Chapter 167 ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SEVEN

Chapter 167 ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SEVEN
Blue's POV

All hell broke loose the moment the shot rang out.

I saw the blind distress in Scarlett’s eyes before her expression turned even more deeply upset. I quickly took account of my own body, waiting for the burning impact, but I couldn't feel any pain. Was the pain still going to hit me?

Then my brain finally processed what had happened—someone had jumped in front of me.

My eyes went slowly down to the floor, and a sickening pain lanced right through my chest as I sighted Tanner lying on the floor.

Tanner had fucking taken the bullet for me.

The fight was still ongoing around us, with Jax angrily beating the shit out of the remaining guys. Derek, clenching his wounded hip, looked to be slowly retreating toward the broken exit.

My knees went weak, and I dropped to the floor beside Tanner. I had always known the life we lived and the things we were involved in were dangerous, so I wasn't usually moved by blood or violence. But right now, my heart surprisingly ached so bad it felt like it was tearing apart.

Young, jovial, caring, and sometimes foolishly exuberant Tanner was bleeding out on the floorboards. The bullet had caught him somewhere high in the chest.

My vision blurred, and I numbly pressed my hands against his wound, trying to stop the flow of blood. I gathered my strength, making to pull Tanner up with me. "Let's leave. We will get you treatment."

Tanner wheezed, blood flecking his lips as he shook his head slightly. "No, boss... You definitely cannot carry me. There is no time anymore."

More guys came charging down the aisle for me, but Jax stepped in, holding them off with raw aggression. I knew Jax probably couldn't do that for much longer, and there was no way I could fight off attackers while carrying a guy as large as Tanner.

"Am I supposed to just leave you here then?" I asked softly, my voice barely recognizable.

"That's the idea," Tanner whispered, forcing a faint, bloody smile. "I just want you to be safe and happy, boss."

I resisted the fierce urge to jerk him by his collar. "Who the fuck said you could jump in front of a bullet meant for me?!"

"You saved my life... every one of us," Tanner rasped out, his breathing getting shallower. "It's only right it's used to serve you. Eat well in the future... I won't be able to bring you food anymore."

More guys lunged toward us, and I reached out with one arm, pushing them away so harshly they crashed into the shelving. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw two guys helping a limping Derek escape the library, and a thick red haze filled my vision.

Tanner weakly clutched the front of my shirt, his grip slipping. "Boss... I'll be fucking mad if you let my sacrifice go to waste. You cannot take me with you and make it to the tunnel in time. Go now... Go!"

I stood up slowly, my palms soaked in his blood, feeling positively enraged. I picked up my daggers from the floor and dealt with every single guy left in the aisle with fury. During the scuffle, a blade caught me in the shoulder, giving me a stab wound, but I barely even felt the pain. I quickly wrapped a piece of cloth around it to stem the bleeding.

Jax walked over to me, looking down at Tanner on the floor with sorrowful eyes. He bent down toward him, his voice cracking. "Kid... hey, kid."

I had never heard such raw emotion in Jax’s voice before. I forced myself to look away from Tanner, knowing that if I kept looking down at him, I would never be able to leave this room. I turned and rushed toward the door, determined to end that fucker named Derek for causing all of this destruction.

"Boss!" Jax called out, stepping in my path. "More are coming! We must leave now!"

"I must end Derek even if it's the last thing I do," I growled, trying to shove past him.

Scarlett rushed over to me, tears streaming down her face. "Blue! I thought I already lost you!" She grabbed my arm tightly. "And Derek is toast either way! I already poisoned my dagger!"

I stopped dead, staring at her. "What??"

"I got the toxin from Rachael a while back," Scarlett explained quickly, her voice trembling. "Derek is about to have a very painful life ahead of him... if he even survives it."

She dropped to her knees beside Tanner, gently wiping his forehead and his bald head with a shaking hand, her tears falling onto his chest.

I let out a breath and looked over at Jax, then bent back down toward Tanner’s unconscious body. He was so pale. "Let's carry him. Help me."

Tanner was a large guy. Jax looked conflicted as he quickly assessed our situation and the sounds echoing from outside.

Suddenly, a rush of approaching footsteps rattled down the outer corridor.

"Let's go, boss," Jax said softly, placing a firm hand on my uninjured shoulder. "This is tragic... but we must get you to safety."

"What is so fucking special about me anyway?!" I shouted, frustration boiling over. "Just... look at Tanner! How can we just leave him here?!"

Jax’s eyes actually got teary—a sight that was almost a total first for him. "Tanner would want you to leave right now, Blue. You are bleeding badly, and we really cannot carry him and fight our way out too. We must honor his wishes. Don't make me have to knock you out and drag you away."

I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat. I grabbed Tanner under his arms, hurriedly dragging his body between two sturdy encyclopedic shelves so that even if he couldn't be saved, he wouldn't be left so exposed in the open aisle.

I took a few hesitant steps away from him, my mind flooded with constant flashes of the seemingly mundane things Tanner genuinely enjoyed doing for me every single day. Even if it was nothing major, Tanner had simply loved to care for me and bring me my meals.

I made a silent promise to myself right then: after getting Jax and Scarlett safely into the underground tunnel, I would return for Tanner. I would grab a wheeling bed from the infirmary if I had to.

"Let's go," I said grimly.

We burst out through the broken library doors, and a handful of Derek's guys were literally almost upon us.

"Run!" I barked, gripping Scarlett's hand tightly.

We started running immediately down the corridor, and the guys gave chase behind us. As we rounded the corner toward the courtyard exit, I glanced out and saw a thick, dark cloud of smoke wafting up into the darkening sky.

A large part of Bellamy was on fire.