by Simone Elise
"So you expect me to rescue your girl, keep you on the phone, and shoot straight. Geez, no pressure," I muttered back to him.
It was silent when we stepped into the foyer. No screaming, no yelling and no cries of panic.
We both had our guns raised as we walked through the lounge, stepping over broken glass, with Marc's boots crushing some roses.
"Have you found her?" Chase was in my ear.
"No."
If Chloe was asleep upstairs, I swear I will kill Marc.
Then we walked through a doorway, and every thought I did have before was gone as I saw the scene in front of me.
Chapter 45
Marc's Point of View
I was used to bloody scenes. I was either the cause of it, or Chase was. Either way, I was used to blood, but this - no one could be prepared for this.
I didn't think about it twice. I ran to her, skidding on the blood that covered the kitchen floor, dropping to my knees in front of her.
Hell, where was all this blood coming from?
She was a shade of white I had never seen before. It wasn't pale. No, it was death-like.
She was leaning against the kitchen island, her hand over her left arm. Then I saw it. Fuck. The blood oozing from the cut was unbelievable.
I had to make a decision.
Call it in or take her.
I glanced over my shoulder, seeing his body. The blood coming from him told me he was as close to death’s door as Chloe was.
"Oliver, call Archie." I ripped my t-shirt off. I was not the one you wanted giving medical help, but fuck it, there wasn't anyone else.
"OLIVER, CALL ARCHIE!" I yelled at him again while he just stood in the doorway doing jack shit. He had gone into shock. Hell, he wasn't the one bleeding out on the floor!
“Okay, Chase, I have to go." The shock Oliver was suffering from could be heard in his voice.
"Fuck Chase! Hang up and call Archie!" I knew yelling at him was pointless, but he wasn't listening.
I wrapped my shirt around Chloe's arm, the cut went from the inside elbow to her wrist. It was deep, and the amount of blood oozing from it told me she didn't have much left in her.
I applied pressure and, as I did, Chloe's eyes went wide. Shit, I thought she was completely out of it. The pain must be making her alert.
"Marc?" Her voice was weak while her body was limp as I took her hand off her wrist.
"Yeah Chloe, I'm here." I knew this was the point where I should reassure her or something, but all I could think of was how the hell I was going to keep her alive to get her to Archie. Maybe I should call an ambulance.
The blood was coming out faster.
"Archie wants to know where you want him?" Oliver stood behind me.
Call an ambulance or take her. I reached for my pocket.
"Don't." Chloe's hand was over mine. Hell, was she still with it? Her eyes were on mine, and it was the first time I had ever seen someone settled with their fate; like she knew she was dying and she had accepted it. "I killed him, and I can't do the prison time for that. It's better this way."
Screw that! She might have accepted she was dying, but I wasn't accepting it.
"It was self-defense, Chloe." And we really didn't have time to go over the finer details of this right now. Not as she bled out.
"It won't matter. With my record…" her voice faded.
"Chloe, stay with me." I applied more pressure to her arm and it worked, it woke her up, her eyes going wide again. "Just keep breathing, Chloe." I found myself about to promise her something I didn't know whether I would be able to fulfill. "I'll handle this. You just keep breathing."
Somehow, someway, I was going to make sure she kept breathing and that heart kept beating.
I picked up the knife that lay beside her and took it to her ankle, cutting that stupid device from her leg.
"What are we going to do?" Oliver was watching me as I tied my shirt around her arm.
"Tell Archie to meet us at the Devils, then phone the Devils and tell them they’re having company." I carried Chloe like she weighed nothing at all. There was barely anything left of her.
"What about him?" Oliver grabbed my arm as we walked past. "Can't just leave him to bleed out. That will look even worse in Chloe's defense."
I didn't have time for this; I barely had any time to get her to Archie.
"Fine, after you call them, call an ambulance for him, but you need to do all that and drive. Let's go."
