Police sirens pounded in Casey's head as he held Wyatt close, sitting in the backseat of Emmett's car. August laid beside them, keeping pressure on his wound. Flames escaped through every crevice of the ramshackle hideout, engulfing every inch in its wrath. Casey watched it from the back windshield as Emmett started the ignition and sped off.

The whole neighborhood reeked of smoke. Nosy neighbors came out to witness the destruction, but it was too late to save anyone. They'd all burn in that god-forsaken building.

Fire trucks pulled up to the scene first, combating the fire with their long hoses that Wyatt found fascinating. Casey couldn't resist his grin as he called out to the "firefucks" saving the day. Although it hurt his bruised face to smile.

They got out of there before any of the police cruisers arrived. Only when they reached the Voiceless Rebels own turf did Casey let himself relax just the slightest bit.

"We'll get your guy back there to our doc," Emmett said. "I'd drop him off at a hospital, but that'll put him back at the scene of the crime."

"No hospitals," August grunted.

"We won't." Casey reached a hand out, gently squeezing his. "But I'm making sure you get better care this time. Not some slapdash bandaging."

Soon enough, they arrived outside a clinic. Beyond the horizon, sunlight peeked out and lit up the dingy parking lot. Another car parked up at the entrance, and when Emmett retrieved his phone, a portly little man hurried out with a wheelchair.

Casey made room for the man, clad in a lab coat. He held Wyatt close, letting the doctor examine August briefly before hurrying him inside. When the two of them disappeared inside the clinic, Emmett led them inside and locked the doors behind them.

"Who is this guy?" Casey asked. "Is he a real doctor?"

"Yeah, Sal's licensed." Emmett retrieved a carton of cigarettes and his lighter. He lit himself one, blowing a puff of air to the empty receptionist desk.

"Are you allowed to smoke in here?"

Emmett shrugged. "Sal doesn't care what I do."

"Do we just wait here?" Casey glanced down the pristine, dark hallway. It reminded him of something straight out of a horror film.

"Yep. Alfie's gonna hide my car back at our hideout, so it looks like no one else is here. We gotta keep watch and make sure nobody drops by. If they do, I'll get Sal and hide you all."

"Jeez, it sounds like you've done this before," Casey remarked.

While waiting, Emmett took a load off behind the receptionist's desk, spinning around in the swivel chair. He reached into a drawer, rummaging around before pulling out a pack of Nutty Bars. "Y'all want some?"

Casey shook his head. "No thanks."

Wyatt stirred in his arms, pleading as he gazed over at the pile of snack cakes Emmett stacked up on the counter. It made Casey realize how his son probably hadn't much, if anything at all, during his time in captivity. Just the thought of what they made him go through sent bristles against his skin.

"Alright, you can have some." Casey lifted his boy up on the counter so he could choose some snacks.

"Looks like they gave ya a nasty cut there," Emmett remarked, gesturing to the cut on Wyatt's cheek.

"It hurt." Wyatt pouted as he snatched up a pack of cosmic brownies.

"I bet it did." Emmett rolled his chair over to another drawer, grabbing some band-aids out of a little kit.

Emmett passed them over to Casey, who gently pressed one against his son's cheek. Wyatt paid no attention as he munched on his brownie, dropping crumbs all over the counter.

"That's the only injury he had, right?" Emmett asked.

"Yeah, thank God for that." Casey playfully ruffled up his boy's hair. "Thank you, for helping me. I couldn't have gotten them back without you."

"Of course. I hope you remember our deal." Emmett's gaze remained glued to his. "I'll give you and your family time to heal before going over the details further. My first priority is getting your bakery running again."

"I understand."

While waiting for updates on August's condition, Wyatt had fun with the band-aids and stuck as many colorful ones on his face as he could. Casey winced as his son placed another lime green band-aid against his sore cheek.

"These will make you feel better, Daddy." Wyatt grinned, proud of his "doctoring" skills.

"Oh for sure." Casey chuckled.

Having Wyatt by his side again, unharmed and happily patching his face up with band-aids made it easier for Casey to relax, just the slightest bit. If only he knew August's condition. He worried what might happen, especially with how severe his wounds had gotten.

While waiting on August's prognosis, Casey wondered what this meant for them now. He needed to contact his father and Lani soon. Had he not left his phone behind with them, he'd already have done so.

"What happens when the cops start questioning us?" Casey asked. "What do I say? You know, without incriminating myself."

"Just be as honest as you can. Don't go into many details or mention hurting anyone." Emmett bit into his peanut butter bar. "But most importantly, don't breathe a word about me or my gang."

Casey gulped. "I won't."

"Good, cuz the last thing you want is for them to associate you with us."

The last thing he needed was for the police to hound him over the Voiceless Rebels gang. Casey hoped that they'd leave him and his family alone after they learned Wyatt was safe, but a terrible inkling told him it wouldn't be that easy.

It felt like an eternity of waiting. Even Casey ended up tempted by the snacks Emmett laid out on the counter for them. Despite the nerves that squirmed in his stomach, he tried his best to keep a brave face on for Wyatt. The last thing he needed was for his boy to see him scared after everything he'd endured.

