Dead Souls MC: Prospects Series Books 1-5

by Savannah Rylan

  “What’s happening right now?” I asked.

  “Rock and Diesel are under the assumption the mafia’s about to ambush the warehouse,” she said.

  “This all my fault, isn’t it?”

  She shook her head. “It’s no one’s fault. This has been coming for weeks now. And I owe you an apology for—”

  “We can do this later. Right now, we have to get going,” Sutton said.

  I watched Makenna come out of the panic room and press a button. The lights went off and I heard a movie turn on before a metallic door slid closed. A wall came down, blending right in with the library before a bookcase moved in front of it. A completely concealed room where the children would be safe, even if the entire warehouse was infiltrated and burned to the ground.

  “We have to take up our positions,” Makenna said.

  “What are our positions?” I asked.

  “The guys are holding down the outside, but we’re the ones who hold down the inside. Have you seen the closets yet?” Piper asked.

  “What closets?” I asked.

  “Shit,” Brynn murmured.

  “Fill me in. We don’t have much time,” I said.

  “Some of the hallways are dead ends, and they have regular-looking closets. Except, they’re not closets. They’re our ammo depots. Our gun storage. And they’ve got comfortable seating for us with windows down the hallways for us to pick off people as they walk down. Almost inconspicuous, especially with the lights dimmed,” Piper said.

  “Which we can control from within the rooms,” Sutton said.

  “So, I’m supposed to be in one of these not-closets?” I asked.

  But before anyone could answer my question, the ratta-tat-tat of gunfire echoed off in the distance.

  “Come on!” Brynn exclaimed.

  She grabbed my hand and all of us ran up the steps. I watched the girls break off down hallways I hadn’t explored yet, and I felt myself drowning in responsibility I didn’t know how to handle. Brynn guided me down hallways. Snaking me through winding pathways that made my head spin. I looked back and saw Sutton hot on our heels, a gun drawn as she kept the barrel aimed back down the hallways we were walking.

  Then, we stopped at a door down one of the dead-end hallways.

  “I’m going to put you here because Sutton’s only a hallway over, so she can easily get to you if something goes wrong,” Brynn said.

  “What would go wrong?” I asked.

  She leveled me with a look, and I shut up.

  “Brynn, you go. I’ll help her get her gear on,” Sutton said.

  “You’ve got less than a minute. Get her set up, then run,” Brynn said.

  And as the gunfire outside mounted, Brynn ran down the hallway like a bat out of hell before she drew her gun and cleared the hallway’s corners.

  “What’s going to happen?” I asked breathlessly.

  “It’s better if you compartmentalize right now. Come on, we have to get you in your gear,” Sutton said.

  She threw the invisible door open and turned on the light. She showed me the mechanisms that controlled the hallway light, then set it to a very dim setting. She strapped me into a bulletproof vest and slid a helmet over my head, then showed me where to sit. I had to give it to her, the seat was comfortable. And the small slit in the doorway would hold the tip of the barrel of whatever gun I chose off the wall.

  I had seven guns with me, including the one tucked behind my back. All of them had plenty of ammunition, but I only knew how to use the one behind me. Sutton’s crash course in all things guns hadn’t nearly prepared me for something like this. Even the things she rattled off to me in the heat of the moment made absolutely no sense.

  Then, she cupped my cheeks as the gunfire grew even closer.

  “If you’re in trouble, there’s a red button to your left. You push it, and I’ll come running. Do you understand?” she asked.

  I nodded quickly, feeling her press a kiss to my forehead before she stepped back.

  “Wait, what happens if you press the button?” I asked.

  “Red lights will start flashing at you. If that happens, open the door, run down the hallway, and take a hard left. Take your next left and come running down that hallway to the dead end. That’s where I’ll be,” she said.

  “Two hard lefts. Got it.”

  “You shoot at anyone coming down this hallway you don’t recognize. The girls will be easy to recognize because our bulletproof gear reflects yellow in the hallway lights. If you see yellow reflective gear, hesitate and assess. The guys’ bulletproof gear reflect red. If you see red reflective gear, hesitate and assess. Otherwise, unless it looks like one of the kids? Shoot,” she said.