Oliver nodded his head and was two steps behind me until we reached the front door and he bolted upstairs. Bloody hell, what was he doing now?
I didn't wait for him and headed for the car. I was unlocking it when he ran to us carrying a bag.
"What the hell is that?" I grumbled, opening the passenger door and badly sliding in while holding Chloe, making sure not to knock her head.
"Her stuff."
"Well, if you don't start this bloody car up and get us to Archie, she won't be needing her stuff."
"Already ahead of you." Oliver closed the back door and jumped in the front. "Archie is already on his way. Devils said we are welcome, and I called an ambulance so that guy doesn't die."
"Now all you need to do is drive," I gritted out while clamping both my hands around Chloe's arm.
She was limp in my arms now. Blood smeared across her face and body; even her blonde hair had a crimson tint to it. She looked like she was peacefully sleeping, and I was hoping that was the case instead of the alternative.
Chapter 46
Chloe's Point of View
"She's moving."
"Archie, you said you knocked her out!"
"I'm finished anyway."
"When did you get her blood type?"
"As soon as Chase took an interest in her. It’s my job, remember?" Archie sounded frustrated.
Marc grunted. "Doesn't mean you do it properly."
"Is she breathing?"
"Yeah, but she is going to have one ugly scar on her arm thanks to your stitching."
"I've stitched you up!"
"Yeah, and I'm not a girl. I don't care if they scar."
"Chloe will be fine with it," Declan said. "We need to get on the road. It's been over five hours. Need to get her interstate."
"Chase is on his way again," Oliver spoke.
"Oh, for fuck’s sake! Tell him to turn around! AGAIN!" Marc was shouting, causing me to frown. He was too loud.
Wait a minute. I was breathing. I was alive. I slowly opened my eyes. McKenzies. I was surrounded by them. Where the hell was I? I looked down at my arm; it was clean with stitches running up it.
"I told you she wasn't knocked out!" Marc yelled and punched Archie in the arm, who was sitting next to me on the bed.
Archie started swearing.
"Where am I?" I went to sit up. "And what are you lot doing here?"
They shouldn't be here. They shouldn't be anywhere near here. They should be in Queensland, not here. I never thought I'd see them again but here they all were standing around the double bed, watching me.
Then my eyes widened. Two were missing. Dan, and, most importantly, Chase.
"Where's Chase?" Suddenly, I felt sick. I never thought I'd see him again.
"Not here," Marc answered.
"Not from the lack of trying," Declan scoffed.
I frowned, really confused. "So, how did I end up here? With you lot."
"Well, we kind of have been..." Oliver stepped forward, looking sheepish. "Well, not kind of have, have been, well, stalking you, I guess."
Stalking me? No way I would not have noticed, then my eyes slowly widened in realization. "Were you the lot scaring Jenkins off?"
"Yeah, maybe." Oliver coughed.
"YOU CAUSED ME SO MUCH SHIT!" I picked up a pillow and threw it at him. "So you are my boyfriend!"
Oliver caught the pillow, smirking. "Who else did you think it was?"
I had though
t Jenkins was losing his mind. "I honestly don't know, but I wouldn't have guessed it was you lot!"
"Well, we were only doing what we were told."
"What, scaring every male away from me?" I scoffed.
"Just ones that got too close. Like that one from your university."
All this time Chase had them watching me. I certainly wasn't fucking jumping for joy about it. He was meant to have moved on. He was meant to be in a different state! Wait a sec, they said Chase wasn't here.
"What do you mean by Chase isn't here? You lot don't go anywhere without him." I knew the rules somewhat of the club. I was a rookie, but I knew members stay with their President.
"Chase took a break from the club." Oliver jumped on the bed and sat down. "So we followed." He grinned. "You were more important."
"Are you insane? You can't seriously be telling me you took time out of your own life to watch me! Chase should have known better. I told him to move the heck on." Why didn't he listen to me? I made it clear. I was going to serve my time and I was doing it perfectly fine, until, well...until tonight. I chewed my bottom lip.
