Cautious: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World)

by Candice Wright

  “Stay here. I have men stationed outside that door, so attempting to escape will be futile.” He turns from me as my emotions swing like a pendulum between wanting to cry and wanting to punch him in his throat.

  I feel like I’ve woken up in someone else's life.

  I review sex toys, for fuck's sake.

  I watch Christian shake hands with the couple, smiling his creepy fake smile at them. The man talks animatedly with him as the woman smiles brightly. How can they not see the darkness that lurks beneath the fake persona and expensive suit?

  Eventually, he waves me over so I do as he asks, forcing myself to take small, slow steps even though I know it will anger him.

  When I’m beside him, he grasps my elbow, pinching the skin, which makes me hiss.

  “No time for the wedding march, honey, we have a honeymoon to get to. Glenda, Pete, can we start? I’m terribly excited to get to the baby-making part of the wedding night,” he jokes, making Pete laugh heartily.

  His words have the opposite effect on me, smashing into my body with such force, I’m not prepared for the breath that catches in my throat or the vomit that rushes up and out of my mouth. Marriage is one thing, but I will never bring a baby into it. I refuse to let history repeat itself and raise a kid in a violent home.

  I try to pull away, but Christian's grip tightens even further, leaving me nowhere to turn. I do the only thing I can as vomit burns up the back of my throat—I move my head to the side and empty my stomach contents all over the carpet and the sleeve of Christian's jacket, somehow narrowly missing getting any on myself.

  “Oh, you poor sweet girl. It's normal to be nervous. Here, let me help. I’ll get something to settle your stomach. I also have spare toothbrushes and toothpaste in the back. This happens far more often than you realize.”

  She’s gone in a flash, her dress spinning out behind her as she disappears out the door.

  “I’ll arrange for a cleanup. It will take but a moment. Excuse me,” Pete answers, following after Glenda and leaving me to face the devil alone.

  “You stupid fucking bitch.” He backhands me across the face the second they’re gone, making me fall, only just missing the puke as my eyebrow makes contact with one of the chairs.

  Immediately I feel hot wet liquid dripping down my face, letting me know it’s bleeding, and quite profusely at that.

  “Now look what you've done. Fuck!” he curses, grabbing his hair and looking down at me in disgust. “I fucking warned you,” he snaps before pulling back his foot and kicking me in the face.

  I feel a snap and know instantly my jaw is broken. I pray to God Glenda and Pete hurry back or, at the very least, call the police. When I hear a gasp, I understand why Christian chose this place over the others.

  I manage to lift my head and through my tears, see Glenda look at me with an apology in her eyes as her husband pulls her back out the door. They either know him here or know of him. He picked this place so he doesn’t have to pretend to be anything other than the monster he is, knowing nobody is going to do or say anything to stop him.

  I try to crawl away from him, but he kicks me again. This time, his pointed Italian loafers connect with my temple, making the room spin. A blackness begins to edge around my vision as the pain in my face becomes all-consuming.

  “You thought you could embarrass me, huh? You thought to defy me?” he roars, making the pain in my head reach a fever pitch.

  I try to shake my head no, it's not like I puked on purpose, but the pain is just too much. My arms crumple beneath me, leaving me lying on the dust-laden carpet with no fight left in me.

  I try to focus on his words fading in and out as he rants about me being an ungrateful whore, but the room spins out of control and I’m afraid of what will happen if I’m sick again. Closing my eyes, I let the blackness take me, anything to escape this pain.

  “Oh, no, you don’t.” I hear before a hand yanks my hair hard, making me scream as stars explode behind my eyes.

  Christian is now on his knees beside me, his face inches from mine as he holds me in place by my hair.

  “You didn’t heed my warning. Perhaps I was too lenient. It’s a mistake you won’t make again.” He lifts his phone and waves it at me with a smile before hitting a button and waiting for someone to answer.

