Devil’s Vengeance (Devil’s Disciples MC #6)

Chapter 31

CHAPTER 31

MARIAH

I thought the confrontation with Trick was terrifying, but I never thought I’d be anywhere near a shootout, either. The first few shots confused me. I didn’t know what the sound was, but Riley didn’t hesitate, dragging me back to her room and into the closet. I heard shouts and more pops of noise, but it was like my mind couldn’t catch up with what was happening.

“What’s going on?”

“Shootout,” Riley said, her voice oddly calm for the situation. She shoved some clothes aside, exposing paneling that popped open to reveal a door behind it. She slid it open, ushering me inside before following and putting the paneling back and sliding the door shut again. I’d never been in a panic room before, but it was a little disconcerting. It wasn’t very large, maybe half the size of the walk-in closet. Big enough for a cot and some storage with food, along with a computer and a hardline phone. It was a little creepy, to be honest, and the lack of windows or any exit aside from the one we came through made me nervous.

“You okay?” Riley asked, as she tapped on the keyboard to wake the computer. “You’re not claustrophobic, are you?”

I never thought so before, but I kind of felt like maybe I was wrong. It felt stifling in here and we had only been in here for a minute. The monitor came up, showing videos around the house, but before we could take a good look, the power went out, killing the cameras. The lights went out in the panic room too, but came back up a minute later.

“I, uh…”

“It’s going to be okay. Backup generators handle the power in here. We’re safe. Take deep breaths. I’m going to let Croy know what’s going on and–”

“Croy? We need to call the cops!”

She shot me a frown over her shoulder. “You do realize who we are, right? I’m not calling the cops unless I absolutely have to.”

“But it worked last time!” I pushed. “If it's Trick’s crew, they scattered when I threatened to call the cops. That’s how Chase and I escaped.”

She looked uncertain, but I didn’t wait around for her to decide. Chase was down there and I didn’t want him to die. This whole situation was insane, and I seriously questioned myself for sticking around through all of this. Once he was safe, I was going to need to reevaluate just how attached I was to the people I’d gotten to know.

Pulling out my cell phone, I scowled at the lack of reception. The walls were probably too thick, which explained the land line. I picked that up instead, dialing 911, and waited impatiently for someone to answer.

“911, what’s your emergency?”

“People are attacking our house. They’re shooting through the windows. We need help!”

The operator asked for an address, but Riley looked reluctant to give it. She was in too deep with the crew and didn't want to draw attention to the police. I wasn’t so loyal to the crew. It was Chase I cared about.

“I don’t know. I’m at a friend's house. Can’t you trace it? I’m using a landline.”

“Give me one second. Are you in a safe place?”

“Yes, we got to a panic room on the second floor. How long?”

I heard her fingers tapping, and it didn’t take long for her to reply. “Okay, I have your location. Officers are on their way now. We have some in the area, so it won’t be long. Just stay calm and don’t hang up.”

Riley shook her head, putting her hand out for the phone. “You can’t stay on the phone the whole time. I need to call Croy.”

“But– ”

The operator tried to argue too, but Riley snatched the phone from me and hung up, dialing again before I could protest. She let it ring once, then hung up and dialed again. Croy answered immediately.

“Baby–”

“Croy! The house is under attack! We’re in the panic room, but the police are on their way and–”

He spoke loud enough that I could hear him, even if I wasn’t leaning in close to listen. He let out a string of curses, and the phone muffled for a second as he shouted to whoever was with him.

“Back to my place! It was a fucking trap!” His voice came back clearer as he spoke to Riley again. “Baby, you and I are gonna have a chat about involving the pigs when I get back. Don’t leave that room, and say fucking nothing to the pigs, understand? I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

He hung up without waiting and, from the sounds of the engine in the background, he was already on his way. Riley didn’t panic or wait around. She dialed the phone again, systematically checking in with each of her friends. Thanks to them, we found out the shooting was localized to just this house, and they were all hunkered down and hiding. Allie went on a rant, saying she wanted to come over and help, but Riley just smiled and told her to wait unless she wanted her old man to lose his ever loving shit.

We were on the phone with Sam when we heard the sirens in the background. Her house was closer to the end of the block, but she’d gone through the backyard to Lacey’s when the shooting started because Lacey didn’t want her alone. Both of them, plus Nevada’s old lady, were hiding out in the nursery, and Lacey was watching what was happening through the window.

