Jinx
Darcy walked by his side, as did Wade. He’d carried them most of the way, but even though they were little, they were heavy. Jinx’s shoulders felt the strain, and Darcy and Wade were strolling until he could carry them again. He’d taken a few rests, but he couldn’t stop long, or he’d never start moving again. The sun was setting, and night was falling, but Jinx knew he was close.
He’d been walking all day; the clubhouse wasn’t far.
Jinx turned the corner of the road and spotted Hellfire’s gates.Step. Step. Step. He approached the gate and punched in the security code. Jinx stepped through and picked up Darcy. His shoulder screamed, but that was okay because safety lay ahead.
“Fuck!” someone roared. Jinx reacted and dropped Wade’s hand and shoved the kids behind him. He whipped his weapon out and blinked wearily into the encroaching darkness.
“Lower the gun, kid, you’re home, you made it,” Chance said from close by.
Jinx wavered. Was that really Chance or his mind playing tricks?
“Jinx, put it down, prospect, that’s an order,” Chance snapped. Jinx lowered the gun and stared at the dark shape that was his president.
“Couldn’t save Allegra. Sorry,” he said, and then tipped forward.
Shotgun
He caught Jinx as he face-planted. Rain had Darcy and Wade in his arms, both kids in shock and covered in spots of blood. Jinx had walked straight past Rascal at the gate, not even acknowledging him. Rascal had called in and chased after Jinx. Shotgun hadn’t believed his eyes when the prospect appeared with Wade and Darcy. But the kid wasn’t right.
“What the fuck is wrong?” Shotgun demanded as he lowered Jinx carefully to the ground.
Bear knelt and began checking Jinx over. Shotgun hurried over to Rain.
“Inx!” Darcy wailed, and Shotgun took her.
“Are they okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, Jinx must have kept them hydrated, but I think they’re in shock, and they’ve got to be starving.”
“I’ll go get them food,” Rascal offered as he jogged towards the clubhouse. Leaving the gate unattended wasn’t something the club usually did, but in this instance, it wouldn’t be for long.
“Jinx has been shot. Call an ambulance,” Bear announced.
“Check Jinx’s feet,” Chance ordered.
Everyone looked at Chance in confusion. He shone his phone over the path Jinx had taken, and they all saw the bloody footprints.
“What the fuck?” Bear muttered and eased Jinx’s boot off. Even unconscious, Jinx released a pained moan. “Holy shit. Get me some water and clean towels.”
Shotgun ran towards the clubhouse. The prospect’s feet were a mess. Had the kid been walking for seven and a half hours?It fuckin’ looked like it. Shotgun raced to his bunk, knowing there were clean towels, and grabbed a bowl of lukewarm water. Shotgun passed Rain on the way back as Rain brought the kids inside for safety.
“Fuck me,” Shotgun exclaimed as he peered down at Jinx. Bear had managed to remove the boots and socks and was grinding his teeth. The prospect’s feet were a mess of red, torn, blistered tissue. They didn’t even resemble feet, just raw flesh. It looked like someone had taken a grater and rubbed them raw.
“Jinx walked. He walked those kids home for nearly eight hours, with two gunshot wounds and feet in that condition,” Bear said, holding Chance’s gaze.
Shotgun swallowed. That meant something. Meant a fuckload.
Jinx opened his eyes as Bear placed his feet in the water and wailed. The agonised scream that tore from his throat made Shotgun wince. He knelt and pulled Jinx to his shoulder as he released a sob.
“Where’s that fuckin’ ambulance?” Chance growled. He yanked his phone and got onto emergency again.
“Couldn’t save Allegra. Barely saved the kids,” Jinx muttered, his voice choked with pain and tears.
Shotgun held him close. “It’s okay, man, just relax. You got them home.”
“Couldn’t trust anyone. Had to walk. My cell broke. Was unable to call for help.
