Chapter twenty two.

Photo is of Ivan.

"We have to get out of here, I hear sirens." Ivan said.

Laurel and Ivan were running through the large and now abandoned warehouse, somehow amidst the gun fire and confusion they'd ended up on the roof and were completely turned around in the labyrinth of hall ways.

"I can't run anymore," Laurel said.

"We can't be caught here, I heard bikes and I think everyone else left."

Laurel paused for a minute, gripping onto the railing of the staircase they currently were standing on. Glancing back at her he decided to give her a brief break, her face was ghostly pale, she was covered in sweat and seemed to be shaking where she stood.

"Take a breath."

"You said it yourself, we can't stop."

She pushed herself upright and proceeded to take another step, Ivan caught her arm preventing her from moving.

"Take a minute, I can't have you collapsing either."

"This is bad," She said with a heavy sigh.

"We've had worse."

"It's different now, we're different."

"What do you mean by different? From where I'm standing nothing has changed, we're still in clubs."

"Well we're older, we're divorced and we don't even run in the same club anymore."

"I didn't want the divorce," He said bitterly.

"Don't start this shit again, we both knew that marriage was in the toilet."

He sighed heavily, she was right it was. The fought more than they made love and could barely stand to be alone in a room near the end, when she filed for divorce however it had taken him completely by surprise. For years she'd been his lover, his right hand, his vice president and suddenly she was gone.

"Let's go," She said finally.

"Are you ready?"

"I have to be, you said it yourself we can't be caught here."

He hesitated and then gave a small nod, hurrying down the winding staircase with her right behind him. The door let out into a large and seemingly empty room but it was on the ground floor. He rushed to a metal door, slamming into with the full force of his body but it didn't budge.

"We have to find a way out of this damn place," He said.

"I....."A loud bang cut off her sentence.

"You what?" He asked not turning around.

He heard a dull thud and turned then, Laurel lay on the concrete floor and behind her stood a man with a gun. He was wide eyed and staring directly at Ivan now, obviously one of the Aces thinking he was the only survivor.

"Laurel," Ivan took a step towards her and the man pulled the hammer back on his gun.

"Don't move," The man demanded.

"Okay, look we just want to leave. Tell us how to get out and we'll go," Ivan promised.

The man shook his head and attempted the pull the trigger, a dull click was all that happened. Before he had time to process that he was out of bullets Ivan fired his last round and he didn't miss. The man fell dead a few feet away from Laurel.

"Laurel," He dropped to his knees and lifted her onto his lap.

"Ivan...what happened?" She asked.

"Shh, don't worry it's not that bad."

"What happened?"

He didn't reply but glanced down, the bullet had entered her back and came out just below her ribcage on the left side. Already her clothing was soaked and the blood continued to seep from the wound. It was bad, deadly even and he knew it.

"It's okay, it's okay." He promised.

"It's hurts." She choked on a sob.

"I know, I know it does."

He glanced around the room, looking for any other type of exit but didn't see any. He could carry her but he doubted he would be able to find his way back to the original door without her bleeding to death.

"What do I do? Tell me what to do," He said softly.

"Leave me here, just go."

"No."

"Ivan...."

"No! I will not leave you here."

He glanced down again there was so much blood and although he was pressing his hand against the wound under her ribs he couldn't apply pressure to her back and his bare hand was doing very little. She was growing weaker and he pressed a little harder causing her to let out a small whimper of pain as she closed her eyes.

"Don't go to sleep, stay with me."

"I'm so tired."

"Just hang on, stay with me. I'm going to get you out of here," He promised.

She didn't reply and he glanced down at her ashen colored face, her breathing was becoming more and more shallow but to let go and try the door again meant letting her bleed out on the floor. To stay and hold her meant certain capture and most likely jail time. He didn't have to consider his options, didn't need to think about it. So, he pulled her closer and prayed the police brought her help.

Jenny, Ty, Becky and a few other families stood outside in the parking lot of the clubhouse. Jenny was sitting on the picnic table watching Becky trying to console Ty.

"I should have know he'd do something foolish,"Ty said.

"It's not your fault, you know how he is."

"I could have stopped him, I'm stronger than he is."

Becky slid down the bench closer to Ty, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his shoulder.

"I'm sure he'll be back," She promised.

"No, something is wrong I can feel it."

As if on cue the large panel van screeched to a halt in front of the group of people, the bikes pulled in behind them and the families who could see their loved ones visibly relaxed.

"Wolf!" Morgan rushed across the parking lot into his arms.

He held her close and keep an arm around her shoulders turned towards the rest of the men who were reuniting with their families.

Raphael and Sky stood side by side as Jenny rushed from the picnic table. Sky shook his head not doubting that she was running for Raphael. Apparently Raphael thought the same thing because as she grew closer he opened his arms for her.

She brushed by him and all but threw herself against Sky, it was a toss up on who was more surprised.

"Hey, it's okay." Sky said.

"I was so afraid, I was so worried about you."

"I'm fine, it's okay."

"Where's Zeke?!" Ty asked, standing in the large crowd.

"He's in the van," Wolf said solemnly.

Becky was standing beside Ty and she turned, rushing to the door and throwing it open before anyone else could approach. Zeke was laying on the floor, motionless.

"Zeke? Zeke!"

Becky climbed into the van just as Ty reached the side door.

"Is he breathing?" Ty asked.

"I think so, what the hell happened?" Becky asked.

"They threw a grenade and he didn't move in time," Sky said.

"We have to get him to hospital!" Becky cried.

"We can't, the cops already know about the fight in the warehouse if we take him they'll know he's involved. We could all get jail time and Zeke would be lucky not to get life in prison."

Becky bit her lip and gently lay her hand against Zekes face, he winced but didn't respond. Ty paced away from the van pushing his hands through his hair.

"What can we do?"He asked.

"Let's get him inside, then we'll talk about options."Wolf said.

"He's my brother man, he's my only living family."

"I know, that's why we'll do the best we can for him."Wolf promised.

He moved towards the van and a few other men followed, together they lifted him and carefully carried him into the clubhouse. Becky and Ty followed, with her gripping his hand the entire way.

Lacy and Demon had hung back from the crowd and waited until nearly everyone else was inside before parking their bikes with the rest. They sat side by side in silence.

"Do you think he'll make it?" Lacy asked.

"I don't know, he's a strong man....if anyone can it's Zeke."

"This is all my fault, I don't deserve to be here."

"Let's just see how he does and then....we'll go from there."

"Can you honestly say that you'd even want me to come back? After all that I've done and the hurt that I've caused?" She asked.

Demon slid off his bike and walked over to where she sat on hers. Using his hand he titled her chin up until she was looking at him then leaned in and kissed her.

It didn't take long before she stood up and kissed him back, her arms winding around his neck and holding him close. When he pulled away she lay her head on his chest.

"I want you here, you belong here."

"Does that mean we have to go inside now?"

"No, not if you're not ready."

"I'm not," She admitted.

"Then we'll stay out here a little longer."

She snuggled closer to his chest with a contented sigh and he dropped a kiss on top of her head.

"By the way, Thank you...for saving my life." He said.

"Anytime," She replied.

Author Note; I am now taking suggestions for the title of Zeke's book. It doesn't have to rhyme but does need his name in the title. I also make no promises to use any of the suggestions given. Thank you.