Chapter Forty Six

Harley’s Point of View:

As soon as the body fell to the floor next to me, I screamed, panicked. I went to run over to Alexander, but someone grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back and a gun was once again placed to my temple.

‘Drop the gun. Now! or I’ll blow her fucking head off!' The man threatened. Alex didn’t lower his weapon. ‘Now!’ He repeated.

‘No.’ Ron raised his own gun to the ceiling and let out five loud shots and suddenly the door to the warehouse slid open and in ran... So many guys, shooting in all directions. The hand on my shoulder dropped and guns started shooting from behind me as well. I dropped to the floor and covered my head with my hands, scared of getting hit, but also too scared to move.

I kept my head down and my eyes closed tightly while shot after shot went off, it wasn’t stopping. It was a full-on shoot-out and I was right in the middle of it. Literally.

I felt a hand on my arm and I was being pulled to my feet, I worried inside it was one of the bad guys but as soon as I opened my eyes, I met Alexanders.

‘Get me out of here!' I begged, As soon as the words left my mouth, He pulled me through the gunfire and behind the safety of Ron and the others.

I looked over my shoulder as Alex carried on pulling me in the direction of the outside and before everything was out of sight, I saw Pulp drop to the floor, clearly dead.

‘No!' I tried to pull free of Alex’s hold and go to him, But I couldn’t. My protesting made him stop as soon as we left the building. I could hear shouting from inside. It was Ron’s voice and he was screaming for Jackson.

No. Not Jackson!

‘We have to go back, they're dying in there!' I screamed. Alex cupped my face and held me still.

‘There is nothing we can do for them until it's over’.

‘But... Pulp, Jackson... Harry, Dad… They might not leave here alive!' He leaned down and kissed me passionately. I instantly kissed him back and when he pulled away, he rested his forehead against mine.

‘They knew what the risks were’. He whispered. ‘They came here knowing they might not walk out of this’.

‘I won’t let them die for me!' I couldn’t… I wouldn’t!

‘You have no choice. Please, Harley! Let me take you somewhere safe or whoever dies in there was for nothing!' I absolutely hated that he was right. If I went back in and got hurt.. or worse, whoever lost their life in there really would have been for nothing. ‘Take comfort in the fact that every guy in there is willing to die to keep you safe’.

It wasn’t much comfort… not at all, but I reluctantly gave in and nodded. Alex took my hand and led me to his bike. We climbed on and he passed me a helmet.

I could only look back and pray the rest of them would come home safely, as we pulled away. Closing my eyes, I turned around again and buried my face in Alexander's back, hoping that Ron and Jackson and Harry and the others came back to me…

*** Hours Later ***

I couldn’t stop pacing the floor. Back and forth, back and forth. Alexander was sitting on the edge of the bed, just watching me.

‘Shouldn’t they be back by now?’ I asked, worried, ‘You don’t seem fazed at all!' I snapped. He sighed and stood up, walking over to me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

‘I just know these things take time, that’s all’. I rolled my eyes and pulled away from him.

‘Yeah, I forgot you’re used to this shit!' I snapped again. He looked at me, clearly taken aback for my attitude, but I wasn’t going to apologize. Christ knows what was happening to the guys right now.

‘You need to calm down, they will be back!' I could tell from his tone he was annoyed at me. I didn’t want to fight with him, but... I just couldn’t relax until they got back. All of them. Alex went back and sat on the edge of the bed again. I went and sat with him. He didn’t say anything but he put his hand on my thigh and squeezed it. I put my hands on top of his and held them.

‘Alex?’ He looked at me. ‘I love you’. He was silent for a minute. That was the first ‘’I Love You’’ either of us had said. Maybe it was too soon, maybe he didn’t feel the same way but... It needed to be said.

‘I love you too’. I was almost floored when he actually said it back... I didn’t think he would. As soon as the words left his mouth, I wrapped my arms around him tight and he held me. He held me until the roar of motorbikes could be heard and I pulled away from him again and ran to the door and waited…

… waiting to see who would be coming back… and who wouldn’t…