“Is there another way out?” She asked me nervously. “Or do we have to go through the main floor.” Her words sounded full of dread. I couldn’t blame her I didn’t want to see the ruins that undoubtedly filled the main floor either. I glanced at her reaching out to touch her cheek, I opened my mouth to speak, but I had no idea what to say. Suddenly the metal door opened abruptly I pushed Nikki behind me quickly as she screamed in terror I reached for my gun. I raised it aiming it directly at the person who opened the door, holding my breath as I psyched myself up to pull the trigger.
“Don’t shoot it’s me!” Anthony said, pulling me by the lapels of my suit through the door before he grabbed Nikki and forced her out the door. Just as she cleared the doorway, someone fired down the hallway we just left. Anthony returned the gunfire as Nikki and I crouched down to the concrete along the side of the building.
“There’s a car waiting for you down the alleyway. Go!” He hollered as he continued to fire down the smoke engulfed hallway. “GO!”
I grabbed Nikki’s hands pulling her back to her feet. I took her hand in mine ready to run, but she wouldn’t budge. She turned around to face Anthony her face streaked with tears.
“My sister’s in there! Anthony you have to get her out of there!” She thrashed as she pulled her hand from mine and grabbed onto Anthony’s arm. “Please!”
I grabbed Nikki from behind and Anthony shrugged free of her hold on him. Christ didn’t her father teach her not to latch onto someone when they were firing a fucking gun?
“I’ve got her.” He said to Nikki quickly diverting his eyes to me. “Get her out of here.”
I nodded, pulling her against my body, but she wriggled to break free. She shook her head and cried out. “My family is in there! I can’t leave them Mikey!” She screamed at me fighting with every fiber of her being.
That was the difference between Nikki and me her family meant everything to her, she was so afraid of losing them as opposed to me who had already lost mine. I knew that place she was in I lived there the night before my mother died, I succumbed to that hell and I wanted more than anything to take her away from it.
I hauled her over my shoulder, her fists beating against my back as I ran down the alleyway with her secured in a firefighter’s hold. She kicked her legs, her heels nearly colliding with my crotch the last thing I needed was to be kicked in the balls right now.
I skidded to a stop when I reached the curb taking in the black SUV that was running. I cocked my head to the side readjusting Nikki in my arms to see if I recognized the driver and nearly toppled over when I saw Jack “Bulldog” Parish behind the wheel. Ah, shit!
“Get the fuck in the car!” He shouted out the window. I didn’t know if he was the enemy or the ally I didn’t know who the fuck to trust. I looked behind me, but Anthony was nowhere in sight. I swallowed the lump in my throat and looked back at Jack. I could hear the roar of motorcycle engines creeping closer to us.
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I spat, looking all around the deserted area for an escape. He must’ve heard the suspicion in my voice as I answered him back because he sighed exasperated.
“Look, kid I told Vic I’d see to it that you and his daughter were safely tucked away. Now I’m telling you if you don’t get the fuck in the car you will be the one responsible for your death and hers.” He glanced in the rear view mirror as half a dozen Satan’s Knights pulled up behind him. I tore my eyes away from Jack to take in the badass men and their bikes the first biker closest to me nodded to me assuring me that he had my back.
“Clocks ticking kid.” Jack said his patience wearing thin.
I guided Nikki down from my shoulder, placing her on wobbly heels cursing the fucking stilettos that she had decided to wear. She looked over her shoulder squinting her eyes against the bright headlights of the bikes.
“Jesus Christ.” She murmured before turning back to me.
“These men are friends of your dad’s they are going to take us somewhere safe, okay?” I said running my fingers nervously through my hair.
Her lip quivered as she nodded her head slowly wrapping her arms around her body.
“It’s going to be okay.” I said, because she looked desperate for assurance. She looked at me biting her lip, trying not to cry. She reached for my shirt clutching the fabric in her hands she closed her eyes for a moment.
“Mikey this is all my fault.” She struggled with her words, pausing before lifting her head to meet my gaze.
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion, not comprehending how any of this was her fault as I ran my hands down her arms slowly.
“No baby, it’s not. It’s all going to be okay, I swear to you.” I said catching the bikers flashing their lights signaling me to move it along and the sirens were growing louder. I reached around her and pulled open the door. “Get in the car Nikki we need to get out of here.”
She didn’t argue as she climbed into the back seat of the Ford Expedition. I slid in beside her before I could even close the door Jack pulled away from the curb. I glanced out the rear window watching as the first two motorcycles leading the pack passed us by so that they were now riding in front of us. The next two remained on either side of us and the last of the pack followed behind the SUV.