Page 95 of Daughters of Chaos

The gas tanks on the lot had all been cracked open, spilling accelerant that would fuel the fire Viper and the others set aspart of thecleanup.Between the gas and propane tanks we found scattered all over, the fire would have fuel to help it burn hot and angry for hours. It would burn away every last memory of those fuckers and send their ashes into oblivion.

The war is over. We won. And no one will ever see a single one of those fuckers ever again.

Good fuckin' riddance.

57

Phoenix

Awarm pressure at my side and feeling someone's hand clasped over mine comforts me. Lace hasn't left my side since the others went off to end this war with the Bastards. She's still here now, comforting me even as she sleeps. She knows how hard it was for me to watch Mason go off with the others, not knowing if and when he'd return.

I was afraid that in my dreams, I'd see my worst nightmares come to life. Raven beaten and bloody, Mason slain by Scar's men, Dad and the others cut down much the same. I fought off my exhaustion as long as I could, but when I did finally succumb, it wasn't my nightmares that prevailed.

Instead, I saw hope. I saw Mason and the others bringing Raven back safe and sound. She was irritated but unharmed, and the guys were all no worse for wear. No one hurt, no oneinjured, from our side anyway, and my sister and Kat had been saved. It was a good dream. A wishful one.

I think that's why I slept so soundly. Until I heard gravel crunch beneath multiple sets of tires and the sound of hurried footsteps rushing toward one of the rooms.

Slamming doors jolt me awake.They're back.

I bolt upright as Stitch looks through the window. I watch as a sigh of relief leaves his chest. "Is it them?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

He nods and before he can stop me, I run to the door, throwing it open as my adrenaline carries me to the room Mason just entered. Stitch chases after me, calling my name, but I don't look back. I have to get to Raven and Kat.

Mason must have heard the commotion because his head pops out of the room two seconds later. When he sees me, he comes outside, shutting the door behind him. His face gives nothing away, but there’s blood spattered on his clothes and a faint odor of gasoline surrounding him.

When I get close enough, he pulls me into his arms. I cling to his shirt, desperate to know what happened. "Did you get them? Are they safe?" I breathe, anxious to hear the answer.

He nods. "They're here; they're safe, now."

Something inside my chest cracks, and my knees start to buckle.They're okay. They're here. They're safe.I repeat the words until I believe them as Mason holds me upright.They're okay. They're here. They're safe.

With a wobbly voice, I ask, "Can I see them?"

Mason's eyes look sad as he replies, "Doc still needs to look Raven over. She's in and out of it right now."

I shake my head. "It's okay. I just want to see her. I won't get in the way.”

I start to peel away from him, moving closer to the door that separates me from Raven and my friend, but Mason's grip grows tighter. "Nix." Something in his voice makes me pause.

When I look at him, something heavy sinks in my stomach. He looks devastated. His eyes can barely hold mine. I watch as his jaw clenches, and he takes a deep breath. Whatever he’s about to say is bad. My heart stutters in my chest.

"Kat was pretty traumatized when we found her. We put her in a different room so she didn't freak out when she saw Raven. Thought that would only make things worse." He takes a deep breath before telling me, "She could probably use a friendly face right now."

My heart breaks. Kat was innocent all along. Martin lied to turn me against her, to make me believe him when she went missing. I believed him, trusted him, and this whole time, Kat had been—

Bile rises in my throat.What have I done?

Strong arms wrap around me, holding me steady as Mason pulls me in for a hug. "She's pretty banged up, but she's alive. She was petrified when we rescued her, Nix. I think she thought we were with the Bastards."

I let his words sink in. Kat needs me right now. And as much as I want to see Raven, I know she'll be better off waking up in a room full of bikers than Kat would. She knows these men, Kat doesn't. And after what she's been through, I owe her.

I let Mason lead me to where they’re keeping Kat. With a small amount of hesitation, I look back at Rae's door. "You're sure she's okay?"

He squeezes my hand. "I promise. No one will get close to her without us knowing, and Reaper will skin anyone alive who looks at her sideways."

I'm not sure why, but that comforts me. With one last look, I let Mason take me to Kat. Doc is with her, checking her woundsas a few of our guys stand watch. When Mason and I enter the room, he jerks his head, signaling the others to wait outside. They obey, leaving us with Kat and Doc.

She looks awful. Bruises cover every inch of her body, healing wounds spatter her exposed skin, and open cuts from where she was recently beaten mar her face. Tears start to fall as I look at my friend.This is all my fault.I move closer, feeling my heart break for the friend I turned my back on.

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