  “Can the kids get out of that panic room?” I asked breathlessly.

  “Not a chance in hell. But you don’t really want to shoot a kid anyway, no matter where they came from, do you?”

  I shook my head quickly before she closed my door, dipping down to gaze at me through its slit. She reminded me of a few things about the guns one last time, but I kept chanting that mantra in my head. Red and yellow reflective gear, hesitate. Otherwise, shoot. I repeated it to myself until it was second nature, then watched as Sutton stuck her fingers through the slit. I took them within my own fingers, feeling her squeeze me however she could to try and bleed some courage into my body.

  Then, she released me and rushed down the hallway. Clearing her corners before taking a hard left. Leaving me alone to fend for myself.

  Leaving me alone to listen to the gunshots and automatic fire scouring the outside of the building.

  “Holy shit,” I whispered.

  I pulled the gun from behind my back and made sure the magazine was full. I closed my eyes, drawing in a deep breath before I pulled out the three other magazines Bear had given to me in the bedroom. I lined them up on my thighs, making them easily accessible as I slid to the edge of the chair. I settled the small barrel of the handgun against the slit in the doorway, then kept my eyes trained on the hallway.

  “Stay calm. Stay calm, Margot. Remember Sutton’s pointers,” I whispered to myself.

  You didn’t sign up to kill people.

  Yeah. But I did sign up to protect people.

  Something slammed open in the distance and it made me jump. The gunfire was much too close for my liking and tears leaked down my cheeks. My hands trembled as I held the gun as steadily as I could. I heard mounting footsteps. I heard men with voices I didn’t recognize yelling at one another. I trembled with fear, listening as gunfire continued to rain down outside with people rushing around inside the damn warehouse.

  Where were the guys?

  Where was Bear?

  The footsteps grew closer and I held my breath. I forced myself to stop crying as my entire body trembled with adrenaline. I kept my eyes trained down the hallway. Every muscle in my body tensed as footsteps grew closer. As those voices grew louder. As their guns cocked, magazines exchanged, and men whistled for us to come out and play.

  Then, a red light started blinking in my peripheral vision.

  21

  Bear

  “I either need someone else with me or I’m gonna have to fall back,” Toxin said.

  “What are you covering again?” I asked.

  “He’s across the street in the woods,” Diesel said.

  “Climbing trees already, are you?” Rock asked.

  “I’ve got four men underneath me and seven more men pushing their way through the woods. It’s not good, guys. Not from my angle,” Toxin said.

  “I’m getting off the roof and headed your way,” Grave said.

  “Negative, we need you on the—shit! Hold on!” Diesel exclaimed.

  “Toxin, I see three men coming out of the woods. You’re not one of them, right?” I asked.

  “Nope. Still stuck in this fucking tree,” he said.

  “Okay,” I said curtly.

  I took aim at the window I was hunkered down behind and aimed the sights of my gun. My
station was the front door. The only way in or out other than the garage, which was Diesel’s area to protect. I didn’t like how the gunfight sounded coming from my left, but I saw Rock quickly rush in front of the building.

  The three men across the street quickly took aim, but I popped each one of them in the shoulder.

  “Thanks,” Rock said.

  “Anytime,” I murmured.

  We all had our earpieces in with multiple conversations going at once. And my only regret was that we didn’t have hookups to the girls. I mean, they could talk to one another. But we couldn't converse over platforms. Which I didn’t like. I wanted to know how Margot was doing. But I also had to keep my attention trained on what was in front of me.

  Which were those three assholes still moving. Still trying to shoot, despite the bullets in their shoulders.

  “Fine. Let’s see how your head works,” I said, sighing.

  Toxin and Ryker chuckled in my ear as I downed the three men just before they stepped into the road. But two more emerged from the woods. Toxin was trapped and had no way of getting out of that damn tree by himself, which meant someone had to help him.

