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I leapt to my feet and shouldered Mac’s other side. Christ, he was tall, and I staggered under Mac’s dead weight, but we were in this together.
Gunshots rang out, and we all moved as quickly as we could.
“Aurora, when I say run, run,” Casey gasped and began laying down, covering fire. She rushed to Mac, hooked an arm over him, and dragged him forward. We burst through the exit, nearly dragging Mac with us.
“Run!” Casey screamed when we’d put several feet between the warehouse and us. Without hesitating, I ran and didn’t glance back. Casey yelled something at a guy, and the factory erupted in a loud boom. The surrounding buildings shook as the building exploded in a rain of fire and debris. Debris hit me, and I was swept off my feet and crashed into a wall nearby. I lay there stunned as secondary explosions happened, and I covered my head as I believed hell had arrived on earth. When I could see, I saw Casey dragging Mac towards me, and I leapt up and helped her move him somewhere safe.
Debris flew like bullets, glass-like spears, and the fire made us both sweat. Our faces were hot from the heat of the flames. We finally made our way out of the rain of burning embers and sat on a curb.
Stunned, we looked at each other as Casey laid Mac’s head on my lap.
“Can’t hear anything,” Casey yelled.
I winced because she was loud and next to my ear. She’d been closer to the blast than I had been, and I realised Casey was deaf. Temporarily, I hoped. I stroked her hand, trying to reassure her she was safe, but Casey had a wild expression in her eyes that frightened me. The tables had turned. Now I was calm, and Casey was uncontrolled.
“Sirens,” I replied as I heard them wailing close by. Someone needed to come soon because Casey and Mac were both severely hurt. I could see a piece of sharp wood poking from Casey’s back, and I was trying not to look and panic her. Her face was a mess of cuts and bruises. Although Casey was alert and talking, I had no idea about internal injuries. I wished Klutz was here, I’d sensed his medical skills and Calamity had confirmed he had them. But Calamity warned me not to talk to Klutz about them. And I really needed a hug.
“Mac needs help. He’s badly injured. Make sure they check him first,” Casey bellowed.
“Aurora, tell the truth, but not concerning the bombs. Say we found bomb-making stuff but didn’t touch it. Honestly, I don’t really wanna go to prison for blowing up a load of assholes and a building. I’ll say that shit must have been unstable,” Casey said, and I nodded without hesitation.
The fire engine screeched to a halt with a second behind it. A fireman climbed out and gaped in amazement before hurrying over. He dropped his helmet, stared into our faces, and spoke. I didn’t listen as my thoughts drifted.
The fuck I was going to mention Casey blew the hell out of those bastards. While I held life in high esteem, I thought assholes deserved to die. They had kidnapped the three of us, and from what I’d overheard, they had planned to sell me once they’d all taken part in raping me. No, those pigs earned having their body parts scattered across the county. There wasn’t an ounce of remorse for those kidnapping assholes.
Casey made me jump as she wrapped an arm around my shoulder, and then we got into a squabble about the paramedics checking me over. Casey needed it more than me, but she won the argument when the blood drained from her face. It would be quicker to let Casey have her way, and then she’d be tended to. They moved Mac and Casey to an ambulance, and I shoved my way in.
“We’ll stay together, thanks. Try to separate us after what we’ve been through, and I’ll hurt someone,” Casey threatened. That told them.
I leaned my head on her good shoulder and patted her leg. After this, we’d be the best of friends, I decided. Casey had put herself on the line to save my life; she could have escaped and run. She didn’t. I’d do whatever it took to help her get better. Even running the store for her while she recovered. That would be helpful for Casey, except the shop was ruined. Well, I could start cleaning it after the insurance man checked it over.
???
Rage turned out in full force because I’d been injured alongside Mac. They saturated the waiting room with dark glowers. I’d been booked but was unsettled, as I’d no idea what was going on with Mac and Casey. Axel was by my bed, acting in my grandfather’s place, and while I appreciated it, I wanted to know what the hell was going on.
“I’m gonna cut me a bitch if somebody doesn’t tell me exactly what’s happening to Mac!” Casey exploded from nearby.
That did it. Casey needed me. I shuffled out of bed, ignoring Axel’s attempts to keep me there, and stuck my head out of the cubicle. I noticed the back of Ace, and he was berating Casey.
“Will you calm down and stop making a scene?” Ace ordered as I stumbled forward.
My back and legs hurt, and I thought I was bruised, but nothing else. I hip-checked Ace and wandered in. As I walked to Casey’s side, I saw the piece of wood still in her shoulder and frowned at the doctor in the room.
“Why hasn’t she been treated?” I demanded.
“The patient won’t let me near her,” the nurse said, speaking slower.
“Casey has a piece of wood stabbed in her, and you haven’t removed it?” I exclaimed in horror. What was wrong with these people?
“Think I got a bullet in my ribs, too,” Casey gasped.
Anger swept over me, and I glowered at the nurse and doctor. And they weren’t checking Casey over? What type of place was this? This was worse than I thought. Ace moved past me and studied Casey’s shoulder and then her ribs. There was a neat round hole in her top and a second one below it. Crap, she’d been shot twice! And yet she was still standing, or rather sitting!
“Why ain’t you had this sorted?” Ace demanded, his face near Casey’s.
“Because no fucker would tell me about Mac! And where is Blue?”
“Blue is fine. He’s safe. Sit down, and let the nurse see to you,” Ace snapped, and Casey obeyed.