  “You see, you lied to me back at the house, then again when you said you’d be good. It shouldn't come as a surprise then to find out you’re not the only one who lied.”

  My head hurts too much to understand what he’s talking about, images and words blurring together in a kaleidoscope of sound and colors.

  “It’s done,” a voice says over the line before hanging up. Christian's cold eyes fill with glee as they stare into mine.

  “Perhaps now that I’ve taken care of that little problem, you’ll finally realize there is no one coming for you. There is nothing for you anywhere anymore but me.”

  And just like that, everything stops spinning and one word slips into place. Bomb. He’s talking about the bomb.

  “No,” I moan. “No, no, no!” I scream, the sound muffled like I’m underwater.

  I try to drag myself across the floor; I have to get home, I have to get to Blake. Oh god. Please, no. I try to open my mouth to yell for help, but the pain is so debilitating, it drains what little strength I have left. My nails snap as I try to claw myself down the aisle, but a foot pressing down between my shoulder blades halts my movements. The steady stream of blood running down my face pools beneath me, mixing with my snot and tears, but I don't care. Blake and his boys are gone. And it's all my fault.

  A high-pitched keening noise makes me flinch, the sound so full of grief and sorrow, it hurts my ears and pierces my heart. I try to shut it out, but it's coming from me and I can’t make it stop.

  This time when the darkness comes, I welcome it in all its inky glory. I’m done, so fucking done with this life that’s done nothing but fuck me over. I don’t want to imagine a world without Blake in it. If he’s gone, I don’t want to be here anymore either. Closing my eyes, I listen to the distant sound of thunder as it grows louder and louder and let everything else just disappear.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Blake

  A crowd of bikers is gathered around a cluster of chapels when we reach our destination. As soon as Reign pulls over, I’m out of the car and heading toward the blue chapel where most of the bikers are standing.

  Nobody tries to stop me when I head inside. I move down the dimly lit corridor and yank open the first door I come to. I freeze and stare in horror at the sight of Callie lying on the floor covered in blood with her head in a biker’s lap.

  I roar in anguish, my pain and anger needing an outlet as I look at my girl lying bloody and bruised. How many times can I let someone down? It’s like Afghanistan all over again. I failed to protect my men, and now I’ve failed to protect my girl.

  I’m on my knees beside her in moments, my hands hovering over her, afraid to touch her and cause her any more pain.

  “It's mostly her head and jaw, from what I can tell. Hold her hand, talk to her. Let her know you're here.” I look at the biker, who speaks briefly, before I nod in understanding.

  I lean over her and place my lips as close to her ear as I can without making contact. “I swear, I leave you alone for five minutes.” I chuckle but even I can hear how forced it feels and the sadness in it. “I need you to wake up,” I plead. “I need to see those big copper eyes of yours flash with gold as you scowl at me. I have so much to tell you, things I should have said before, but I was a fucking coward. You need to wake up, Callie, so I can tell you.”

  She doesn’t respond and I feel myself getting angry, not at her but with the whole fucking universe. Why did this happen? In what fucking world is it okay? I want to take her place, take every bruise, every cut, every wound from her as my own, just so she doesn’t feel a second more of this pain.

  “If you don’t wake up, I’ll be forced to tell all these bikers
about your toy collection. What are they again? Oh, that's right, the invader, the womb raider, and the incredible bulk.”

  I hear the biker supporting her head let out a surprised chuckle, but that's not what has my head lifting, it's the groan emanating from Callie. And I swear to fucking god it's the most beautiful sound in the world.

  “Meanie,” she manages to get out, her words slurred before she passes out once more.

  I look at the biker and grin.

  “She is going to kick your ass when she wakes up,” he tells me, making my grin bigger.

  “I’m fucking counting on it.” It was only one word, but it's enough to give me hope that she’s going to be okay.

  Everything moves fast after that as paramedics come rushing through the door. They head toward us then veer off to the left, making me frown and look over at them. That’s when I see another body crumpled on the floor on the opposite side of the makeshift aisle.