"Like Chase was going to let you take the fall for something he did. You’re meant to be his girlfriend, you should have known better," Marc stated, as if I was a complete fool for not working it out.
Girlfriend. I wasn't anybody's girlfriend. "I'm not his girlfriend."
"Yeah, you're his fiancée the last time I checked," Oliver had the guts to say.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Guessing you also put me in that hotel room with a ring on my finger."
"Clever, aren't I?"
"You are all a bunch of idiots." I pushed him off the bed and got up. "Now I need to go."
"Where would you be planning on going?" Marc stepped in my way to my bag.
"Away."
"Great plan. Keep going."
I gritted my teeth. "I got myself into this mess, and I'll get myself out of it." I didn't need Chase and I didn't need them. My mistake, my problem. Simple.
While my mind was racing, trying to get together some sort of plan, the little voice in my head was chanting he still cared. Chase still cared. I stepped around Marc.
"Chase wants you to go to him." Marc matched my step, blocking me. "And we are going to get you to him."
"How long has it been since I stabbed Joe?" I gave him a challenging look. Just don't give in, Chloe. I had already dragged Chase through hell. I wasn't dragging him through this.
"Five or six hours."
"Good. I can still hand myself in. Now move!" I didn't want to do the time. I wanted to die on that kitchen floor but I won't spend the rest of my life running.
"LIKE HELL YOU ARE!" Marc grabbed my non-injured arm. "I haven't gone through months of watching you to let you just throw your life into a prison cell."
"I didn't ask you to watch me." I narrowed my eyes at him. "Take it up with your brother."
Chase had wasted their time. Chase had wasted his own time. I was fine to look after myself. I attempted to pull my arm out of his grip.
"Let go of me!"
"Archie, knock her out," Marc said over my shoulder.
I saw Archie grab a needle out of the corner of my eye. No way was I letting them knock me out and drag me to Chase. I was not bringing this mess to Chase. Nope. He deserved better, not some girl he was stuck with out of guilt.
My arm was sore. I was light headed, I guess from blood loss so right now as I went to punch him, I was really hoping that there was some strength left in my body for it to be firm and enough so I did. I curled a fist and sent it straight into Marc's stomach. He let go of my arm and I sent another punch to his right side. He groaned and I reached behind him, grabbing the bag and bolting for the door.
I was out of there before one of them moved. God, my head was spinning. I just had to keep moving. I guess what do you expect when you nearly bleed out? I should be recovering in hospital not running down a hall.
. Why were there so many doors? I knew they would lead into rooms, so I kept running. I needed an exit.
I could hear them running after me now, but I was quicker than them, thanks to my intense exercise addiction.
"CHLOE!"
I kept running, not stopping.
I rounded a corner, seeing a green sign above a door. Exit. Perfect.
I pushed it open. The night air was freezing. I pushed my way through bikers. I didn't know where I was, but I was guessing it was at a club, and not their club, by the colors the bikers were wearing, but the party was good for my case. It would slow the boys down.
I had been on the run once before. I wouldn't do it again. I wonder how long you get for a second murder? Joe wasn't around to pull strings.
I saw the gates and ran to them. A stupid biker stepped in my way. I pushed past him, but he grabbed me by my sore arm, dragging me to a stop.
"I think someone is after you, sweetheart."
"LET GO OF ME!" I pulled and pulled. My arm started bleeding again. Pain. So much pain.
"Thanks, Tim." Marc came to a running halt beside us. Archie headed for me. NO. Not happening.
I pulled harder and then started laying punches into the guy with my weaker arm. He cursed, but didn't let go of me.
Marc took over his grip and Declan grabbed me by the shoulders.
"LET GO OF ME!" I fought until I felt the needle pierce my skin. I suddenly got lightheaded.
"She ripped her stitches." Archie said, sounding disappointed. "That was some of my best work."
I slowly started to collapse, but I was in Marc's arms.
