Locke (Aces MC Series Book 4) (22 page)

"Tommy! Devon!" I tried to scream their names but
this was still made difficult because of the injuries to my lips. I head butted
the door trying to get their attention but the children remained silent
probably still scared that they were going to come to harm. I coughed hard and
I could fill my lungs hurt as they filled with the black smoke that pumped
aggressively into the room. "Tommy! Devon! Please open the door." I
said weakly as I became nauseous. My head was thumping from the earlier punch
to the face from Onyx but I needed to keep going and get help.
I stumbled to the rear exit and tried to reach the catch on the door but my
movements were restricted by the chair secured to my back.
"Come on Keira, get it together." I scolded myself knowing that I needed
to focus. I coughed again and was finding it increasingly hard to breathe, I
needed to get my hands free and knew that I had scissors in a draw in the
kitchen. Visibility was becoming difficult, I slowly manoeuvred myself around
the furniture but I misjudged the position of the table and stumble, falling to
the floor hard. 
I gulped for breath but was only taking down dirty sooted air. I couldn't get
up from the position I was in, I was stuck. My chest felt heavy, I coughed and
a retching sound filled the room as I spluttered knowing that time was running
out for me and the children. 

Locke

I was looking forward to spending some more time with Irish,
I found her to be a breath of fresh air. She wasn't like the other birds I'd
been out with, Irish didn't harass me and want to know my every move, she gave
me the freedom that I needed and allowed me the down time I desired without
hassling me. Of course it was still very early days but I was hoping that
something may develop once I was able to move back here permanently.

Things had developed quickly between us over recent weeks.
After our discussion the other day I was pleased that she didn't just think
that she was a booty call. She knew that I had secrets but understood that I
couldn't share everything about my life and that was the best way for me to be
able to protect her and the club. I'd learnt very quickly that I could trust
her and she was showing qualities that would make her a perfect old lady, not
that I was currently in the position to take one. I needed to complete the last
part of my task in order to hopefully seek the retribution I had so desperately
been looking for.

The smell of KFC filled the car, my stomach rumbled and I
sniggered at the noise hoping that I'd make it back before I opened the box and
started to munch on some chips. There wasn't much traffic on the road which I
was grateful for, and pulled up outside the shop pleased that there was a
decent sized space. It had been a while since I'd driven a car and I'd nearly
scraped it on the wall as I manoeuvred it from the back car park earlier, I
doubt Irish would be pleased to find a scrape down her precious mini.

I leaned over to the passenger side footwell to get the bags
when something caught my eye. I glanced through the car window towards the front
door to see flames flickering around the door.
"Fuck!" I threw the bags onto the seat and jumped from the vehicle
assessing the carnage as I made my way around the car.
Pulling my mobile from my pocket I quickly dialled CJ.
"Call the fire brigade, Spike, Duke and then get your arse over to Keira's
shop in that order." I hung up quickly and rammed the phone into my pocket
before running my hands through my hair. I stood on the pavement as intense
flames swallowed the front door and clawed their way to the upstairs window.
What
the fuck had happened?

I couldn't get into the flat through the front, it would be
suicide to even attempt it. The only way in would be down the alley and up the
fire escape as I'd done earlier. I quickly ran through the narrow alley between
the buildings that led to the small car park at the back of the building, and made
my way up the steep iron stairs that led to the fire exit at the back of the
properties.

I banged on the door, "Irish!" I shouted hitting
it frantically. I cupped my hands around my face trying to stop the reflections
as I desperately tried to see inside the building but it was no use, it was
full of smoke. I took a step back and kicked just under the lock hoping that it
would give a little but this was an expensive door with numerous safety
catches. How the fuck was I going to get in there? I stood back and gave
another swift kick but to no effect.

