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Ace works harder, digging out the bolt. I stand and my legs are shaky, but I can’t let these men stop us now that we’re a step closer to getting the hell out of here. I step up onto the crate. It’s the closest I’ve been to Ace in a long time, but it’s also the first time I haven’t felt the buzz of electricity between us. I ignore that thought for now and proceed to tug on the chains. He’s right, they’re loose, but not quite enough to get free. “Hurry,” whispers the redhead.
The door opens and she groans in frustration. “Get over here,” I say, my tone impatient. The footsteps are heavy as they come down the stairs.
I take the screwdriver from Ace. “What are you doing, Mae?” he asks.
The guy appears around the corner, but I don’t give him a chance to take in the scene before him. Instead, I stick the screwdriver into his neck. He grunts and his hand goes to the wound, but I pull it out before he can take it from me and stab him on the shoulder. He looks surprised and shocked, like he doesn’t know whether to cover his now bloody wounds or grab hold of me. But while he’s working that out, I go for the kill, plunging the weapon into him over and over until he falls to his knees.
I stumble back, dropping the weapon and falling onto my backside. It’s then that I notice the blood covering my arms and legs. The dirty white shirt I have on is wet through with the sticky crimson fluid. I’m panting for breath and sobbing all at the same time.
The door opens again, and I want to scream out in anger. The man I stabbed is gurgling and it alerts his friend, who runs down the steps until he sees the guy on his knees, covered in his own blood. His eyes shoot to me. “What the fuck have you done, you little whore?” he yells, marching in my direction. The red-haired girl screams as the man grips my hair and hauls me to my feet.
He pushes me against the wall and moves his strong hands to my throat. “Please,” I whisper, trying desperately to remove his grip from my neck. He squeezes tighter and raises me off the ground. My feet bang against the wall behind me, trying to find the grip I need to lift myself. I feel my eyes bulging, and right before I’m about to pass out, I see him.
Ace stalks behind the man so silently that neither of us hear him. The chain holding his cuffs is still linked. He hooks it over the man’s neck, and in one swift movement, he wraps it around tight. The guy releases his hold on me, and I fall to my knees, gasping urgently to get air into my lungs.
The red-haired girl pulls me to stand. “We have to leave,” she urges me.
Ace is standing over the lifeless body of the man, his chest heaving. “I need to find them all,” he growls.
Mystique turns to him. “No, we don’t have time for that. What if they overpower us and we end up locked in here again, or worse, dead?”
Ace looks at me. “I have to. I promised they’d pay.”
“That can wait,” I whisper, my voice hoarse from my attack. “We need to go.”
Mystique reaches into one of the guys’ pockets, checking them all until she pulls out a mobile phone and some car keys. “Bingo,” she says with a smile.
She takes Ace by the hand and tugs him towards the steps. I follow, wrapping my arms around myself as I step over the bleeding body of the first man. We race up the stairs and break out into the bright daylight. It’s blinding, and I instantly cover my eyes. I feel a hand take mine and lead me along the loose stones, then I’m pushed gently into the back seat of a car. Ace gets into the front, with Mystique in the passenger side. “There’s a button on the key ring to open the gate,” she explains, leaning over Ace and pressing it. The large gates open and Ace starts the engine, wasting no time in putting it into gear and screeching out towards freedom.
Once we get out onto the road, I begin to breathe again. I was convinced we’d get stopped and killed. I keep glancing behind us, but there’s no obvious signs that we’re being followed. “Are you both okay?” asks Ace.
I nod, my throat still sore, and I’m exhausted. The trauma of the last few days begins to hit me. I rest my head against the cool window as a tear rolls down my cheek. Mystique reaches back and squeezes my bare knee gently. “We’re okay now.”
Almost an hour later, we stop at the gates of the Rebellion clubhouse. Relief floods me when Bear steps from the gatehouse to check out the car. Ace sticks his head out the window. “Call off the search party, motherfuckers, I’m home.”
Bear let’s out a whistle to alert the other guys, then he signals for them to come as he opens the gates. Ace parks up and gets out. I watch through the window as word spreads and guys start appearing, clear relief on their faces as they greet their President.
“These guys are big,” mutters Mystique nervously.
“They’re all amazing.” I sigh. “Real gentlemen.”
The clubhouse door flies open, banging on the wall behind it, and my mother rushes out, covering her mouth as she sobs. “Is she with you?” she asks, and Ace nods, reaching for the handle of my door. He pulls it open and holds out his hand for me to take. Gripping the door, I pull myself to stand, doing my best to avoid touching Ace. He stares at me for a second, but he doesn’t get the chance to ask me what’s wrong because my mum envelopes me in her arms and sobs into my neck. We’re then wrapped in Queenie’s arms, and before long, I feel others join us too. “Is Able okay?” I whisper and my tears turn to happy as mum nods.
I never thought I’d be here again. I watch the women chatting happily, pleased we’re all together again. The men went into church over two hours ago. Mystique was introduced to the women by Ace, and he made it clear she’d be sticking around and that she’s to be treated like one of us. I’m grateful to her for her help, but I don’t like the way she’s been flirting with Ace. She’s made it obvious she likes him.
“Are you okay, sweetie? You’re shaking.” Queenie gently squeezes my arm.
I nod, though I actually feel terrible. My body aches and I can’t control these shakes. Mystique takes my hand. “I’ll walk you upstairs, Ace said I’m in the room next to you.” She smiles, and I don’t have the energy to argue, so I stand, kissing the women goodnight.
We get to my room, and Mystique follows me inside. “You need a hit.”
“A what?” I ask.
“A hit. They must have given you heroin. You’ll need a fix or you’ll get worse.”
I laugh, hardly believing her words. “I don’t need a fix. I’ll feel better once I’ve slept.”
Mystique shrugs her shoulders. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
