Page 80 of Devil's Queen

I struggle to push myself up from the ground. My body feels heavy and weak, but determination fuels my adrenaline. Blinking away the tears in my eyes, I squint through the lingering haze to locate my club sisters.

Harlow is already on her feet, rushing toward Mama lying motionless on the ground.

I grit my teeth, forcing myself to focus and ignore the throbbing pain pulsing through my body. Rex is in there. I have to find him.

“Remy!” a voice calls out, cutting through the deafening silence in my head as I walk into the destroyed clubhouse. Smoke fills the space ahead of me. My feet stumble over boards and debris the closer I get to the hallway that leads to the meeting room. I plead a silent prayer that I will find him.

I push open the door to the meeting room, my heart pounding in my chest. The room is filled with thick smoke, making it difficult to see or breathe. Coughing and choking, I make my way through the haze, calling out Rex’s name.

“Rex! Can you hear me?” I yell, my voice strained and hoarse. There’s no response except for the crackling of the fire that engulfs parts of the room. Panic rises within me as I realize Rex might be trapped, unable to escape.

I stumble over fallen furniture and broken glass, my fingers grazing against the scorching hot surfaces. The heat is unbearable, sweat dripping down my forehead as I continue my search. The smoke makes it hard to distinguish shapes and figures, but I refuse to give up.

And then, through the dense smoke, I catch a glimpse of movement. My heart leaps with hope as I see Rex lying on the floor, partially covered by debris. Adrenaline surges through me as I rush toward him.

“Rex!” I shout again, reaching out to shake him gently. His eyes flutter open, filled with pain and confusion.

“Rem?” he croaks, his voice barely audible over the crackling flames. “You… you came back.”

A smile spreads across my face despite the dire circumstances. “Of course I did,” I reply, tears welling in my eyes. “I couldn’t leave you behind.” I try to push away a part of the table that’s lying across his chest, but it doesn’t budge. “I can’t move it. Help,” I scream. “I need help in here!” Praying that someone outside can hear my pleas.

“It’s okay, Rem. It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay. You’re trapped, and I can’t free you.”

“Someone will come,” he reassures me. I try the debris again. He winces in pain, but he remains conscious, his eyes locked on mine. “Leave it, Rem. Just stay with me.”

Fear grips my heart as time becomes our enemy. We need to get out of here before it’s too late.

“Where’s Wolff?” He groans.

I look at the wreckage around us. Nothing else moves in the room. “I… I don’t see him.”

“Good.” Rex winces. “Tell Birdie…” he pauses as a cough overcomes him. “Tell her I love her. Tell Beaux.”

I press a finger to his lips. “No. You don’t get to say goodbye. I’m getting you out of here. Help!” I yell again. The deafening cracks and groans from the ceiling above us echo as the flames from the walls climb upward. Ashes rain around us, the sting of their burn on my exposed skin.

“You need to get out of here.”

“I’m not leaving you. Help is on the way.”

The ceiling continues to splinter and collapse, a deadly mist of plaster and wood filling the air, making it harder and harder to breathe with the smoke.

“The ceiling is coming down, Rem. Leave me.”

Tears well up in my eyes. I shake my head. “I can’t.”

“You can, and you will,” he forces out. “The kids will need you.” Rex’s shaking hand reaches over the debris atop of him, grasping my hand. “I love you, Rem.”

“I love you too, Rex,” I choke out, my voice trembling with emotion. “But I can’t lose you. Not like this.” Summoning every last ounce of strength I have, I grip the debris on top of him, pulling with all my might. The flames inch closer, licking at the edges of the wreckage that traps him. Panic overwhelms me as I realize time is running out.

“Go!” Rex orders me.

Just as despair begins to consume me, a loud crash echoes through the room, followed by the sound of voices shouting commands.

The sound of footsteps and urgent voices grow louder, indicating that my sisters have heard my cries for help.

“We’re here, Remy!” Harlow shouts. “Call out. We can’t see you!”

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