A noise caught my attention and I saw one of the neighbours
hurrying down the fire escape.
"Have you seen Keira?" I asked franticly.
"No!" The plump man said as he ushered his wife in front of him.
"Have you got any tools? I need to get in here."
The man looked between me and his wife assessing the danger, "Let me get her
to safety and I'll get you some tools. What do you need?"
"Screwdrivers will do but hurry man if she's in there she hasn't got
long."
The man nodded and hurried down the stairs. I turned my attention back to the
flat, "Keira!" I shouted banging on the door. The smoke seeped from
the crevasses of the door like it couldn't hold it in any longer, I needed to
get in there and save Irish and the children, I couldn't let someone else die
in circumstances as horrific as I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

I jumped at being touched on the shoulder and turned to see
the man holding two screwdrivers in front of me.
"You can't go in there man, wait for the fire brigade they won't be
long."
"By the time they arrive it will be too late." I snatched the screw
drivers from his hand and turned towards the door. I was hoping that she hadn't
double locked it when I left earlier as that would make the process more
difficult, especially with the tools I had.

I placed one screwdriver at the bottom of the door to lift
it slightly and the other by the lock. With my right hand I moved the tool
forcefully and popped the lock. The thrill of adrenaline rushed through me
knowing that I was able to open the door successfully and to get in to the
building.

As the door opened the smoke rushed towards me, making me
cough. I dropped to my knees trying to peer through the thick smoke. "Irish!"
I sputtered crawling on my hands and knees into the room keeping low to inhale
as little smoke as possible. I placed my hand in front of me to guide myself
around the room, I knew the layout fairly well and used that knowledge to aid
me. I could hear the crackle of fire from behind the main door and was grateful
that it hadn't entered the room yet although it was only a matter of time.
The further I got into the room the thicker the smoke became.
Where the fuck
were they and why hadn't they tried to get out if it was a matter of exiting
the building from the rear?
"Devon! Tommy!" I shouted between
coughs. I continued to feel around in front of me and felt someone's leg.
"Irish!" As I ran my hand up her body I shuffled closer on my stomach
so that I was beside her. She was unconscious and I knew that I needed to get
her out of here as soon as possible. I tried to grab her under her arms to find
that they were restricted. Moving closer I ran my hand down her arm to find
that she was bound.
What the fuck had gone on? I'd only been gone half an
hour at the very most, had they been robbed?
I managed to untie the rope
still confused as to why and who had tied her but I didn't have time to
contemplate, my lungs were burning and I needed to get her out quickly.

I patted Irish on the cheek seeing if I could rouse her,
"Irish, come on babe!" There was no response she was lifeless. I
rammed my hands under her arms and dug my heels hard into the carpet as I
dragged her along the floor. I became frustrated as I wasn't covering ground
quickly enough and changed my position by rolling Irish on her side and getting
behind her. I tightly wrapped my arm around her waist but this zapped more
energy and I was fading fast.

A flicker of light caught my eye and I turned towards the
back door, "Locke!" CJ's familiar voice rumbled through the smoke.
"Tell me where you are!" The wobble in his voice alerted me to his
concern and the possible severity of the situation.
"Here!" I stated but finding the words hard to get out from the
rasping of my throat. 
Before I knew what had happened Keira was being dragged from my arms, I tried
to hold her but the force was too strong. "Let go Locke, we've got her
man." CJ shouted over the cracking of the fire. I let go and raised my
thumb not that he'd be able to see but I wanted to let him know that I was
grateful.
Someone went to grab my arms but I shrugged them off, "Locke I've gotta
get you out man, it's not safe in here." It was Stoney, he'd come in with
CJ.
"No, get her to safety first. I'm okay but I've gotta find the kids."
I coughed.
"I'm not leaving you, it's orders."
"Well I'm not fucking coming until I find those kids. Help CJ and get
Keira to safety, promise me you'll look after her Stoney."
"You're a fucking stubborn bastard."
I sniggered but the movement hurt my chest, Stoney left my side and I could see
movement as they dragged Keira free which gave me a sense of relief.
If the twins weren't in the living room they were either in the bedroom or bathroom
unless they'd been taken? My thoughts wondered, had Liam come back to take them
or even hurt them? I slowly crawled across the living room towards the bedroom
and reached up for the door knob.
"Devon, are you in here? It's Locke I need to get you out." I turned
the knob and had to barge the door with my shoulder in order to get the door
open.
"Devon!" I spluttered as I quickly closed the door behind me. Visibility
was better in here, the children had placed the duvet behind the door to try
and keep the smoke out. Without warning both children ran towards me and jumped
into my embrace clearly upset from the ordeal.
I brushed Devon's wet hair from her face where she'd been crying so hard,
"It's going to be okay kids but we need to get you out of here
quickly." I looked down at the kids to see that they were both nodding
understanding the severity of the situation. "What happened? Are you
okay?" I asked.
"Some men came here and were asking questions about you."
My heart sank at her words and my head span as the blood pumped around my body,
I now knew who'd been here and immediately felt responsible for this carnage.

