Page 4 of At Their Mercy: Part I

“Myah!” Shay sobbed. “She can’t breathe!”

I gnashed my teeth as his pain seared through me like the sharpest blade.

Reese pulled off his hoodie and tee, and he tossed me the hoodie. The tee, he pressed to Shay’s face.

“We’re gonna get you out of here, sweetheart,” he said thickly and took over.

This was gonna be quick. Reese hauled Shay with him toward the stairs, the boy kicking and screaming, albeit feebly, all while he choked and gagged on the smoke. In no way could Reese handle him and make sure the fabric was pressed against Shay’s mouth and nose.

The sound of roaring flames threatened my calm, but no more than Shay’s grief was already doing. Holding my breath and squinting as I hurried down the stairs, I pulled forth memories of Emerson instead. Years of being trained by him. Danny too. The super soldier I’d grown up admiring. Get. The. Job. Done. Push through. Don’t think. Stay cold. Leave emotions out of this. You acknowledge pain—feeling it comes later. We reached the last step, and I threw a quick glance into the nightclub. Flames licked the walls.

My lungs burned.

Right before I started coughing again, Lucian and Colt were there to pull us out of the smoke.

“Watch your step, buddy. Move out, move out.”

I stumbled out of the house, my vision blurring with tears from the smoke. “Go to the truck, Reese,” I croaked.

“Who’s left?” Lucian panted.

“Greer—he’s got Corey,” Reese rasped. He didn’t stop. He all but carried Shay down the porch steps and kept walking.

“They can’t escape down the sides,” Colt coughed. “The fire’s spread to the tower, and windows are bein’ blown out on the left. Back’s blocked too.”

I hauled in a breath and spun around, running into the house again. I stopped at the first step and shouted hoarsely for Greer. “Fire’s spread to the tower, Greer! Front exit is clear, the back of the downstairs area can’t be accessed anymore!”

“Get out, River!” Lucian demanded.

I hurried to the doorway but stayed on the porch. So did Colt. Leave no man behind. Come on, Finlay. Come on.

A sound I’d been hearing for a while that hadn’t registered until now was coming closer. Sirens.

I choked on a breath and tossed Reese’s hoodie aside.

I could hear Greer. He was coming down the stairs.

“He’s comin’,” Colt said.

The two of us inched closer to the doorway, ready to assist, and I noticed Colt had sustained a burn on his arm. It was red and angry. More than that, my vision wouldn’t allow. I couldn’t stop the tears from trying to ease the irritation in my eyes.

Finally.

The instant I heard Corey cough, I moved in.

I grabbed hold of Greer’s arm and pulled him out the door.

“Last one?”

“Last one,” he coughed.

Thank fucking fuck.

We all hurried off the porch and away from the house, and I considered my responsibilities fulfilled. The house was empty. Now, my focus would be on Shay and Reese. The rest of the world could fuck off.

Members were scattered across the front lawn, some crying, some cursing, some coughing. The last thing I heard as the trees lit up with the lights from the fire trucks was Lucas ordering everyone to make room.

I picked up the pace and ran for the carport.