Davin had been right about her prom date. Robbie. He was an okay guy, but he’d been all thumbs when it came to pleasing a woman, and luckily, that didn’t last long.
Not that she was afraid of sex. She’d had no problem buying a dildo for those dark and lonely nights.
Still, never once did she think of doing half the things Davin did. More so, that she might love it.
The bell on the door chimed, and she turned to smile at the customer.
“Welcome to Book Hav—”
Morgan faltered for a moment as she watched two men step into the place. They weren’t the usual sort of customer she got. Everyone had tattoos these days, but typically, guys with tattoos on their faces weren’t the nicest around there. Even if they had cross tattoos.
She flitted her gaze over to the other man. He seemed in a constant state of giggling and not in the comfortable sort of way, but more in the just ate the liver of someone sort of way.
“Welcome to Book Haven,” Morgan managed to get out.
The smile stayed on her face as the men closed the door behind them.
If they wanted money, they could have it. No way she was risking her life for a couple hundred bucks.
“My friend and I look for special book,” the man said, his accent more of a obstacle to understanding than his grammar. “You help find?”
Her heart stopped in her chest as her whole world came crashing down. Russians.
“I, um, sure,” she said, her voice wavering slightly. “What book are you looking for?”
He stepped forward, a sickening smile on his face. Morgan took several steps back until she bumped into a shelf.
“Comrade Criminal,” he said, and grinned. “You might be familiar.”
Morgan moved to run, but a meaty hand slammed down on the shelf next to her, preventing her escape. The man pulled out a gun and shoved it hard against her ribs.
“Please,” she whispered.
The man laughed and said something in Russian to the other man. She watched as the other man, a fat slimy man with a pony tail, turned the open sign and drew the blinds closed.
“You beg please, bitch to Irish boyfriend?”
Morgan could feel the tears streaming down her face as the man pressed harder into her ribs, biting through the thin fabric of her blouse.
“Are you going to shoot me? The neighbors will hear. They will come check.”
His face crinkled, and she watched as the cross tattoo on the side of his face contorted.
“We have to make point,” he said quietly. “You our point.”
She shook now and closed her eyes. Morgan waited for the gun to fire and pain to explode inside, but it didn’t come.
She peeked one eye open.
The man had stepped back slightly, but the same evil smile played on his lips. The fat man had come to stand beside her.
Out of nowhere, his hand came down hard on top of her head. The butt of a gun cracked against her skull.
She collapsed to the floor. A wave of nausea came over her, and she heaved a few times.
Something warm trickled down her brow, but she wasn’t sure what. Nothing seemed to come into focus as she stared at her hand.
A harsh smell filled the room now. It choked and ate at the air around her.
Gasoline.
She could hear the men as they argued above her in Russian. Morgan wasn’t sure what it was about, but whatever it was, it couldn’t be good for her.
“Enough,” the tattooed man shouted, breaking the string of Russian they had been speaking. “We don’t have time. You play later.”
Morgan blinked a few times. The tattooed man stood near her as the other ran out the back door. He squatted down to where she was, which only mildly helped.
“Maybe bitch boyfriend learn who in charge now.”
He hit her once more on the side of the head, the pain not nearly as bad as the first one.
She lay her head on her arm, only vaguely aware of the match being struck before darkness overtook her.
Chapter Eighteen
Davin wiped the sweat from his brow and dusted the dirt from his pants. It had taken nearly all day, but they had finally done it. No way some Russian prick was getting into their neighborhood unless his crew brought them in themselves.
He picked up a water bottle and sucked down the whole thing in no time flat. He’d just picked up another when he spotted Noel speeding down the road.
“What’s up?” Torin asked.
Davin shrugged. No one had called him.
They stepped over to the side of the road where Noel came to a screeching halt.
“Get in,” he said quickly.
Davin frowned. “What’s up?”
“It’s Morgan. Her store is on fire.”
Davin’s heart stopped, but luckily his feet knew what to do. He hopped into the car, Torin and Kane close behind him.
Noel waited just long enough for the doors to close before he peeled away from the curb. The gates were open at the front, waiting for them to make their way out.
“How do you know?” Davin asked, his grip on the water bottle so tight that it creaked under his grip.
“Because of Anton,” Noel said quietly. “I’m always tuned in to calls for fires. When they said the address, I knew they were after her.”
Davin turned to stare at his cousin. He knew more than anyone the price of grappling with Anton. “Are the police there?”
Noel shook his head. “No,” he said. “We have a few minutes on them.” He turned to stare at Davin. “We’ll make it.”
Davin wasn’t a praying man. Hell, with the shit he had done in life, he didn’t much think that God wanted his prayers, but maybe just this once it would be okay. Maybe if it were for her.
He chanted every prayer he could remember from when he attended church with his grandmother.
They could smell the smoke before they had even turned the corner. Black smoke filled the street. It was a fucking bookstore. Like fuel for the fire.
