Page 21 of Torching Vixen
“Yes, sir,” they say in unison before turning and heading back into the basement after loading themselves up with the weapons and ammo they think they are going to need.
“Wesson, let’s get this done. We need to get this show on the road,” I command, loading myself up with weapons.
It takes us about twenty minutes to get everyone in the basement free. I’m shocked at how young some of the women are—as young as fifteen or sixteen. I know we won't be able to get out of this with all of them, but I’ll do my damnedest to get as many out as I can. We gather and make a plan, deciding to put the women in the middle of us. As we get everyone positioned where we need them to be, Smith stops us, reminding us that we can’t forget the boys on our way out. We all give him a nod and get ready to go as soon as Wesson lets us know the charges are set.
I make it to the top of the steps and find it slightly open. I can hear a television and someone banging around in a kitchen. I hold up two fingers, then turn, holding a finger over my lips. Duck squeezes my shoulder, letting me know he is ready. Slowly pushing the door open, I look around the corner and don’t see anyone. Motioning for them to follow me, I go to the right, and Duck goes to the left, standing guard in case someone comes at us from the front.
I pass the first door and find that it’s unlocked but empty. I don’t expect to see a nursery inside the second door and the two tiny babies laying in perfect, identical cribs. This room is so out of place from the rest of the house so far. It’s as if we stepped into another world or something. Pristine, white and, above all, clean where the rest of the house is run down and somewhat nasty. I look over my shoulder and see that Wesson has moved to the front with me, and Duck has taken up the rear with Smith. I can’t read the look on his face but know now that there is no way we are leaving without these babies.
“Wesson, see if a couple of the ladies will carry them?” I quietly ask and step back when he growls low in his chest.
“You good, man?” I need him focused on me.
“I’m good! Whoever has them needs to be in the middle and surrounded by the others. They have to make it out of this,” Wesson states, and from the look in his eyes, I know he’ll get the babies and us out of this mess.
I give him a swift nod and get the ones that look the strongest. I wave them forward, and they look so scared that I’m going to hurt them that I make sure not to move too quickly. I point to the babies and mimic holding a baby. While they both nod hesitantly, they pick up the babies, wrapping the blankets from each crib securely around the boys. I motion them to the middle of the group, praying like fuck that this’ll work.
“Boss, we’ve got to get the fuck out of here. This is taking too damn long,” Smith growls out, looking twitchy.
“We are moving now. Stay close to each other, and no matter what, you keep fucking moving.”
Wesson and I start down the hallway with guns at the ready. We are just about to make it to the back door when one of Fancy Suit’s men walks out of the bathroom as I’m getting ready to pass it.
“What the fu—” A well-placed blade cuts him off. I catch him before he can hit the ground, slowly lowering him so not to make too much noise.
Someone cuts off the television and calls out, “Hey, man, everything okay in there?”
I hear Smith curse, and I know it’s on. All hell breaks loose, guys come from everywhere like fucking cockroaches. Just as we make it to the back door, I hear a scream, and another body hits the floor. I take a deep breath, centering myself because I’m now thinking losing someone will do nothing but slow me down. I make it through the door and set up low to cover everyone as they move through the door. The last woman and girl make it through, and Duck taps me on the shoulder just as I feel something warm, and sticky cover my face.
“Torch, something’s not right,” Ducks says as blood runs out of the corner of his mouth.
“No,no!Duck, you asshole, you are not allowed to die.” I throw him over my shoulder in a fireman's carry and follow after everyone else.
“Wesson, fucking blow that place to fucking hell,” I shout just as I pass him and feel the sting of a bullet as it grazes my leg.
I go down hard, rolling so that I don’t land on Duck. I breathe a little easier when I hear him grunt. I’m breathing through the pain, doing my best not to pass out when I hear Smith calling Duck’s name as he works on him to stop the bleeding. The ground rocks under me when the C-4 detonates. Wesson shrugs like it is no big deal, and I lay back, breathing through the pain of the broken ribs. I finally sit up and look over at them. Smith looks scared and worried.
“We have to get moving, Torch, or he’s not going to make it. It’s fucking bad.”
“I know, but fuck, I don’t even know where in the fuck we are or how to get hold of anyone at this point,” I grumble out as I poke at my leg, grateful it was only a graze. It’s bad enough that Duck is seriously hurt
“Wesson, do you know how to get where we need to go?” I ask, praying that he has some fucking clue.
“Boss, all I can tell you is that we aren’t even close to the club and that north is that way,” he points behind him.
It’s not even two seconds later that we hear sirens. We can’t be caught here, but the ladies aren’t good and Duck fucking needs help. This way, one of them might be able to get word to my brothers. So, I come up with an idea and know that it will have to work because if we are found, no cop will ever believe that we didn’t cause this explosion.
“Who here has a good memory?”
“I have an excellent memory, and after you got us out of that shit hole, I’ll remember anything you need me to,” says a slip of a woman.
“Meet the cops and tell them that you escaped with the help of this man. When they get you to the hospital, call 423-959-3322, and tell them that Torch needs a hand, and that Duck is on shore and still. Then tell them where we are. Can you do that?”
She nods her head, but that is not good enough for me. “Repeat it back to me,” I demand.
“Call 423-959-3322, tell them that Torch needs a hand, and that Duck is on shore and still.” The fire still in her eyes gives me relief.
“Good. Wesson, Smith, let’s get moving. We need to be gone now,” I stand and fight everything in me to leave my brother lying there on the ground.
