Soldiers of Chaos- Chaos Abounds: Book 1 in the Soldiers of Chaos series (38 page)

She pushed herself up onto her knees the searing pain at her back now her constant companion. Her cut. She couldn't leave her cut. She picked it up and threaded one arm then the other through it. She gripped the chair with both hands and pushed up to her feet. She let go and stumbled to the nearby wall hitting her shoulder hard. She stopped to catch her breath heaving air into her lungs. She slid along slowly with her shoulder against the wall for support. She made it through the black door and down the hall. She reached the great room and stopped to rest. Nikki pushed off from the wall and made an unsteady path to the kitchen counter then to the door. Her feet caught just as she reached it and she fell forward into the door sliding to her knees. She gripped the handle and twisted. The door popped open to reveal the lobby area and the elevators. She crawled across the space hitting the button as she reached the door. The left hand bay opened and Nikki crawled inside pressing the button for the parking garage. The doors wouldn't close. She pressed it again and again. Fuck. The key card. She pushed her brain to think. The card. Her pocket. She reached into the pocket of her cut and pulled out the key card for the elevator. She slid the card into the slot and pushed the button. As the doors closed she thought she heard Cole's voice "Angel!" She collapsed against the side of the elevator. Her eyes closed and she pressed her forehead to the cool mirrored surface. Tears of relief slid down her cheeks.

Tex and Trace stood outside the entrance to the private underground parking. They couldn't get in not without the pin code to open the gate. "Fuck." He rang Nikki's phone again and waited. It picked up "You there Ace?" "Yes." Her voice was really weak he could barely hear her. "We can't get in without a pin code to open the gate. We're gonna look for another way in." "4...9...2...7" came Nikki's weak reply. "What?" Why the fuck was she giving him..... The code. "4927. Got it. Trace the code 4927." He watched as Trace punched in the code and the gate opened. They ran through signalling for the other brothers to wait. "Where are you Ace?" "Elevator." He saw the bank of elevators at the end of the space and ran toward them with Trace a few steps behind. He spotted her as they reached the space "Fuck." She was pale and shivering huddled on the floor in the shadows to the left of the elevators. Her eyes were closed, her hair matted to her head and face and skin was covered in sweat. He froze. Trace knelt down beside her. "Baby girl. Can you hear me?" Nikki stirred slightly made a noise. Trace touched her forehead "She's burning up bad we need to get her to Doc." Trace slid his arms under hers and circled them round her back preparing to pick her up. An almighty wail erupted from her and her eyes flickered open for just a second. Trace immediately drew back "What is it baby girl?" Trace slapped her cheek lightly "Where does it hurt?" "Back" she whispered.

Tex moved then. He rounded them and helped Trace remove her cut. Her white t-shirt was covered in watery red marks. "Fuck." Trace reached down over the top of her and peeled her shirt from her skin lifting it towards Nikki's head. She whimpered. Slowly her back was revealed and what Tex saw both turned his stomach and exploded a fire inside him. Nikki's back was covered in a criss cross of gashes. Blood oozed slowly from the wounds and mixed with her sweat forming a watery red liquid that trickled down her body. His blood boiled "Jesus fucking Christ. What kinda sick fuck?" His fists clenched at his sides. "No time for that shit now Tex we need to get her to Doc Brown." Trace dropped her shirt back in place. He had his phone to his ear in seconds "Brodie bring the van in here. Gate code's 4927. Head for the elevators." "How the fuck are we gonna get her up without touching her back?" "I have an idea." Tex went to his knees on front of her nudging Trace out of the way. He pulled her arms around his neck leaning back a little bringing her weight off the wall and onto his chest. He reached down under ass and slid her up his thighs so she was sitting on his lap. The van pulled up beside them and he got to his feet slowly. Brodie threw the side door open. "Brodie get her bike, it's a couple parks back there, take it back to the compound."  Tex took the few steps to the van and turned putting his back to the door. He sat down on the floor of the van and pushed off with his feet so he slowly slid backwards till his back hit the wall. Trace threw the door shut and ran around climbing into the driver's seat. Trace turned the van around and floored it out of the parking garage. Nikki's skin was hot and sticky against him her breathing shallow and she whimpered into his neck with every movement of the van. Tex bent his head bringing his mouth to her ear "You hang in there Ace. You cannot die on us, we love you. You die and so do we."

Tex. Nikki felt relief flood through her body, she'd made it back to them. His words echoed through Nikki's mind as she slid deeper into the darkness. I love you too.

I’ve always enjoyed reading books and writing, English was my favourite subject at school, and you would always find me with my nose buried in a book. They were
both outlets for my emotions and my escape from the world. I’ve read hundreds and thousands of books in all genres but was always fascinated by both crime and romance. It was the interplay between characters and the inner workings of the human mind that drew me to these books. I particularly enjoyed strong female characters who held their own in a ‘man’s world’ and who despite their strong exterior had flaws that very few where able to see. I had something in common with those characters, the outward projection of strength covering a world of insecurities and their journey was something I related to.

I have written many things over the years but never thought to publish them till now. I hope you enjoy Nikki’s story and
would like to thank you for taking the time to read my book. As a first time author I would love to hear your thoughts about my book, you can email me at
[email protected]
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This is just the beginning of the journey for both Nikki and me, so keep an eye out for the next instalment in the Soldiers of Chaos Series.

A.A. Askevold