His words are cut off as gunfire sounds from outside. He kicks me in the side, breaking a rib, I’m certain. “Fuckin’ bitch. Oscar, go see what’s happening.” Then he turns back to me, pulling me up by my hair, ripping out a few strands on the way. “You did bring the fuckin’ Kings with you.” He takes out his gun and places it at my forehead. “Well, now there’s no way you or the kid are going to leave. Say your prayers, bitch.”
Two shots sound. I fall to the ground. It takes me a moment to realise I’m not dead, but I have got the weight of Candyman’s corpse on top of me. It’s Freak who’s pushing him off, and pulling me up. Hastily, I try to cover my tits.
“You fuckin’, crazy, wonderful woman,” is all he says to me, before he turns and manages to stop Ace’s unsteady launch toward him. “Son, I fuckin’ love you. But now let’s get out of here.”
“How did you…?”
He preempts my question. “We used the fire escape you told us about. We’re getting out the same way, while the others are keeping the rest busy.” He ushers both me and Ace forward, having to step over Oscar’s body on the floor. I look up and mouth athank youto Tempest, who’d accompanied Freak in.
“What, what about me?” Toni breathes out, clutching her broken arm to her, and bending forward as if nursing broken or bruised ribs.
Freak looks like he’s going to leave her, but it’s me who, for some unknown reason, comes to her defence. “Freak, I don’t think she knew who Candyman was, or what his club does. He poisoned her mind with lies about who he was, and the Kings.”
He looks at me incredulously. “You want us to rescue her? After she stole my kid?”
“She’s misguided, stupid even. But she doesn’t deserve to die here, Freak. She thought what she was doing was right.” I do know why I’m defending her. Nobody deserves to suffer at the hands of the MDMC. If the Kings don’t believe she can be redeemed, she’ll meet her end with just a bullet.
“We’ve got no time to fuckin’ argue.” Tempest takes matters into his own hands. “I’ll bring her along. Her fate can be decided later when we’re safe.” He pulls her up by her good arm. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help her ribs, and he quickly covers her mouth to stop her screaming.
As I’ve got at least one of mine badly bruised, possibly broken, I have little sympathy, and don’t even mention it as Freak ushers me and Ace toward the fire escape. At the fire door, he puts himself in front of me, and I, without thinking, put my arm around Ace as his dad opens the door gingerly. He then makes the sound of an owl hooting. Within seconds, a similar bird echoes from below.
Feeling Ace trembling, I mutter, “Didn’t realise we were in a spy movie.”
My words make Ace snort, earning us a pointed look from Freak.
Forcing myself to ignore the pain, I descend the rusty stairs, belatedly realising I’m in bare feet, my shoes forgotten long ago. With my chest screaming at me at each intake of breath, I focus on reassuring Ace and keeping him close to me.
Tempest grunts from behind, constantly shushing Toni to be quiet, as she complains every step of the way. I force myself to remember, she’s more badly injured than I am.
When we reach the ground, a battle is going on around us, but Woody and Paint are waiting and lead our foursome in the opposite direction from the fighting. We arrive at an SUV, and not the one I drove in. Tempest takes the front seat, Freak riding shotgun. Toni, Ace, and I are pushed into the back. I make sureI’ve taken the centre seat. I want to keep a distance between Ace and his aunt.
Woody and Paint disappear, presumably to join the rest of their brothers, while Tempest guns the engine and heads back to our compound.
Freak cranes his head around to stare at Ace for a moment, as if he’s afraid that if he looks away, his son will disappear. It’s a couple of moments before he speaks. “You okay, kid?”
Ace swallows hard, his voice not quite as firm as his words. “I’m good.”
We’re crammed in the back, my leg is touching his, so I can feel him shaking. I tell him gently, “I don’t think you’re quite there yet, Ace, but you will be.” Freak’s eyes meet mine. I’ve never understood before how men seem to communicate without using words, but when he grunts, I know exactly what he’s trying to convey. Ace has been through a traumatic experience, and it will take time for him to regain his equilibrium. I respond with an almost imperceptible nod.We’ll all be there for him.
Sensing Ace needs comfort that I’m in a position to give, I suppress my wince as I slide my arm around him and give him a squeeze.
For a moment, he leans into me, then he responds like the teenager he is and pulls away.
“I said you were my mom in there, as I couldn’t tell them you were part of the Kings.” Not unkindly, he adds, “But you don’t need to act like one.”
Chuckling softly, I reply, “I know, buddy. I’m just happy we got you out of there.”
He leans as far forward as his seat belt will allow. “Thanks, Dad, Tempest, and you, Trixie, for rescuing me.” There’s an audible swallow as he adds, “I knew you’d come.”
Again, Freak turns and looks straight at me. And once more, I understand him. He’s showing his gratitude. If it hadn’t been me enabling us to track Ace, he’d still be looking for him. But speeding through the night like fugitives isn’t the time for anything other than sharing headline information.
Toni shifts, winces, and whines in distress. I notice she’s cradling her arm.
“Tempest? You got bandages in here?” I ask, knowing that most of the club’s transport is fitted with first-aid kits.
“Under my seat,” he answers.
Momentarily undoing my seat belt, ignoring the pinging that starts and the sharp pain that makes it hard to breathe, I find it, pull it out, and, sitting back, refasten my belt. I explore the contents. I locate a bandage of the length that I need and use it to fashion a sling. I help Toni put it over her shoulder and gently assist her to slide in her broken arm. I also find some tramadol and offer her one. Freak throws me a bottle of water, which I pass first to Toni, then surreptitiously use it to take the painkiller I’ve palmed for myself.
