Ride or Die (Rejects Paradise 4)

When someone gets down on their knee and vows that they’ll follow me, then they sure as hell have my respect and deserve to be saved. Nic does not get to decide their fate. Nobody should have that power.

I fly past the boys, not wanting to deal with them right now, and instantly watch as Kairo’s car tailspins, and he chases after me. I push myself faster. I will not let them pull me away.

I pull up into the Wolf Den less than thirty seconds later, and as I fly out of the car, I realize that all the doors and windows have been boarded up. There’s no way for the smoke to really escape except for out of the burned roof.

I hear them all screaming, desperately trying to save themselves from within. I run for them, but the boys fly out of Kairo’s car right behind me, immediately coming for me.

I turn on them, not hesitating for a second as I grab Nic’s gun and pop off two shots, bringing them to an immediate stop as the bullets smash into the concrete at their feet. “Get out of here,” I yell. “Don’t make me fucking shoot you like I did Nic,” I spit, so disgusted in each of them. “I swear, I will not hesitate. Nothing will stop me from saving their lives.”

Their eyes go wide, and seeing the desperation in my eyes their hands instantly raise. “Is Nic alive?” Kairo asks, his voice low and terrified, something I’ve never heard from him before.

“Yes, he’s fucking alive,” I demand. “I called an ambulance. Now either get the fuck out of here or help me save their lives. Either way, you need to fucking move.”

The boys glance at each other, and with a cringe, Eli and Sebastian run for the doors while Kai backs up. “I have to check on Nic.”

“Just go,” I spit, turning my back on him and racing for the Den.

The boys struggle with the chains on the door while I go for the massive roller doors. There has to be a way to get in there. I push against it, trying to find a weak spot, but I’m five foot nothing. What am I going to do? The Wolves are dying in there. If the flames haven’t got them, the smoke will.

Fuck.

I panic, looking around for some kind of way to help them. Sebastian and Eli haven’t had any luck and while I hear the sirens in the distance, they’re still too far away.

I glance back at Nic's car and before the idea has fully formed in my head, I'm already running toward it.

“OCEAN. NO, DON’T,” Sebastian calls out, running for me, but it’s too late. I back up as he tries to get a grip on the door handle, more than ready to yank me out of here, but I’m going too fast.

What does it matter if something happens to me? Sacrificing my life to possibly save a hundred others? It seems like a good way to go.

Putting the car back into drive, I pull on my seatbelt and hit the gas, curling my hands around the steering wheel. My knuckles instantly turn white while I tense every part of my body, knowing that this is going to hurt. My jaw clenches and my eyes squint as my face twists into one of fear.

I race toward the roller door, knowing that someone could be standing right behind it and hoping to God that I don't cause more damage, but at this point, how much damage could I really do? I’m sure they’d be happy to sacrifice their roller door if it meant they got to live for another day and go home to their loved ones tonight.

The car hurtles toward the roller door and in an instant, I crash right through it. My body is jolted forward, and I smack my head against the steering wheel, rebounding back into my seat as a sea of glass rains over me, cutting up my arms.

My head instantly begins to throb, and as I try to blink through the thick smoke that comes crashing into the car, I feel the blood start trickling down my face.

Fuck. I don't have time for cuts and bruises.

I try to force my way out of the car as bodies begin rushing toward me, some coming for me while others escape out of the gaping hole in the roller door. All I see is a red glow, the bodies being nothing but a black silhouette against its brightness. As my head finally stops spinning and the thumping begins to ease, the noise becomes louder.

Men are shouting for help, some laying on the ground not moving, while others drag lifeless bodies through flames in a desperate attempt to get people out.

Someone pushes me out of the way and dives into Nic’s car, instantly putting it into reverse and getting it out of the way, making a bigger space for the Wolves to get through.