"How about we not tell Chase about this?" Oliver said.
"I think Chloe will tell him how she feels about it herself," Marc scoffed.
I was going to argue, but my eyelids got heavy.
***
The radio. I could hear the music and someone singing to it badly. I opened my eyes and I felt sick and dizzy. We were on a highway. I turned in the front seat and I went to lift my left hand, but it was handcuffed to the door.
"Sleeping Beauty is awake." Oliver grinned at me.
Why was he so fucking happy? I glared at him. "You kidnapped me."
His grin got brighter. "You could call it that."
"There is no calling it that. That is what is happening." I groaned. I had one heck of a headache.
"You should be happy you get to see Chase."
"What?" I looked at him with wide eyes. I couldn't think of anything worse. I had made him waste months looking after me. I had cost him time on the road and I had cost him his brothers. "You better be kidding me, Oliver."
"Where else do you think we are headed? About an hour away now."
"How long have we been driving?" Surely I hadn't been out that long.
"Twenty hours or so." Oliver shrugged like it wasn't a big deal.
I groaned. "You are heading me in the wrong direction! I need to be back in Victoria, owning up to my mess, not running off into fucking sunset."
"Come on, you don't really want to go to prison."
I looked him dead in the eye. "I would rather that than be in debt to Chase. Really, how do you think this is going to work? One look at my file and the police will be wanting to speak with him."
Idiots. Complete idiots.
"Chase isn't really on the grid at the moment so I take my hat off to the cops if they can find him."
"You aren't wearing a hat."
"You know what I mean." He gave me a pointed look. "Look, we’re stopping for gas. Do you need to go to the toilet?"
Yes, badly. I went to cross my arms but couldn't because I was handcuffed to the stupid door.
Oliver indicated off the highway. "Looks like the boys are following."
What was he talking about? I turned to look out the back window. I knew that car. That was the car that was always parked across the street from my house! Bloody McKenzies.
I turned back around, feeling more frustra
ted and furious.
Oliver pulled into a parking space and got out. I could hear him talking to his brothers as he walked around the car.
He opened up my door slowly, my hand going with it.
"This is stupid," I muttered.
"So was you running." He undid the handcuff. "Now, do I have to come guard the toilet, or are you going to come back on your own terms?"
As soon as the handcuff was off, I got out of the car, pushing past him. I was muttering what a bunch of idiots they were walking into the gas station. Really? Where was I going to run to? We were on a highway in the middle of nowhere.
***
"Food. Drinks." Oliver stuffed them at me as soon as I was buckled back in. I looked at the amount of junk food.
"Not hungry."
"What's with you not eating?" Oliver reversed out of the park.
I ate. Sometimes. "Does Chase know you kidnapped me?" I asked while watching Marc pull out next to us and follow.
"Who do you think gives us orders, Ace?"
"I'll take it up with him then." I glared out the window. Knowing him, he wouldn't listen to me. He hated the law but I wouldn't let him do this out of guilt. I took the fall for something. Big deal. Wasn't like he owed me.
"Good, cause I don't feel like arguing." Oliver sped the car up, pulling onto the highway.
He had a point. My problem wasn't with him, or Marc. My problem was with Chase. Anyway, it was only a matter of time until the cops came for me. My ankle monitor would give away my position. Wait a sec, my ankle was light.
"Where is my ankle monitor?"
"Cut it off."
"Idiots." I groaned. Did they not realize they were making it worse for me? Now I had broken my parole. I had killed Joe. Well, as far as I knew, he was dead. If not, he would be extremely pissed off.
"You're on the run now, Chloe. Can't make it easy for the cops." Oliver winked at me.
Winked. Like it was a joke. "I'm not on the run, I'm handing myself in as soon as we get to wherever it is we are going."
Oliver scoffed. "No way is Chase letting you do that."
"He doesn't owe me anything! Honestly, this situation is laughable. I took the fall for something. Big deal. I was doing fine. I was coping."