  “Saint, how are you looking?” I asked.

  “The cliffside’s secure for now,” he said.

  “You need to get to Toxin. He’s still pinned,” I said.

  “Yep. And bring some ammunition if you can,” Toxin said.

  We all paused until it finally clicked.

  “Their main entry point is the woods. Grave. Off the roof now,” Diesel said.

  Then, I heard him grunt before a slew of bullets popped off near the garage.

  “We need help!” Rock exclaimed.

  “Heading to the garage now,” Saint said.

  “We have to get these women out of here,” I said.

  “They’re the only defense between us and the kids,” Rock grunted.

  “Well, that’s why we get them out of here, too. They’re too many of them. We’ve been ambushed,” I said.

  I heard the sounds of Rock growling as fists connected with jawlines. I kept popping off the men that emerged from the woods, but it wasn’t looking good. Diesel cried out. Gunfire kept ringing out around the warehouse. And before I knew it, I heard a door kick in at the back of the warehouse.

  Holy shit, Rock and Diesel had been taken down.

  “Rock! Diesel! You two come in now or I swear to fuck—”

  “They’re in. They’re—”

  Diesel coughed as Rock groaned, and I knew the two of them were hurt.

  “Saint. Sitrep, now,” I said.

  “Diesel’s got dislocated shoulders. About to fix—”

  “Fuck!” Diesel roared.

  “Fix it. But Rock’s got bullets in his legs,” Saint said.

  “I’m sorry. Was that plural?” Brewer asked.

  “Yes. Plural,” Saint said coolly.

  “Fuck,” I hissed.

  “Execute plan D,” Diesel choked out.

  And he sure as hell didn’t have to tell me twice.

  “Saint, woods with Toxin. Take down anyone you see in the process. Get him out of that fucking tree because he leads the caravan pool out of here,” I said.

  “Bear, stay at the door. Prospects, go around and gather the girls. You know where the kids are. Get them the hell out of here,” Diesel said breathlessly.

  Saint dashed across the lawn as Ryker appeared at the doorstep. I let him in and quickly closed the door, then saw Cage come into view. I let him in as I kept a lookout for the other two. Gunshots sounded in the distance. I heard tousling around on the intercom jammed into my ear. Toxin grunted as he climbed out of the tree, falling to the ground with a thud.

  Then, a few seconds later, Saint and Toxin came rushing across the street.

  Thank fuck.

  “Toxin, go start up the two vans. Have them ready to get the hell out of here. Saint, deal with the kids. Use the tunnel access in the basement to get them into the woods and be careful about it. That was their main entry point and we don’t know if anyone’s gonna be waiting for us,” I said.

  “Done,” Saint said.

  “Ryker, find the girls. They’re in the closets. I’m going to make sure this front door is secured before I start helping. When you find them, get them into the basement—”

  “Yeah, yeah. I know. We need to go, though. Now,” Ryker said.

  I nodded and the guys dispersed. Toxin grabbed the van keys out of the secured kitchen drawer, then rushed toward the side of the building. It was utter chaos, listening to him take down the last of the men before cranking up those engines. Everyone yelled in my ear at once, holding multiple conversations over our intercoms. Trying to figure out what the best plan would be since every plan from A to F had completely fallen apart.

  “I got the kids. Heading into the tunnel now,” Saint said.

  “They’re in the hallways, guys. I repeat, they’re in the dead end hallways,” Ryker said.

  “What!?” Diesel exclaimed.

  “I’ve got no one coming for the front entrance. Where do you need me?” I asked.

  “You stay there. We need someone covering these damn doors!” Toxin exclaimed.

  I heard him pop off another shot before Toxin grumbled in my ear.

  “They won’t stop coming.”

  “I’ve got Piper and Makenna.”

  “They’re coming up the cliffside!”

  “There’s more in the woods.”

  “I’ve got Brynn and Everly.”

  “Monroe, too?”

  “Headed there now.”

  “I’ve got the kids in the vans. Hurry the fuck up!”

  “Found Monroe!”

