Page 28 of Sapphire's Gem
“Tinkerbell!” I bellowed. “Maid, go get her.”
Maid shot off, leaving the man she’d been kicking and punching. He wasn’t going anywhere, nor was he awake, but clearly, Maid had wanted him in pain. Moments later, Tinkerbell raced around the corner. She looked slightly mussed but fine.
“Freeze the chain,” I ordered as I looked around for something to smash it with. Tinkerbell stepped up and began freezing the thick chain as I saw a broken pipe by a trash can. I grabbed it and waited for Tinkerbell to step back.
Sailor and Heart were zip-tying the four assholes’ hands and feet together and dragging them out of the way.
“Close your eyes!” I ordered, praying that this would work. I whacked the chain as hard as I could, and it shattered.
“Open the door, Saph!” I screeched, and it flew open. A tall guy stood there and began passing people out to us. Maid and Nun returned and began helping people down the alleyway. Thick smoke rolled out of the kitchen, and I realised how close it had been as people coughed and choked.
My sisters formed a chain and passed the victims off to one another as they got them out of the small alley and onto the main street. Women and children emerged first, and then men. It was no surprise when Sapphire and Sparrow came out last with a guy. They were all gasping for air, and when I tried to take Sapphire’s weight, she waved me away. Sparrow, however, took Maid’s help, and we led them out of the alley. I stopped and helped the guy as he stumbled into a wall.
Sirens screamed as the fire department finally arrived, followed by two cop cars. Several people were lying in the street as Stitch hovered over them, aiding where she could. Obviously, she couldn’t heal them; it would raise too many questions, but she could help them breathe.
“What the fuck happened?” a uniform demanded moments later, approaching us. “Were you behind this?”
“What the hell?” I snapped as my sister’s heads all turned.
“A guy said it was arson!” the uniform continued.
“Yeah, it was, but by those assholes there!” I pointed at the hogtied gang members. Eight of them in total.
“What the hell?” the uniform exclaimed, hurrying over.
“Don’t free them!” a girl in a waitress uniform cried. “They started the fire!”
“Sapphire,” a voice I recognised said, and I turned to see Wylde crouching near Saph, a look of intense worry on his face as she hacked and spluttered.
Sapphire
Really? Wylde was in my face again?
“Detective,” I muttered and coughed hard. He rubbed my shoulder and looked around, spotting Sparrow spluttering and heaving in gulps of air.
“You, Vengeance, right? What the fuck happened?” Wylde demanded.
“We don’t know. I got a message from Sapphire saying some gang members had attacked the Mexican Hat, and she and Sparrow were inside. As we turned the corner, we spotted four members and tackled them, tying them up so they were unable to escape. We couldn’t get in the front, well, you can see why,” Vengeance motioned to the flames, and I nodded in agreement.
“Coming around the back, we found four more people who put up a fight. We beat their asses and realised they’d padlocked the door, we broke the chain and got people out,” Vengeance finished.
“Did everyone get out?” Wylde asked me. “Just nod, Sapphire, don’t speak.”
I nodded.
“Why isn’t she on oxygen?” Wylde demanded to see a paramedic.
“She told us to deal with the women and children first,” the guy said, changing direction and approaching.
“She is a fuckin’ woman!” Wylde exclaimed. The paramedic nodded and went to put a mask on my face, but I pushed him towards Sparrow. She needed it more, and Stitch couldn’t help us right now.
“Jesus,” Wylde cursed and disappeared. He was back moments later with an oxygen tank and a mask. Before I could argue, he fitted it over my face, and I drew in a beautiful lungful of fresh air and promptly choked again.
“There are more ambulances on the way; everyone here needs to get to the hospital,” the paramedic said as he passed us carrying the toddler Sparrow had saved. Her mother raced behind her, tears streaking her dirty face. She spotted Sparrow and then froze before rushing over and hugging her.
“If it weren’t for you, Ruby would have died. I can’t thank you enough; you saved her life,” she gushed before racing after her daughter.
“They were the last out with Warrick,” another cop announced, approaching and pointing at Sparrow and me.