Noel screeched around the corner.
“Holy shit,” Torin mumbled from the back.
Orange flames leapt high into the sky as the little bookstore glowed with flames. People from neighboring stores where standing outside gaping at the blaze.
Before the car had even stopped, Davin was out the door, whipping his shirt off.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Kane yelled at him.
Davin pulled his gun out and pointed it at the older man. “I’m going to save her, and not one of you is going to stop me.”
Torin and Kane stepped back, raising their hands. He tossed the gun back into the car. The metal would just heat up and be a problem.
Davin poured water over the shirt and then dumped the rest over his head.
Not even looking back, he covered his mouth and ran through the blazing door.
Hot didn’t even begin to describe the room. Every inch of paper was up in a blaze of deadly glory.
The heat burned his eyes as the smoke choked him through the shirt. He pushed inside. He had to find her. She had to still be alive.
Davin pushed into the back of the store. He found her body still on the floor. Blood matted her hair, but luckily, the flames hadn’t reached her yet.
He placed the shirt over her mouth and lifted her body into his arms. He started chanting the prayers again, hoping one would be heard, and she might be okay.
He turned to go back out the way he’d come, but the path was engulfed now. There was no way to go but follow into the back where there were still flames but fewer.
Above him, the ceiling creaked, and he knew it wouldn’t be long before it collapsed in on them. Sirens cried in the distance, and although that brought some relief, there was no way the firefighters would be able to get to them in time.
Davin stepped into the back room and groaned at the sight there. Part of the ceiling had already given way, blocking the back door and crushing his only chance out.
His eyes caught a small side window. It was just big enough to squeeze one person out.
Davin heaved her over his shoulder and grabbed the nearest heavy object he could find. It crashed through the window with ease.
Carefully he pulled the shirt away and placed it over the glass.
“Davin!” yelled someone.
He looked down. Noel stood just outside the window.
“You got her?” Noel said.
“Yes! But she’s out cold. You’ll have to pull her through.”
He climbed onto the chair he’d found and met his cousin’s hands as he gently lifted Morgan through the hole.
“I got her,” Noel shouted.
The ceiling gave a great rumble. Something crashed in the front of the shop.
He watched as her feet slid out the window.
Davin didn’t wait for the all clear. He needed to hurry, or it was going to be lights out.
His head popped through the window. Fresh air filled his harsh lungs.
He could see Noel in the distance, setting Morgan down far enough away from the fire to be safe.
“Give us your fucking hands,” Kane said.
Kane and Torin appeared out of nowhere, and for a moment he just looked at them stunned.
“Give us a hand, you fucking maniac, or was your plan to burn to death here?” Kane shouted.
Davin reached out to the two men, who both pulled him hard through the window.
An arm over each shoulder, they partially dragged him away from the building just moments before the whole thing fell in on itself.
* * *
Davin stared at Morgan as she lay on the hospital bed, the oxygen mask over her face as she breathed in deeply. Her eyes watched his as the doctor moved around the room.
“I’ve gone over the labs,” the doctor said as he glanced down at the charts in his hand. “You got a nasty bump, and your oxygen level isn’t where we want it, but otherwise, you’re in very good shape for someone who just escaped a burning building.” The doctor turned to him. “I hear you’re the hero here.”
Davin shrugged and looked away. He wasn’t a hero. If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t have even been in danger.
“We’ll need to keep an eye on her overnight to make sure the concussion isn’t serious, but she should be free to go home tomorrow.” The doctor turned back to Morgan. “You’re really very lucky.”
His throat closed as she nodded in agreement.
“Just try and take it easy.”
When he’d left, Davin made his way over to the bed. “I’m so sorry,” he mumbled as he took her hand. “I shouldn’t have ever let this happen to you.”
He kissed her soft fingers. A hand came up to his cheek. “You didn’t do this,” she said from inside the mask.
He shook his head. It was all his fault.
Morgan leaned forward and tilted the mask down.
“It was two men,” she said in a hushed tone. “They were Russians and said I was an example. One had this cross on his face…” She shivered.
Davin leaned forward and placed the mask back on her face.
“You need to keep breathing that in and just don’t worry about this. I’ll take care of it.”
He stood, but she didn’t let go of his hand.
“Tell me you won’t do anything dangerous,” she pleaded.
Davin looked down at the small woman in the bed hooked up to several machines. It killed him a little inside.
“I promise you that I’m not the one in danger tonight,” he said. “Now get some rest.”
He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead before making his way to the door where Torin and Noel stood.
“I want two men at her door,” he said to Noel. “I’m not putting her at any more risk.”
His cousin clenched his fists. “Finn has some men on their way. I’m coming with you.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Davin frowned. “It’s not that I don’t trust you, but my guys work better as a unit, and they haven’t worked with you.”
