Page 31 of Last One Standing
“They’re deadbolted inside,” one of the brothers shouted, but I didn’t know them well enough to know who, just that it wasn’t Angel.
“Pika, Kona, stay low. We’re gonna bust the door in—keep clear,” Angel said, and I wanted to say something, but it hurt to speak too loudly. I didn’t move from where I sat.
There was some banging, and then the door was cracked open. The swelling had gone down on my eyes some, so I was able to see two figures rush into my room. One was imposing, huge. I suspected it was that Viking one, Shep I believed his name was. The other was without a doubt Angel.
He kneeled in front of me, enough so I could see his face; his eyes were both angry and sad. Was that for me?
“We’re getting you out of here.” He spoke softly, and I couldn’t protest, not like I would, because he gently scooped me up bridal style.
“Kona!” Pika was right there when we exited the room with Angel.
“Pika,” I whispered.
“What do you need from here?” a blond guy asked.
“Our stash isn’t here, it’s at the club,” Pika answered. “I’d need to get that. From here, maybe some clothes.”
“Gabe and I got it,” the same blond guy said. “Nick’s got the van out front. Get them out of here, and we’ll be out in a minute.”
“Be quick,” Angel ordered. “Mason’s watching the factory with the drone. He’ll tell us when anyone leaves there, but they aren’t far. I want us on our property before they leave that factory.”
“Got it,” the two men announced, and then we were moving.
Every jostle hurt, but I didn’t dare vocalize it. We were being rescued by the Saint brothers, and I had no idea why. Sure, Pika talking to them likely had a lot to do with it. But they were making an enemy that would tear their world apart for what they’d done.
I had a million questions, but I’d hold them until we were in a safe place.
I kept my face pressed to the crook in Angel’s neck; he smelled amazing, like peppermint and something woodsy. Iclosed my eyes and just breathed him in. Too soon, he was setting me down in the van and buckling me up.
“Is this okay?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
He nodded once and moved so Pika could be next to me.
“Oh, Kona.” Pika started crying as he saw me for the first time in days. “What did he do to you?” He tenderly hugged me and I shushed him as best as I could, my throat tight with emotion.
Soon enough, the van was rolling, and the farther we got from the clubhouse, the less heavy my chest felt. There was no way this was the end of it. Brick would come looking for us and to make the brothers pay for what they’d done. But for the time I had, I was going to try and hold on to whatever fractured freedom this was.
I didn’t know how, but I’d dozed, because the sound of Pika’s amazed gasp jolted me awake. Through the window, I could make out a large house…a mansion, actually. It was fuzzy and details weren’t clear, but judging by Pika’s amazement, it was gorgeous.
“You all live here?” Pika gushed, and I chuckled at the wonderment in his voice.
“We do, little man. There are ten of us here.” That sounded like Shep. I was beginning to recognize some of the voices. “Mason, JJ, Phoenix, Matt, and Four are inside. The five of us came to get you.”
“Wow!” Pika sounded more like a fifteen-year-old than I’d ever heard. “This is so cool!”
Someone behind me snickered. “We like it, and I’m sure you and your brother will be comfortable here.”
For now Pika wasn’t thinking about Brick and the others coming for us, and I wasn’t about to burst his bubble. I’d give him a little while to be a kid and let him pretend he was beingswept away in a fairy tale and staying at a huge castle. I’d give him that.
When the van stopped, everyone got out. Angel was helping me once more, and I didn’t protest as he carried me into the house. I couldn’t see too well, but I saw enough to know it was a big place and it was super fancy.
There were a lot of voices, people moving about. And I wanted to ask all my questions and thank them, but my eyes were drooping. I was so damn tired.
“How about you carry him up to the adjoining bedrooms? He and Pika can have those; there’s fresh sheets and everything,” a brown-haired guy with sweet eyes said. I’d seen him at the club, but his name was escaping me. “Once you’re rested, we can all talk.”
Angel carried me upstairs, Pika announcing he was right behind us the entire time.
