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I practically fell out of the door as another blast detonated. This time I saw two drones hovering overhead. One dropped something in the middle of the playground. Right next to where the women were directing the children to move out of the open and back to the clubhouse.
It seemed to happen in slow motion. I could see the explosive falling from the thing. Could see it was going to land in the middle of the women. I thought the kids were safely away, but I hadn’t seen the other explosives land to know what kind of blast radius there would be, so I didn’t know if they were far enough away.
“MOVE!” Sting’s harsh command sounded just before the explosion detonated.
My gaze met Nyla’s frightened one an instant before, then I was knocked off my feet and blown backward.
The next thing I knew I was gazing up at a smoke-filled sky. All around me urgent voices filled the air. The stench of ozone permeated everything, and debris rained down in a fine spray as the dust settled.
“Rose! Rose!” Atlas roared, his pain obvious. Rose had been with the other women. She was obviously hurt, but how bad? How bad were the others hurt? Nyla? Oh, God!
I scrambled to my feet and hurried to where bodies were strewn over the ground on the periphery of the blast. Some moved, others didn’t. I saw Nyla struggling to sit up and skidded to a halt on my knees at her side.
“Nyla!” My roar was loud even to my own ears.
“I’m OK,” she croaked. “The others…”
“I don’t know, baby. Lie still. Help’s comin’.”
Seconds later, all the men were out in force, guns in hand. Shooter took aim at a drone leaving the compound and shot it out of the sky before trotting after it. Sting sat with Iris in his lap, rocking her even as he shouted out orders to the rest of the club. Blossom, Walker’s woman, and Winter looked OK, but Serelda wasn’t moving. Neither was Rose.
“The others…” Nyla gasped out. “I was standing right beside Iris…” She looked around until her gaze landed on Iris where Sting held her limp body.
Brick exited the clubhouse with an assault rifle and his handgun at the ready. “Serelda!” His roar filled the yard. His woman still didn’t move.
The yard was filled with Iron Tzars members and prospects. A couple of the club whores were out too, armed just as much as the men. They wouldn’t fight, but would be ready to help the men reload if necessary. We’d trained for this eventuality, but I never thought it was something we’d have to contend with.
“Someone get Stitches and Eagle!”
“I’m here,” I called. Fuck! I didn’t want to leave Nyla, but she was at least conscious. “Don’t you move. You stay right here, baby. Understand?” She looked up at me, wide-eyed, and gave a faint nod. “Good. I’m a medic and I have to help Stitches do a quick assessment of everyone.”
“Go,” she said. “I think Rose is really hurt. Serelda too.”
I squeezed her shoulder gently and gave her a stern look. “Stay here.”
I hurried over to Rose and Atlas. The big man had scooped up his pregnant wife and was heading inside.
“Stop!” I commanded the big man.
“She’s not conscious!” Atlas shouted. “Need to get her inside to Stitches.”
“I’m here.” Stitches appeared beside Atlas and Rose, checking her pulse. “Put her down, Atlas. She doesn’t have a pulse.” Atlas looked like he was in shock, like he couldn’t register what was happening. I couldn’t blame him.
Stitches took the unconscious Rose and laid on her on the ground and started CPR. Always prepared, Stitches had his jump kit with him which I knew had an AED. While he worked on her, I hooked her up to the AED. While the machine was assessing her, I took time to set up an IV to push meds if we couldn’t shock her out of it or if no shock was indicated.
“Fuck,” Stitches muttered. “Gonna need to get her to the hospital.”
The AED prompted us to shock her, thank God. That meant her heart was at least trying to work. “Stand clear.” I made sure no one was touching Rose’s body. “Clear… Shocking.” I pressed the button and Rose’s slight body twitched. Immediately, Stitches pressed his fingers to her neck.
“She’s got a pulse. Get an IV started. Wylde, call EMS. I’m checking on the other women.”
I did as Stitches instructed, glancing up every so often to make eye contact with Nyla. It didn’t surprise that she didn’t stay where I told her. She was up, checking on her new friends.
“Need someone over here!” she screamed, where she knelt with Brick and Serelda. “Now!”
Rose moaned and Atlas took her hand, kissing her fingers. “Atlas…”
“I’m here, baby. Help is on the way.”
“The baby…” Her voice caught and her hands flew to her stomach. Atlas placed his big hands on top of hers.
