie to lure me to that motel in hopes I could give him money to go on the run from the Rejects. I gave my statement to the police, and they knew everything Shane said to me. The Rejects believed I somehow had the drugs they wanted, and they were probably waiting for their chance to get to me. Addie was left with no parents, all she had was a piece of trash grandmother that would probably use her for state funds. I lost my life long best friend, and I was sure the media would be all over the story.

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