Page 48 of Quadruplets for the Vipers

Immediately my eyes land on Tank who’s pinned under a large wooden beam that’s fallen on his leg. “Fucking thing’s trapped me good. I can’t lift it myself,” he says, almost ashamed.

As his name suggests, Tank is a giant of a man, but he’s getting on in years, and isn’t the formidable strong man he once was.

“It’s alright brother, we’ve got you,” Jace says, clapping Tank on the shoulder.

With great difficulty, the two of us manage to lift the beam off Tank’s leg. I’m grateful that Jace is here, I don’t think I could have done it alone. Tank’s leg is badly wounded, the white bone sticking out from below the knee, and below it, his calf is a mess. He’ll probably lose it. There’s no way he’s leaving here on his own without help.

“Thanks, my leg’s fucked but at least I ain’t dying today,” he grunts, trying to make light and hide his fear and pain as we help him to his feet.

“Where’s Shelly and Brewer?” I ask, knowing we don’t have much time as the bar collapses around us.

“Went for some one-on-one time in the toilet,” he coughs, his eyes closing as the shock and blood loss kick in.

“Jace, get him outside, I’ll find the others.”

I can tell he wants to argue that I should go with them, but we don’t have time and Tank needs help urgently. He doesn’t want to leave our friends behind either and he knows I have to at least try to save them. He nods and heads out with Tank while I forge ahead.

More debris has fallen in front of the toilet door, blocking the people inside. Feeling light-headed from the smoke inhalation I work quickly to remove it until I’m finally able to get inside. Both Brewer and Shelly are lying on the floor unconscious. I quickly move to check their pulse. Shelly’s is there, but weaker than I’d like. I can tell before I check that Brewer is gone. He was a heavy drinker and smoker, despite being asthmatic, it’s clear that he’s dead. The smoke inhalation no doubt triggered an asthma attack which killed him.

There’s nothing I can do for my friend now, and I can’t even take his body out with me. I can only pray the firemen can put out the fire before it gets to his body. Without a moment to waste, I throw Shelly’s unconscious body over my shoulder and once more head out into the bar.

The fire is raging strong now, fueled by the spirits behind the bar, I can barely see in front of my face, and I know I don’t have long before I succumb to the thick, dark smoke that engulfs the room. Coughing and spluttering, I fumble my way across the room where the fire isn’t as bad. My lungs feel like they’re on fire and I struggle to walk under Shelly’s deadweight. I begin to worry we won’t make it, the wall of flames seems never-ending. What if I’m going in circles? My first thought is of Leah, and howif I die here, I’ll never see her again. I’ll never be able to tell her that I love her. I know it’s too soon, but I can’t lie to myself, not now when I’m about to die. I love her. I want to raise this child with her as a family, as more than just co-parents, but as her life partner.

All of a sudden, the flames part and we’re outside, being pulled into the arms of our friends. I hear the sound of Leah screaming my name. Shelly is taken from me, and Knox administers CPR. In the distance, I can hear the wail of sirens.

I stumble forward, my vision clouded as I fall to my knees and cough up my guts. I fall back onto the floor, chest heaving as I try to catch my breath.

Then she’s there, wrapping me in her arms, crying my name, her hands soft on my face. Through bleary eyes, I see her, a vision in a white nightgown, like an angel.

“Leah.”

“Shh, don’t speak, it’s okay, an ambulance is on the way. Axel, I was so scared, I thought we’d lost you…”

She covers me in gentle kisses, her tear-stained face coming away smudged with soot.

“I love you, Leah,” are the last words I utter before the inky black pull of oblivion drags me under.

Chapter 24

Leah

Iinsist on traveling in the ambulance with Axel to the hospital. I hold his hand and whisper platitudes to him the whole way. He’s got some second-degree burns, and they can’t tell yet what kind of damage his lungs may have suffered from smoke inhalation. However, the paramedics assure me that he’ll be fine.

That doesn’t do anything to assuage the guilt I feel. It’s my fault he’s hurt, that the bar was attacked. It’s my fault that people got hurt, that good people are dead. Because of me. I need to tell them about Tony.

Despair, hopelessness, and shame flood me. I should never have involved myself in the Steel Viper’s lives. Not only have I brought danger right to their front door, but I’m also bringing a new innocent life into this mess. This poor, orphan baby has lost its family before it’s even born and now is being born into a community in turmoil and danger.

If Tony has done this, who knows what else he’s capable of?

But what can I do?

If I stay, I’m putting the baby, the men that I’m falling for, and the Steel Vipers at further risk. But if I go, I’m putting myself and this unborn child at the mercy of Tony. I’ve managed to hide from him before, but is that a chance I’m willing to take now there’s a child involved? Also, the thought of leaving the guys behind feels like a vice in my chest. I don’t want to leave them.Finally, I have found something good with them. I’m not ready to lose that.

My turbulent thoughts are interrupted as we arrive at the hospital. As they wheel Axel into the ER, the others pull up and we head in together. At the insistence of the nurses, Jace allows himself to be taken to see a doctor, he too has suffered some minor burns and smoke inhalation.

The hospital is a hive of activity as doctors and nurses rush around, trying to deal with the sudden influx of patients. The rest of the injured victims have already arrived and been rushed into treatment rooms ahead of us as they were more severely injured.

After ascertaining that Rider, Knox, and I don’t need urgent medical care, the kindly receptionist directs us to the waiting area. We sit on the row of uniform, uncomfortable chairs, silent and numb with shock as the events of the night sink in.

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