Chapter Nineteen

Damon POV

Unlike most people here, I knew the minute that sound went off that it wasn't a gunshot but rather an explosion. Normally when you're out you can hear random noises that make it sound legitimately like a gun going off, but this was much bigger.

Me and the guys were all around the bar talking to a bunch of people who we knew when an explosion happened right inside the bar. It was a massive explosion, not the ones we were used to in Iraq, but it did cause a lot of damage and the bartender was lucky to still be alive.

It wasn't long before we were surrounded with guys in masks holding guns at us.

Seems as though we were either their target or, they just didn't like us.

We were asked to get on our knees along with everyone else who was still inside. I was glad that some people had managed to escape outside through a big hole in the wall to our left.

They did everything you witnessed in the movies, taped up people and took away our phones. I wasn't to upset because I actually had 2 phones. One was for France and then the other was for here in London.

Obviously, I gave them my France phone, so I could try and get a text out to either my dad or Skylar. I couldn't be more at ease that she or Lily were not with us here tonight I can handle myself here, but Skylar should never have to deal with this.

I would literally grab that girl and throw her out the window making sure she runs as far away from here as possible.

If there was a door that would make it much easier and safer.

"Eyes on me mate." One of the guy’s slapped Adam as he was looking around the club obviously looking for a way out of this situation. Adam was not trained like me and I was a little nervous, but he was handling the situation well.

Lily would be proud of him.

“Not so tough now are you. No guns, no hand grenades not a single thing protecting you anymore" one of the masked men shouted in my face as he smacked the gun into my cheek. I felt the sting of a slash against my skin.

Mother fucker.

I glared at him but knew better than to say anything that would piss him off. It wasn't just us in this club there was still some girls in here and a few younger boys.

“What do you want,” Charles said. He was so close to headbutting this dude in the face, but he knew he had to keep calm if we were going to get out of there untouched.

The guys laughed mocking his comment. "Don't take it personally." How are we not supposed to take it personally?

"At least let these people go,” I said under my breath as I noticed the very scared faces around the room.

I was scared one of them would try and do something that would get them killed in the end, “Clever guy we got here boys." The rest of them laugh yet I didn't find it amusing at all. What would they get out of this, do they know how many people fight in the army? Killing a few guys isn't going to prove anything.

But I wasn't going to let these bastards kill anyone in this room. I could tell Andrew was formulating a plan he did that when he was silent. Spending years with these guys we knew each other well.

I was young and reckless when I joined, I was known for being the strong, brave one who didn't care about the consequences.

It was Andrew who taught me how to mature, think about those I left behind.

Flashback I headed to my room to grab my wallet since some of the guys were heading out to get food. We were back at camp for a few days before we needed to head out again.

From outside the door, I could hear Andrew speaking to someone. I slowly pushed the door open and found him sitting on his bed with the computer in front of him.

On the screen was a beautiful young woman with chestnut brown hair. But what caught my attention was the sweet bundle this woman had in her arms.

“She needs her daddy, Andy. Please come home soon," the woman said stroking the hair of the gorgeous baby. Did my best friend actually make that?

Yes, I knew he had a wife back home, but I didn't know they had a baby. I'm pretty sure she wasn't born yet when he was home.

"I know baby, I'll be home, so I promise,” he said with so much care staring into the screen.

It was strange to see him acting this way.

I made my presence known when the call ended.

“You have a daughter?" it was more of a statement that a question. Andrew turned around; I could tell that call wasn't as fun as you would expect. He was an exceptional soldier but in the army you just never know.

"I do. I never wanted to be one of those guys who got their girl pregnant and leaving for service. I used to talk shit about those types of guys, but I did it,” he said leaning back on the chair.

I am walking over and sat on the bed. “What's her name,” I asked him.

"Ruby,” he smiled as he said the name of his daughter.

Matches her, especially if she's going to take after her mother with the chestnut brown hair.

"That's a beautiful name,” I told him patting him on the back.

Maybe one day I could meet her, tell her how amazing her father is.

"I joined the army for fun you know. Alongside the fact that my father-in-law despised me. I did my duties here but also acted like an idiot" is this his way of telling me I'm an idiot.

I knew that already though.

“Now that I have a family its changed, my priorities change,” he says passing me a picture. It was him and wife on their wedding day.

It was crazy to believe that he was at this stage in his life, and he wasn't much older than me. That says something, doesn't it?

"Tell me about the girl you left behind then,” he said turning to face me fully. I knew this idiot was sneaking around my stuff.

I haven't really spoken to anyone about her. Yes, I've mentioned my family to the guys but never about Skylar.

End of flashback The guys were not experienced. It was obvious. They all went into a separate room to talk leaving all of us in here. All three of us were already grabbing our knives and cutting at the table that was around our wrists.

It was stupid of them to leave.

I pressed my finger to my lips as people started to notice the movements we were making.

“Everyone stays calm, panicking will not make this easy," Andrew said going around to people and undying their hands, removing tape from one of the youngest girls in the room. Looks like her friends got out but she didn't.

Adam nudged us and pointed over to the door. They were coming back. We all rushed back to position pretending that we were still restrained. They were easily fooled.

“Which one should we kill first. The family man, the groom or the rich guy." The main guy was pointing at each of us with his gun.

“That's right, we know all about you. It’s not hard to find all this shit out with the internet." We have got to work on our privacy settings.

We’re putting our families in danger.

I watched the guy get into my personal space. He placed the gun against my head preparing to shoot me, but I had a better idea.

I brought my fist up and knocked him down in one hit. It wasn't hard since the guy was as skinny as my mother with her green diet.

It's hard to believe that she used to love eating burgers. Honestly that woman could eat so much meat in one sitting. I respect her lifestyle now though.

As soon as the guy hit the ground, I pressed my knee into his chest grabbing the gun and switching our positions.

The others caught on quickly and grabbed the other armed guys.

The other people started to scream as gun shots went off. They weren't going without a fight I could see that.

"Adam no! they deserve to rot in jail "Andrew said grabbing Adam as he was close to killing one of the guys.

I had never seen him so angry, but it actually relaxed me knowing that my little Lily didn't have a pussy as a husband.

Adam slowly dropped his hold on the guy’s throat and reached for the gun pointing it at him.

It wasn't long before armed police officers came inside the club, shouting at everyone to get down as they forced their way to us. They nodded their head at me taking the gun from my hands.

I sighed with relief.

"You don't scare me, move out the way so I can hug my boy,” I heard the unforgettable voice of my mother. She looked like shit as she stormed through police officers. Christian was walking slowly behind her.

“One day you're going to send me to my grave,” she said wrapping her arms around my broad shoulders. She cried into my shoulder whispering words.

Even though I was glad to see my mum I couldn't get my eyes off Skylar who stood towards the back of the room next to her mother and Lily who was an absolute mess.

I need that girl to breathe. She is my only strength and weakness. I’ll be dammed if I don't claim that sweet body of hers by the end of the night.