Page 123 of Creed

I half-crawl and half-stumble to my desk, blood flowing from my stab wound, and I fall to my knees at my desk. I reach up, blindly trying to find my phone until my hand clutches it. I sob, and my hands shake as I try to unlock it.

Blood coats my hands. The screen is the only illumination I have, but I get it unlocked.

I’ll get one phone call. Like I’m in prison and allowed my one phone call.

This is my sentence; a life sentence by the amount of blood I’m losing, the gurgling sounds I’m making, and the blood I’m coughing up.

I’m not calling 911, though. Desperately, I want to talk to Antonio and Miguel one last time for some unknown reason. Instead, I hit Rolf’s number, hoping he might catch the man who attacked me so that can help Sophie.

Sophie is the only thing that matters. I know my chest wound is fatal and I don’t stand a chance, but I can help my friend before the blackness closing in on me takes over.

“Ollie,” Rolf answers, sounding like he’s running, but the sound is fading in my ears. “I’m on my way—”

Somehow, he knows, and he’s coming to help.

But it’s too late.

I try to talk, to give him information that could help Sophie, but I only gurgle on the blood. I bear down with every ounce of fading strength I have left.

“Ollie, stay with me! I’m just about to your room.”

“He’s… gone,” I gasp through the burning pain and the cold in my body. “He… thought… was Sophie.”

“Ollie!” Rolf shouts, but he sounds even farther away than before.

Bye, Killjoy.Tears spill down my cheeks.Love you a lot.

Then the darkness and cold washes everything away.

Chapter 36

Creed

Being woken up inthe middle of the night is jarring enough, but being told two bikers are here to see you takes it to the next level.

Army and Ash reachPapà’s office as Sophie and I come around the corner from our wing of the house.

They're rough-looking men, not polished businessmen who hide their lies behind masks of civility and niceties. Their looks are grim. If Massimo woke Sophie and I up in the dead of the night for this visit, it can only mean one thing—the threat against Sophie has escalated.

They dip their chins in silent hello and disappear into the office. Sophie stands rooted to the spot, staring at where they just were, and I lower to be eye level with her.

“Whatever this is, angel, we face it together.”

Her eyes dart between mine, almost frantic. “Your family could be at risk.”

“You’re my family, Soph.” I cup her face, and the contact settles her. “My family is your family. And whatever this is, we face it together.”

I take her hand and lead her into the office. Vito and Massimo are already there; they’ve been staying at the estate for the past few days so we can debrief and strategize whenever needed. They, too, are grim as we enter.

“I’ll get right to it because we don’t have time.” Army faces us all, holding up his hand asPapà, Massimo, Vito, and I stiffen. “It’s not that kind of threat,” he assures us, meaning we aren’t about to come under physical attack. “Len texted me with her SOS message that she only ever sends when shit has hit the fan.

“I received that message twenty-six minutes ago, and she’s calling at the thirty-minute mark.” He holds up his phone. “Digits is rerouting the call to this burner phone. He’ll put it through his scrambling program so the signal bounces all over, so Len won’t be able to pin down that I’m here.”

Ash crosses his arms over his chest. “We don’t know the purpose or what she’ll say or ask. But clearly, there’s been a development.”

“There’s been nothing we’re aware of on our end.” I shift to keep Sophie close to me. She’s quiet and biting her lip. “We still haven’t picked up sightings of Ortez, Morales, Salome, or Perez.”

“Fuckers haven’t crawled out of their hole,” Vito grouses and leans against the wall.

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