“Who the fuck called the cops?” Lacey demanded in the background.

“Uh… me?” Seriously, they were all acting like I’d done the most fucked up thing on the planet. I was trying to help!

Lacey made an irritated sound. “If my husband is in that house, I swear to god, Mariah, I’m gonna kick your ass. He’s got two kids to take care of.”

“Can I point out that he can’t take care of them from the grave? The last time this crew came after me and Chase, calling the cops made them leave. If they run, the guys can get out before the police arrive.”

“Pretty big if,” Sam muttered. “How many of our guys were there? ”

“Four,” Riley answered. “Chase, Bear, Bandit, and Gunner.”

“And Nevada,” I added. “He came in with Chase.”

Someone sucked in a sharp breath, and Cleo spoke up from the background. “Hold on. Did she say Nevada? Is he there? Why isn’t he with Croy right now?”

I didn’t know the answer to that. I had no idea what was going on, or if the crew attacking us was even Trick’s crew or someone else. I didn’t know how many enemies this crew had. I really needed to rethink my alliances with this place. After I got taken, I told myself I wouldn’t get into another shady situation again.

“Cops are here,” Lacey relayed. I wished I was there, so I wasn’t blind to everything going on. “Two squad cars? Seriously? They think that’s enough?”

The phone line beeped, forcing Riley to hang up, but it wasn’t Croy on the other line. It was the 911 operator, trying to get more information. Riley handed the phone to me, trying instead to get the monitors back online. She muttered under her breath about the cameras needing their own power source, but I barely heard her over the operator’s demands.

“Mariah? We’ve got officers on scene. Can you tell us where the safe room is so we can get you and your friend out of the building?” the operator asked.

Riley shook her head rapidly. Nope. Not giving them that information.

“No. But we can come out when you’re sure the second floor is safe. Has anyone checked up there?”

“Not yet. They’re handling things on the first floor. More officers are arriving now, and an ambulance is on its way.”

I frowned, looking at Riley. “But we’re not hurt.” Which meant someone else was. God, what if it was Chase? “Is everyone okay? Are there any casualties?”

“I’m afraid I don’t know the answer to that,” the operator said apologetically. “All I know was that an ambulance was requested. We’ll have an officer clear the second floor before you come out, but we need to know where you are so we can make sure you’re safe.”

“Tell her not to bother. I’m going out. I need to know if it’s one of ours who needs an ambulance. If it is, I’ll be riding with them,” Riley said stubbornly. She grabbed one of the boxes off the shelf, pulling out a small handgun and a clip of bullets. “Tell her I’m armed and headed out. I don’t want to be shot by some trigger-happy cop.”

“Wait, Riley, don’t–”

She was as stubborn as Croy and didn’t wait before unlocking the safe room door and sliding it open. The panel was still in place, and she lifted her weapon and pointed it in front of her before pushing the panel with the toe of her shoe to knock it down. I held my breath, waiting, but no one was on the other side looking to hurt us. She ducked out and hurried off without a backward glance, weapon at the ready, like she was trained to use it.

“Shit. I need to go. She’s going to get hurt. Tell them we’re coming down, okay? And thanks for sending help.”

“Wait, don’t–”

I hung up before she could argue and raced after Riley. She was gone from the second floor by the time I came out, and it was creepy tiptoeing through the dark, but no one jumped out to get me and I followed the sound of voices to the top of the stairs, where Riley was shouting at the cops.

“I’m a nurse and he’s bleeding out! Let go of me!”

Blood turned to ice in my veins, and my stomach tightened painfully. Who was bleeding out?

“Ma’am, were you the one who called 911?” an officer demanded, ignoring her.

I hurried down the stairs, throwing my hands up, so they knew I wasn’t armed. “I was. I called. But she was with me. She’s not lying.”

I froze, gaping at the scene in front of me as I stopped at the bottom of the stairs. There were bullet holes all over the walls and through the windows. A few were shattered completely, and blood dripped along the walls like someone cut themselves trying to get through. There were a few unmoving bodies on the floor, but none I recognized. Not until I turned toward the back, where Riley was fighting against the officer holding her arms. At her feet lay a familiar face, and my mouth fell open in shock.

“Oh god. Is he dead?”