They’re silent until they literally drop out of the sky, two of them going for each of Blade’s shoulders. They take him to the ground in a shouting pile.
One of Blade’s knives skitters across the pavement in my direction. I pick it up, determined not to go down easy, but it’s hard to find an opportunity to help Blade that doesn’t make me worry about stabbing him instead. I finally get an opening and get one of the guys fighting him in the leg. The sharp blade sinks right into the back of his calf, so smoothly it’s a little sickening.
The guy screams and rolls off, reaching for the knife to get it back out. I lost my grip on the handle, so now I’m defenseless again, but maybe Blade—
A massive hand grabs my collar and yanks me backwards.
“Blade!”
The massive hand is connected to an even more massive arm that captures me around the neck. I kick wildly, trying to hit anything I can, but the guy only laughs and squeezes harder, cutting off my air.
“Stop fighting,” says an oily voice I know all too well, “or he’ll choke the life out of you and we drop your corpse off at your daddy’s doorstep.”
There’s no way I’ll break free, so despite all my instincts, I stop kicking. I need to breathe too. The grip loosens, but not by much.
Blade throws the other guy off him. The Viper’s cut is red with blood, and he hits the pavement, lifeless. God, this is so insane.
“Let go of her,” Blade snarls as he leaps to his feet, then freezes.
“You know, Blade, I don’t fucking think so.” Crow points a heavy-looking gun right at him, and when two more guys step up with muzzles aimed at our heads, even Blade has to admit he’s beaten.
Crap.
Behind the gas station, gunfire is still going off. Alpha and Ripper aren’t down yet, so maybe there’s still hope.
Crow gestures quickly with a cruel grin. “Take him. Eagle-eye cares about him. Then dump gas and set this place on fire. Shoot anyone who comes running out.”
“No!” I look at Crow with big panicked eyes. “Just take me. You don’t have to kill them.”
His grin widens. “I know. But I want to. If I was you, I’d worry about my own fucking skin.” His creepy gaze shifts to the guy holding me. “Take her to the van. I’ll be right there.”
Fighting back only gets me another chokehold. Then I’m twisted around, just in time to see Shovelhead start wrapping rope around Blade’s underarms, tying his arms behind his back. Blade stands proud, his hard jaw working in frustration, but he lets it happen.
I bet he’d fight to the last breath if it wasn’t for me.
God, he wouldn’t even be in this situation if it wasn’t for me.
I’m tossed into the back of a van, with the big bruiser following me in. He slams the door shut and takes a seat, glaring at me while cracking his knuckles. Does he think I’m going to try to punch him? That would be suicide.
There are no windows in the van except a small one covered by a metal grate in the back door, but it’s enough to see an orange glow starting to lick up the walls of the gas station.
I can’t hold it any longer. My eyes sting as the tears break free. Everyone was right. I tried to be a hero, and instead I might’ve just gotten all of us killed. Instead of saving Nicky, they have us all.
When the black dots start pressing in on my sight, for the first time ever, I welcome them.
28
EAGLE-EYE
I’m goingto fucking rip their balls out through their mouths. I should have their damn cuts for this, if they’re even still fucking alive. And if Faith is hurt, heads are going to fucking roll.
The club is on the move, my own fucking personal army come to rain down a whole world of shit on the Pit Vipers. There’s a special place in Hell reserved for Crow, but it’s going to seem like a fucking vacation once I’m done with him. But first we’ve got to find Faith and three of my boys who’re up for a whole round of ass-kicking. They had direct fucking orders.
King, just ahead of me and to the right, riding that black and purple iron steed of his, raises an arm and points. There’s a jet black plume of smoke rising in the sky up ahead, right on the way to the new meeting place. There’s no way that’s not fucking related. I sweep my arm to signal that we’re checking it out. We’re in a fucking hurry, but we can’t afford not to. If Faith is there while we blow by, we’re fucked.
Turns out the fire is a gas station that’s in full blaze. And outside it are a handful of Pit Vipers, guns raised and shooting at the building.
I get a sudden flash of Faith in there, burning up while the fucking Pit Vipers are chasing her with bullets.