  “What about Sutton?”

  “And where the hell’s Margot?”

  But when silence came over my intercom for the first time in almost an hour, I abandoned my post.

  “Where is Sutton’s station?” I asked.

  “Bear, stay at the—”

  “Where the fuck was her station!?” I roared.

  “I’m headed there now,” Ryker said.

  “Kids are strapped in with Moms. Where are Sutton and Margot?” Toxin asked.

  “We’re figuring that out,” I growled.

  “Hello? Can anyone hear me? Come in, can someone—”

  “Brynn?” Diesel asked.

  “Hey guys. Stole Toxin’s intercom. Hope you don’t mind. Sutton and Margot are down the last two dead-end hallways you come to before the hallway of rooms. The last defense between the outside and the kids. I can’t get either of them on intercom, either. Get down those hallways,” Brynn said.

  And without a second thought, I took off in a dead sprint. Winding my way through the warehouse, hoping and praying to God on high nothing had happened to Margot.

  Because if they’d harmed one hair follicle on top of her head, I’d level the entire mafia in order to get even.

  I’d wipe those fuckers off the face of this planet with a smile on my face.

  22

  Margot

  I burst out of the closet I sat in and rushed down the hallway. Hard left, sprint. First left, pause. I poised my gun at the moving shadows, ready to shoot the second I saw who the hell I was aiming at. I heard Sutton struggling. I heard her yelp. Something crashed into the wall before the shadowy figure emerged, bathing himself and that fucking black suit of his in the limelight.

  And the face looked very familiar.

  “Ah, and so we meet again,” the man said.

  Holy shit.

  The man choking out Piper from the hospital had Sutton by the hair.

  “Let her go,” I said, aiming my shaking gun at him.

  “Nah, I think not,” he said, grinning.

  He pulled out his gun and started shooting as he tugged Sutton down the hallway. I ducked back around the corner, watching bullets whiz by as horror filled my body. I had to save Sutton. I had to do this. I had to calm myself down long enough to do this right.

  “I’ve got you,
Sutton,” I murmured.

  Then, the two of them emerged into the main hallway.

  I jumped back and took aim with my gun, shutting off the part of my mind that screamed at me to stop. To quit hurting people. To stop going against everything I was taught in medical school. I aimed for the man’s leg as he tugged Sutton down the hallway, listening as she screamed and cried out. She yelled for Cage. She yelled for me to run. She yelled for me to get the hell away as the man kept shooting rounds down the hallway, hoping to hit me even as Sutton tried knocking him off-balance.

  Then, I drew in a deep breath.

  I took aim at his leg and pulled the trigger. One round. Then, two. And all of them missed. I grit my teeth together as I took a small step forward, dipping down onto one knee. My entire body trembled. I couldn't keep the gun still. I couldn't stop my mind from racing as I emptied the magazine down the damn hallway trying to hit this fucker.

  And when I went to reach in my back pocket for another magazine, they weren’t there.

  Holy fuck, they’re on the ground down the hallway.

  The man laughed at me as I dropped the small handgun. I slid the gun around my body until it faced the front, then searched desperately for how to use the fucking semi-automatic weapon. Sutton’s cries moved further away as I inched myself down the hallway as tears rushed my eyes.

  She’s going to die if you don’t do something.

  And that was the motivation I needed to get going.

  I finally found the damn safety on the gun and flipped it off. I got up and started walking down the hallway, following the man in the suit as he kept popping off rounds to scare me. They whizzed by me, creating waves of air I felt on my arms. Against my neck. Beside my head. And while I was scared shitless, I was also determined to make sure Sutton was safe.

  Even if it meant me getting hurt in the process.

  I cocked the gun and took aim, pulling the trigger repeatedly. Once. Twice. Three times. Four. I emptied it down the damn hallway as they turned a corner, then I took off running. I was shit at firing under pressure. But if the man had to keep himself turned around to fire at me, then maybe one of the guys would intercept us. I rushed around the corner and took aim again, firing as the man stopped to reload.