I had no time to wallow in self pity, I needed to get the
twins to safety. I lifted the children from my lap and crawled over to the bed
to get the two pillows from the mattress. Quickly removing the pillow cases I
tore strips big enough so that I could put them over the kids' mouths and nose
to try and stop them from breathing in any more fumes then they had too.
"Come here kids." The twins crawled over to my side copying my
earlier movements and I carefully wrapped the material around their faces.
"This is going to help you breathe a little better. It will still be
difficult to see in there but that's the only way out of the building." I
saw Tommy's hesitation but Devon grabbed his hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
"You can do this Tommy, we both can. We've been brave before we can do it
again." 
Devon's words were heart warming and I needed to keep the momentum going.
"I need you to keep low and crawl along the floor towards the back door.
Stay in front of me and go as fast as you can. Do you think you can do that for
me?" Tommy and Devon nodded enthusiastically. "Before we go I also
need to tie this material to your ankles because I don't want to lose you in
there." I attached the material to each child and got them to move towards
the door on all fours ready to make their escape. "Are you ready?" I
asked.
"Yes." They said together through the material.
"Okay, three, two, one." I opened the door and the smoke rushed
inside making it harder to breath. The flames were now licking the inside of
the door like an angry tongue trying to claim the room. I clung onto the
material as the children scurried through the living room in the direction of
the back door.

"Locke!" CJ's voice was reassuring and gave me
hope that we'd get out in time but my lungs were burning inside. I gasped for
air but every time I opened my mouth it filled with smoke making it harder to
breath.
I tried to drag myself further towards the open door but I was becoming sleepy
from the exhaustion and the fumes that had consumed my body. I felt the thin
strips of material fall through my fingers but I didn't have the energy to try
and chase them. I heard CJ's voice in the distance and slowly gave him a thumbs
up letting him know that I was okay. I could hear the crackling of the fire
behind me as I lay helpless but feeling blessed that I was able to save Irish
and the children.

CJ

I could see the twins near the doorway crawling side by side
as I made my way back up the fire escape, taking two stairs at a time trying to
get to them quickly. It had taken longer than expected to manoeuvre Keira down
the fire escape, through the alley and onto the street at a safe distance from
the building. A crowd of people had now congregated to watch the events but the
emergency services still hadn't arrived although I could hear sirens in the
distance. We placed Keira on the pavement across the road and a passer-by said
that she was a nurse and was happy to tend to her until the paramedics arrived
which I was grateful for.

I grabbed Tommy and watched as Stoney picked up Devon to
follow me back down the fire escape.  "Locke!" I shouted and saw a
hand appear from the smoke as he gave me a thumbs up. He was a fucking lunatic for
going into the fire but his quick thinking had saved the woman he loved and the
twins.

I quickly thought of the phone call I made to Spike, to let
him know that there'd been a fire at Keira's and the screams from Angel as he
relayed the message as I listened helplessly on the other end of the phone.
They'd been through so much lately, I could only hope that the kids were going
to be okay. I glanced down at Devon who was shaking as she held me tightly, I
gently cupped the back of her head holding her close as I jogged down the
alley. As I reached the high street I could see that it was the height of
activity. Paramedics were tending to Keira and another crew quickly swarmed
myself and Stoney as they noticed the children in our arms.