  “No, you’ll see to her first.” A tall, blonde-haired biker steps into their path.

  They don't argue—wisely so, judging from the pissed off look on his face. They head over to us, moving me and the biker out of the way so they can assess Callie’s injuries.

  I turn to look at the other body on the floor and feel rage flood my veins like a drug, blurring the lines between right and wrong.

  I climb to my feet and prowl over to him, but I’m blocked by the biker who stopped the paramedics.

  “I know what you’re thinking but there are too many eyes in here.”

  I look up at him, taking in his huge frame, light hair, and anger-filled eyes and try to get a handle on my temper, knowing he’s right.

  “And if that was your girl lying there?” I question, my voice so hoarse it doesn’t even sound like mine.

  He grins at me, but it's not a pretty sight. I’ve been to war, seen things I’ll never unsee and yet that grin almost makes me want to take a step back and make the sign of the cross.

  “People call me Priest for a reason,” he informs me, moving his head closer so his quiet words are only heard by me. “Anyone who crosses me or mine ends up needing their last rites given to them.” He slaps me on the back before stepping aside as two more paramedics come into the room, heading our way.

  I move back over to Callie, who they now have up on a gurney, and grab her hand.

  “I’ll be right behind you, baby.” I kiss the back of her hand and look up, finding her pretty eyes on me.

  She mumbles something but I shake my head.

  “Shhh… don’t try to talk now. Let's get you patched up first. You can yell at me later,” I tell her with her wink, chuckling when her eyes narrow at me. Yeah, my girl is gonna be okay.

  I let the paramedics lead her outside to the ambulance as I follow behind them, spotting Felix at the door, his furious eyes on Callie as they take her to the ambulance.

  “Sir, can you tell me what happened to this man here?” I turn my head and see a young blond male cop questioning Priest, who looks up at me and shrugs, tipping his head to me in a good luck gesture.

  “We arrived just as he finished his brutal attack on that young lady out there and then I swear it was the darndest thing,” he drawls, turning back to look at Christian, who is still on the floor with the paramedics working on him. “He seemed to lose his shit when he saw us and ran into the wall. Repeatedly. I really think he might have had some kind of psychological break.” He shakes his head as if that's the saddest news he’s ever heard.

  I have to look away and stifle a grin as more cops arrive on the scene.

  The energy in the room changes to one of wary hostility with the arrival of more cops, but I don't have time to think about it. Spilling out into the parking lot, I see the bikers present have doubled in number too.

  I move over to Felix as they load Callie into the back of the ambulance.

  “They're taking her to the hospital now, I have to go.”

  “I’m coming with you,” he replies, daring me to argue.

  “Hey guys, how’s she doing?” I turn at the sound of Tate’s voice.

  “They’re taking her in now, I won't know until then. I need a ride to the hospital,” I tell him, already knowing they won’t let me ride in the back with Callie.

  “Yo, Raindrop,” he yells over his shoulder. “These boys need a ride to the hospital”.

  I look behind me and see Reign detach herself from a dark-haired biker's arm, where she has been wrapped up, before she heads our way.

  “Here,” she tosses me her keys with a smile. “I’ll have someone come and pick it up. Don’t scratch her,” she orders before kissing her brother on the cheek and making her way back to the group behind her.

  “Your sister is awesome,” Felix points out quietly.

  “Yeah, I know, just don't tell her I said that.” Tate smiles. “They look ready to go.” He indicates the ambulance slowly backing out of the lot. “Go. I’ll stay here and smooth things over with the local police. I’ll meet you at the hospital and see if I can find out what's going on back home.”

  “Thank you,” I say, and I mean it. “You ever need a favor, call me. I’ll never be able to repay you for this.”

  He smiles at me then, with a look of calculation on his face. “I’m sure I’ll think of something.”

