My heart bleeding out for her.
“NO!” I yelled out as loud as I could, pulling out my gun from the back of my jeans. The desperation in my voice echoed through the woods, vibrating against my core. I screamed till nothing came out, my chest aching. Instantly tearing up my throat. “MIA, RUN!” I roared, lifting my gun, aiming it right in her path. Not thinking twice about pulling the fucking trigger as a shot simultaneously fired from the rifle in the woods.
I would never forget the look on her face when she saw the bullet leave the barrel of my gun, never hearing the shots fired from behind her.
“Cree—” Her whole body flew forward from the unexpected blow.
I froze, not believing the scene unfolding in front of me as casings continued to fly. For a second, it wasn’t Mia’s petrified expression staring back at me. Desperately penetrating my eyes. Searching for answers. Looking for help.
They were Luke’s.
My chest heaved, unable to hold back my hammering heart any longer. I could hear the drone in my ears, loud and clear. Memories of that night came flooding back, attacking my mind and assaulting my senses. Making me feel as if I was still in the clubhouse.
Where I just murdered my brother.
“GET HER OUT OF HERE!” I heard Noah scream, pulling me back to reality, back to the safe house in the woods, where Mia was the one who had just been shot. This was far worse than the place my mind had wandered. Bullets were flying in every direction. All hell had broken loose, and war was upon us once again.
I ran.
I ran as fast as I fucking could to my girl.
Sprinting to get to her. Immediately opening fire, lacing anyone who crossed me. Bullets recoiled off the trees, where men were trying to take cover, including Doc. Shielding themselves as best as they could, returning fire. I felt a burning sting graze my shoulder, and then again at the side of my stomach. Blood flew everywhere, not knowing if it was theirs or mine. I didn’t let that slow me down. An endless stream of bullets continued to fill the night air. Brothers running alongside me, trying to cover me so I could get to her. Knowing I only had one end in sight.
Adrenaline coursed through my veins, throbbing through my bloodstream. Taking over every last inch of my body. My heart continued to pound against my chest. My vision tunneled, watching as Mia’s quivering hands protectively went straight to her chest and stomach. She lost her footing, trying to take a step toward me. Not noticing she wasn’t going anywhere but side to side. Stumbling all over while blood continued to gush out of her pink shirt.
“Cre-ed... He-ee-lllp m-eee...” she faintly muttered, reaching out her hand as her body fell backward, her legs unable to hold her up any longer.
My arms went around her, catching her limp body before she fell to the hard ground. I laid her down in between my legs, holding her head in the crook of my arm. Rotating her toward me, immediately applying pressure to the middle of her back where she’d been shot. Blood gushed through her shirt, soaking my fingers. No matter how hard I tried, there was no fucking stopping it.
“Baby, baby, baby... no, no, no...” I stammered, close to her face. Finding it hard to breathe. Struggling to keep going. “Stay with me. You fuckin’ stay wit’ me.”
She peered up through clouded eyes. Her stare focused only for a few seconds, seeing all the blood on my chest and neck. Her eyes unconsciously traveled down to my bloody hands.
She sucked in air, realizing for the first time she’d been shot. “Creed... I can’t... I can’t... please... Mad...deee...”
“It’s okay, Pippin, I’m here. I’m right fuckin’ here. But goddamn it, you stay wit’ me! Ya hear me? Keep your eyes open, baby. Just keep your eyes fuckin’ open for me!”
She heaved, trying to answer. Wanting to say something, needing me to understand, but she was suffocating from her own pain.
“FUCK! MIA! DOC!” Noah yelled from above me.
I gently wrapped my arms under her upper torso and legs, carrying her up against my chest. Shielding her from stray bullets. Being careful not to cause her any more distress. An unceasing amount of blood poured from her back. Seeping into every last fiber of my being.
“I got you! We got you! Get her fuckin’ inside!” Noah shouted. “Doc will be right behind us! GO!”
I hauled ass with Noah and Diesel by my side, guns drawn, taking out the motherfuckers who did this. Covering me so I could get Mia to safety. I’d never been more fucking grateful for them in all my life. My world was caving in on me, my walls crumbling down. The floor felt like it was swallowing me whole as I ran into the safe house with Mia in my arms.
My guilt fucking eating me alive.
I cradled her to my chest, feeling her shaking so hard. “Mia, babe, I’m gonna lay you on the couch, okay? I gotta look at you. I need to stop the bleedin’.”
“Madd—”
“I know, baby, I know. Maddie’s gonna be okay. She’s gonna be just fine. I promise. Nothin’ gonna happen to baby girl,” I murmured, trying to keep my voice from breaking. Holding back the emotions that were threatening to erupt, needing to stay fucking strong for her, for the baby, for my fucking brother.
My body shuddered, shaking as profusely as hers. I held her so tight, so close to my fucking heart. Needing to feel hers beat against mine. Reminding me she was still alive. I kissed her forehead, gently laying her on her side, her back facing the front of the couch. Propping her head up with a pillow, causing her to whimper from the sudden movement.
“Fuck, Creed! She looks—”
“Shut the fuck up! Don’t you even fuckin’ say it!” I snarled to Noah, who was pacing the room, raking his hands through his hair. Looking at me like his whole fucking world was held in my tight grasp.
“Shit! Man! Brothers are comin’! But we gotta get these motherfuckers before they haul fuckin’ ass! They gotta fuckin’ pay for this! I won’t stop until I’ve put a fuckin’ hole in each one of their goddamn heads!” Diesel seethed, keeping an eye out the window. “Doc’s comin’!”
He opened the door as Doc backed up into the safe house, not ceasing fire until he was past the threshold. “Jesus fuckin’ Christ!” he scoffed, slamming the door behind him. “What the fuck is goin’ on? How do they know about this place? It’s been your family’s safe house for fuckin’ decades. This is bullshit! And I smell a fuckin’ traitor!”
“Doc!” I called out, bringing his attention to me. His eyes immediately shifted to Mia, convulsing on the couch. She was sweating profusely, her skin drenched and fucking pale. Turning bluer with every second that passed.
“Move!” Doc sprang into action, pushing me out of the way. His black medical bag was firmly placed in his hand. It was then I realized he went back for it, knowing I had seen him place it in his side-by-side before he walked to Mia.