Page 68 of Sweet Anarchy

I throw myself at him, wrapping my arms around him. He lets out a pained grunt before snaking his arms around me.

"I'm fine and dandy, babe."

"No, you're fucking not," I mumble into his chest. "Come on, I'll drive you."

My feet stumble slightly and Blake swoops down, grabbing the keys from my hand.

"You're not driving. I'll drive. The Jeep and bike can stay here."

"But they will come asking questions," I argue, coughing from the smoke still.

Blake looks at me sternly. "I don't give a fuck. You're not in any condition to drive. Neither of you are."

"You inhaled a heap of smoke too," I point out. He gives me a 'do not fuck with me right now' glare.

I give up, linking my arm through Zayn's as I help him walk across the road to the Aston Martin. Blake and I help him into the front passenger seat, and I climb in the back, staring out the window as Wheels burns to the ground.

I can hear sirens heading our way and I know we're going to have the police on our doorstep, but that's a problem for later. Right now, the only concern I have is getting Zayn home to safety.

Chapter 21

Rylee

"What did the police say?" I ask Blake as he walks into Zayn's bedroom.

Blake looks at all of us, exhaustion evident on his face. "They wanted to know why our vehicles were there and if we started the fire. I just told them the truth – well, most of it."

It didn't take long after we got home for the police to turn up, them tracking down our details from the registration plates of the Jeep and bike.

Asher runs his hand through his hair, frustrated. "This is getting out of control. Seriously."

I stretch my legs out, my feet brushing against Zayn's as I lay curled up alongside him. "I'm just glad you got there in time," I say to Blake.

Blake shakes his head, letting out a sigh. "I can't believe you took off. I could have lost both of you."

"Aw, give her a break, B," Zayn says, rubbing my back. "She did what you would have done too."

"Only you would run into a burning fucking building, Rylee," Asher grumbles. "I'm hiding the keys next time."

I roll my eyes. "We all know you hide them in your bathroom cupboard, Ash."

Asher narrows his eyes at me, but softens them quickly after. "Stop doing stupid shit, please. But thank you for saving my brother."

"If it helps, I took the pepper spray," I argue. "I just decided not to use it."

It did occur to me that I should have sprayed them, but in the moment, I was more concerned about getting Zayn out and not having them anywhere near us. I let them get away, choosing the lesser of two evils. Sure, I could have sprayed them before Jimmy threw the lighter, but when faced with decisions in life or death situations, it's insane how your mind turns off and you fall into survival mode. For me, all I wanted was to get Zayn out without them trying to stop us.

"What did Bill and Mack say about it?" Chuck asks, sitting in a chair next to the bed with his legs propped up on the mattress.

"They're pissed," Blake says. "They have riders out patrolling the streets at the moment looking for the Norsemen. They have fully declared war and placed an order out to attack if need be. They are going to try to wipe them out."

Zayn smiles down at me. "Look at them defending my honor."

"Wipe them out?" I repeat slowly. "Like, kill them?"

Blake gives a sharp nod. "If it comes to that. It's obvious they aren't going to back down. So, the Norsemen either disband or we take matters into our own hands."

Asher and I stare at each other, horrified. It seems so unreal that there's a biker war underway, to the extent that people are dying. I don't want any of us to have blood on our hands. Despite all the shit they have put us through, I couldn't imagine taking another human life. The whole situation makes me feel sick.

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