Noel pointed to the scars on his face. “Anton will be there. I deserve to be there.”
Davin glanced over to Torin who nodded. He was right. He was due a little vengeance.
“Fine. Let’s roll.”
Chapter Nineteen
They waited in the shadow of the building. His men positioned themselves at every open spot where the delivery was supposed to take place on the dock.
Bright lights bounced off the building in front of them. Davin’s hands on the steering wheel tightened.
A small light flashed from the roof top.
“That’s the signal from Griffin,” Kane said from the back seat.
Torin placed a hand on his arm. “Don’t go in half cocked,” he warned. “You can get your revenge and still come out of this on top.”
Davin pinned him with a dead stare. This wasn’t about the job. Not anymore. They had gone after Morgan. Had nearly killed her.
This was about one thing: vengeance.
He glanced at Noel in the rearview mirror. His cousin wore the same expression.
Davin stepped out of the car and nodded to Bain, who stood next to his black bike, nearly blending in with the darkness around them.
His men moved in silence around the building. This wasn’t their first time getting the jump on the enemy, but he wasn’t so sure it had ever meant more than today.
They moved behind several crates, splitting their numbers into three groups so they could cover more ground.
Davin crouched down with Noel.
“He’s mine,” Noel said, and stared at him in the darkness. “Anton. He’s mine.”
Davin nodded. Not a chance in hell he was coming between the big guy and the sadistic bastard.
He moved to get a better view of the men standing around the back of a van. There was a black car nearby as well. Even from where they were, he could see the back of the van was packed full of bags with white powder.
“Shit,” he whispered.
It was more than he ever thought they would be moving. That amount would help a group run the whole state, let alone the city.
He felt his cousin tense beside him.
“It’s him,” Noel said.
Davin focused through the low light and spotted a fat, greasy Russian giggling near the black car parked next to the van.
The window was down just a crack, but that was all he needed to see the cross on the side of the face just inside.
“Boris,” he roared.
Davin was moving before he could even think. He raised his gun and fired at any man moving near the van.
“Well, I guess we’re going with the half-cocked plan,” Torin shouted.
Bullets rained down on the men around the van, Davin and his men taking out the Russians one at a time.
The lights of the van lit up as a man inside pulled a body out of the seat and started the vehicle.
“He’s going to get away!” Kane shouted.
Davin narrowed his eyes and leveled his gun. “Like hell he is.”
One shot right between the eyes was all it took. The man slumped forward, his head landing on the horn.
Tired squealed as the black car tore away from the dock. Davin locked eyes once again with Boris.
He fired at the retreating vehicle but missed.
The team moved in now. Many of the Russians were either dead or severely wounded.
Noel held Anton at the end of his gun. The fat fuck wasn’t laughing anymore.
Davin watched the struggle as his cousin faced down the man that had tormented him for so long.
“Please,” Anton mumbled. “Mercy.”
Noel’s hand tightened around the gun. “That’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m giving mercy to the next guy.”
The gun fired, and the man slumped over, a bullet right in his chest. Davin watched as Noel emptied the rest of the clip into his chest.
Kane appeared at his side. “We got five still aliv
e,” he said.
Davin glanced around at the men lying on the ground. One had only a leg wound. He was young, way too young to be involved in this sort of shit. Barely a man.
Without a thought, he loaded another clip.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
He put bullets into every man but the young guy.
His men stared at him in surprise. “They want a message?” Davin said. “Well, now they’re getting one.”
Davin stepped over to the van. He put the dead man’s foot on the gas and put the car in drive. The vehicle lurched forward. It teetered on the side of the dock before rolling over into the water below.
“We could have sold the drugs,” Kane said beside him.
Davin shook his head. “We’re taking this place back, and we’re doing it right,” he said with venom.
The other men from the roofs had gathered on the dock around them. The young guy sat shivering on the ground.
“Don’t kill me,” he cried.
Davin glared at him. “How old are you?”
The boy stared at him for a moment.
“I said, how fucking old are you?”
The boy shrank back from him. “Nineteen,” he said quietly.
Davin squatted down next to him. He could see that the wound on his leg was superficial, and the boy would be just fine.
“What’s your name?” Davin said.
“Jake.”
Davin leaned forward a little.
“Well, Jake, I need you to deliver a message for me to Boris. Tell him Davin and his team have him in our sights. And if he ever tries to come for anything that’s ours, we’re not going to kill him. We’re going to string him up and take off a piece of him a day until there’s nothing left.”
The boy’s eyes widened.
“You think you can deliver that for me?” Davin said.
Jake nodded.
Davin stood and sighed as he looked around at the bodies littering the ground.
“You wanna send in a cleaner?” Noel asked.
Davin shook his head. “Cops won’t give a shit. Anyone who cares is with the Russians and needs a reminder about picking the wrong side.”
Davin: #6 (Kelly Clan) Page 9