  I just bet he will.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Callie

  This time when I wake up, I know exactly where I am, thanks to the smell of antiseptic in the air and the scratchy sheets beneath me. My face is on fire and my head feels like it's going to explode, but I can hear Blake’s voice as he talks quietly to someone, and that’s enough of a balm to keep me from caring.

  I open my eyes, wincing at the brightness of the room for a moment before they fix on Felix across the room. I see the moment he notices I’m awake as his eyes widen comically.

  “Blake,” he calls out, interrupting whatever Blake was saying and nodding his head toward me.

  Blake’s head whips around so fast, I’m surprised he doesn’t hurt himself.

  “Thank fuck. Jesus, Callie, you scared ten years off my life. How you feeling?” he asks, turning my hand over and holding it up with his larger one to cup his face.

  “I feel like I got kicked in the face,” I admit honestly. But my words come out slurred when I realize that I can’t open my mouth properly.

  At the look on his face, I remember that's exactly what happened.

  “Too soon?” I mumble, lifting my hand to touch my face, but Blake halts my movements.

  “They wired your jaw,” he tells me quietly, his eyes downcast with guilt.

  “Not your fault,” I manage to get out. I’m not sure if I’m making much sense but he seems to be getting the gist of it.

  “I promised to keep you safe and look how well that turned out,” he gripes.

  “I’m here, I’m alive, and I love you. I’m too tired to argue about you being a dumbass. I knew you’d come for me. You kept me strong,” I whisper, my voice clogging with tears. “I thought I’d never see you again,” I grit out then hiss in as the pain in my jaw makes my vision blur.

  “Shh... rest. I’m not going anywhere,” he tells me gently.

  I try to fight it, not wanting to fall asleep again in case this is all a dream, but I must lose the battle and pass out for a little while because when I open my eyes again the room is full.

  “My calendar boys,” I murmur.

  “No talking,” Blake snaps from the chair beside the bed, making me roll my eyes but I do as he asks because talking really freaking hurts.

  “Hey beautiful.” Marcus approaches the bed, looking exhausted himself.

  He places a kiss on my forehead before stepping back to let the others follow suit.

  My eyes drift over them when I realize not everyone is there. And that's the moment I remember the bomb. I turn to look at Blake, my horror-filled stare filled with questions I’m not sure I’m ready to hear the answer to. Tears run down my face and my
breath hitches in my chest as he climbs up on the bed beside me and wraps his arms gently around me.

  “You know about the bomb?” he questions softly.

  I nod in response, clutching his t-shirt in my hands.

  “Kellen got caught in the blast, but he’s okay, he was outside the building when it blew. He got thrown a few feet and was hit with some debris. He has a concussion, a broken arm, some second-degree burns, and a perforated eardrum, but he will be fine. He’s already better off than you are and pissed that the doctors won't release him to come and see you. Aiden flew down to be with him until we can get back home.”

  I nod again, beyond relieved and so fucking thankful that my prayers were answered.

  “Your mom was there too, Callie. She got pinned down by something, I don't really have all the details, but her leg was badly damaged. They... they might not be able to save it,” he informs me carefully.

  I don't say anything to him, not sure what the correct response should be. It's not that I’m happy this happened to her—I’m not that evil. I just don't feel anything when it comes to her anymore.

  Blake slides his finger along my tender cheekbone oh so softly and waits for me to look up at him.

  “Your reaction to the news about Kellen compared to the news about your mom is telling. I know you, you’re the most loving person in the world. There is something about your mother that I don’t understand, isn’t there?” he asks, not making me feel bad for not being cut up about her being hurt.

  I try to speak but it's too painful, so I stop.

  “Shit, that was my fault. Don't try to talk, we can wait for all that until you’re better.”

  “Your girl might not be able to tell you anything, but I can,” a man says, entering the room. He’s hot, like every male in here. I wonder if that's one of the requirements of being Blake's friend. Must be able to fight, protect, and shoot. Oh, and they have to look fabulous doing it.

  I fight back a snort, wondering what kind of drugs they have me on.