“Can’t believe this pathetic fucker thought he called the shots,” Diesel snarled.
“A basement,” Chance said. “Search for a basement.”
“Diesel, take care of him and make sure he lives. Thalia deserves retribution,” Bear snarled and threw Dean across the room to Diesel, who grinned and stamped his foot into Dean’s face.
“You can’t do this! Do you know who I am?” Dean screamed, holding his nose. Diesel wrinkled his nose and stamped a second time, knocking the asshole out.
“Upstairs and the attics are clear,” Chatter said, appearing.
“There’s a basement,” Chance said. They spread out looking for a door, and Kelly called out when he found it. Kelly had yanked the door open and was clattering down the stairs, calling for Thalia before anyone could stop him. Bear cursed and dashed after him and saw a man appear with a bloody knife in hand. He stabbed towards Kelly, and Bear launched himself at the man and knocked him sideways as the blade grazed his arm. Bear twisted as they fell and landed on his back.
Robespierre attacked, and Bear kicked upwards with his feet. He connected, and Robespierre was shoved backwards, and Bear climbed to his feet with an agility his size defied. Robespierre came at Bear again, the knife slashing furiously. Bear took several cuts to his arms as the man darted away again. Bear watched as Robespierre raced in; the blade raised and landed a solid punch on the man. Robespierre spun away, shaking his head; he looked dazed.
Robespierre attacked again, and Bear allowed one slash to his left arm and grabbed the man around the neck. He threw him backwards and jumped on top, and landed several more punches. Bear picked up Robespierre’s head and smashed it hard against the cement floor. Robespierre closed his eyes, and Chatter tied him up. Bear saw several doors in front of him and kicked open the first. It was empty, as were the second and third. Dread pooling in his stomach, Bear, kicked open the fourth and cried out.
Lying to one side was a slight figure, splayed out and dead eyes staring at him. Harsh breaths were dragged in before Bear realised the woman in front of him had been dead a while and was blond. Chance laid a heavy hand on his shoulder and kicked open the fifth door himself. They rolled back at the stench of rot that came from the room, and Chance offered one quick glance and slammed the door shut.
“Dear fuckin’ God,” Chance muttered. He didn’t need to say any more about the rotting bodies lying inside. They stared at the last door, and Bear stormed over and kicked it open in one smooth move. A harsh cry left his lips as he stared at the nightmare in front of him. Blood soaked the room under the light. It was splashed up the walls and in puddles on the floor. To one side, a half-naked figure lay in a pool of blood with her eyes closed.
“Call an ambo,” Bear screamed, nearly breaking his vocal cords as he raced forward. Thalia lay in a mass of blood and, as Bear crashed to his knees, he searched for a pulse. Kelly slid down against a wall, tears streaming from his eyes as he gazed at the horror in front of him.
“She’s got a weak pulse!” Bear screamed. Behind them, Chatter spoke urgently on the phone and Bear cradled Thalia against him. He lost count of the knife wounds on her body. Her head fell limply back, and her hair was soaked in blood.
“Get Robespierre and Dean out of here,” he dimly heard Tiny order. Bear remained on his knee’s rocking back and forth as he held Thalia tightly.
“Fight baby, fight. Don’t let go, just fight,” Bear muttered. Thalia didn’t respond, and Bear kept his finger on her pulse, willing her heart to beat with his.