Page 182 of Healed

Vienna made an attempt to grab my arm, but I dodged his movement, walking through the same door Rachel had just gone through.

And then immediately gasped in horror at what was waiting for us.

Axel was asleep on the floor, sucking his thumb, a warm jacket underneath his head. He looked peaceful, not at all aware of what was happening.

But Bee?

Bee was in the arms of a savage-looking Rider, who was practically licking his lips in glee. He had a gun held to her temple, hard enough that there was a small dint in her skin from the force of it.

Her face was pale, her body trembling, and from the dampness on her jeans, the poor girl had wet herself with fear.

“It’s okay, baby. Look at me. Just look at me,” Rachel’s face was pale, her voice trembling. Her hands were held up in surrender, showing the Rider that she didn’t intend to attack.

“Let go of her,” she told him, her eyes still locked on her daughter.

“Fat chance of that I—stay where you are!” he barked as Rachel inched forward.

“Just let my daughter go,” Rachel said, halting her footsteps.

“Nah, not worth it,” the Rider sniffed, wiping his face with the arm that wasn’t pointing the gun. “She’s the grand fucking prize.”

He laughed then, pressing the gun against Bee even harder. She whimpered in return, a sob ripping from her body.

I heard Rachel gasp next to me, and I knew then that she couldn’t do this. She was too distraught, too caught up with terror for her children to do what needed to be done.

Which was understandable, of course it fucking was. But it didn’t leave us many options.

“Take me instead,” Rachel said suddenly.

That got the Rider’s attention.

“Send my daughter over here. Let Gabriella pick up my son and take them both outside. You have my word I won’t move a muscle.”

“And why would the boss want that?” he asked.

“I’m the old lady of the president of the Devil’s Disciples,” Rachel shrugged. “Not only that, I’m the woman who shot Nico in the back. I’m the one who led the ambush on the Riders, killing numerous members. Trust me,” Rachel said firmly, all trace of fear gone. “He’s going to want me more than these kids.”

“Mummy, no,” Bee cried.

“Shut it!” The Rider hissed, slapping the gun against her temple.

A growl erupted from deep in Rachel’s chest, and I knew then she was about to make a catastrophic mistake.

I reacted on instinct.

I didn’t feel my arm move. I didn’t register anything.

One minute I was frozen in horror, watching the scene unfold as Rachel went to launch at the Rider. The next I was snatching the gun from the waistband of her jeans and shoving her away. With my arms held straight and steady, I looked the Rider dead in the eye.

“Big mistake,” I said coldly.

And then I fired.

The Rider crumbled to the floor, knocking Bee sideways as blood spurted from the hole in his forehead.

Everyone seemed to freeze for that split second, watching the Rider fall backwards, smacking against the floor with a thump.

And then we sprung to life.