Emmett came over to them, crouching down to Wyatt's level. "You got a good memory, kid?"

Wyatt blinked, gazing over at Casey as he tugged on his sleeve. In return, Casey offered a half-apologetic smile. "I don't think he's ready to talk about what happened yet. He's not told me much either."

"That had to be scary," Emmett remarked. "Where did they take you? Do you remember? After they first took you from the park."

Wyatt shrugged his shoulders. "Away. In a car."

"Did any of them make you do bad things?" Emmett followed up.

"I don't appreciate your sudden line of questioning," Casey snapped. "He's been through enough already. We can speak with professionals on handling this."

"Casey, my intentions aren't to scare him. I'm only asking these questions to make sure nobody there abused him," Emmett replied. "Neither you or the police would know this, but that hideout harbored predators. Nobody just has those contacts ready at hand. Not unless they've used them before."

The revelation made Casey sick to his stomach. In spite of how they rescued Wyatt and murdered those bastards, he'd forgotten to even consider such a disturbing thought. He'd been in their custody for almost two days, meaning anything could've happened.

"You'd tell me if anyone did something to you, right buddy?" Casey asked, stroking his fingers through his hair. "Were they mean to you?"

Wyatt nodded, pointing to the band-aid on his cheek.

"Was there anything else?" Casey questioned, with concern lacing his tone. "Did anyone ever make you do stuff you didn't want to do?"

Wyatt exchanged uneasy glances between him and Emmett. "Yeah."

"What did they make you do?" Casey asked, struggling to keep a calm, patient tone.

"Leave you and Aunt Lani. They put me in time out. But I did nothing bad." Wyatt turned back toward the counter, gazing at Casey with those adorable doleful eyes of his. "Another one?"

Emmett grabbed a snack cake off the counter, handing it to the boy. He came back over, resting a hand on Casey's shoulder, leaning closer to his ear, feeling his warm breath. "I don't think anything happened."

Relief fluttered in his chest. "Yeah, me neither. If it did, then... I dunno what I'd do. Not like I can kill them again, ya know?"

Emmett chuckled, reclining back in the seat beside him. "You know," he drawed out. "We could use a fella like you around. Just name your price."

"I don't want any involvement with your gang, or any gang, for that matter. I saw what that did to Veronica. It won't happen to me as well," Casey told him. "All I want is to live a normal, peaceful life with my family."

🧁

Rain pounded mercilessly against the windowpane of the small clinic. As Emmett escorted them down the pristine hallway, down to August's room. The doctor hadn't given them any updates on his condition, just simply that they could see him. Which Casey took a hopeful approach to.

It reeked of antiseptic and a myriad of other cleaning supplies. Casey wondered if this was common for the doctor, receiving fatally wounded patients at ungodly hours. Despite how close he'd been with the Black Vipers, he'd never known of them having their own personal little doctor like the Voiceless Rebels did.

Emmett halted in front of a room and gently eased the door opening, peeking inside. Casey waited behind him, with Wyatt right by his side. When Emmett granted them access inside the diminutive room, Casey rushed inside and hurried over to the hospital bed.

August laid on his back, gazing idly at an old television playing a western. He tugged the fuzzy red blanket draped over his body closer, almost snuggling his entire face underneath it.

They'd sent the room up like an ordinary hospital room, with their own creative little touches. The bed resembled one from a hospital, as did the doohickeys hooked up to August. It made Casey wonder how the hell they obtained those things. Who exactly was this guy? How did he have access to all these things?

"August." Casey came up on his side, as worry clouding his vision as he gently caressed his face. "Are you okay? I thought I'd lose you. I-I didn't..."

A light smile ghosted his face. "Don't worry about me, Casey. You just make sure Wyatt's okay."

"He is." Casey lifted his boy up in his arms. "Thanks to you. If you hadn't chased after them, who knows what might've happened? We could've lost him. I don't know how I'd ever be able to repay you."

"Anyone would've done the same." August shrugged, wincing from the jarring movement.

"Nah, not a lot of people would've put their life at risk for Wyatt," Emmett spoke up. "Many would've done what they consider "nobel" and search for help around the neighborhood."

"He's right," Casey replied. "Not many would've done what you did."

After Casey put Wyatt back down, he rummaged through his coat pocket and presented him with a smushed honey bun.

"Uh, thank you." August grinned. "Honestly, if you really feel the need to compensate me, then I'd love some of those weed cupcakes you baked. Man, those were great."

Emmett raised a brow. "I don't remember that on the menu."

Scarlet dotted Casey's cheeks as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, yeah, sure. I could make them for you sometime."

The lighthearted jokes faded as Emmett pulled a chair up to August's bedside. Seriousness clouded his expression. "I'm gonna offer you a position in our gang, but only as a runner. Kinda similar to what you did for the Black Vipers. You won't get access to our main members, nor will you be updated on what's going very often. You'll deliver our drugs and report it to my right-hand."

August frowned. "What about the Black Vipers? You know damn well they ain't gonna just let me go easily."

"Considering the injuries to their men, I doubt they're in a position to fight back. However, if they do, then we will have your back. You're officially one of ours, if you accept. If not, your safety is no longer a concern of mine. I would caution you to avoid Casey then, as they could try using him against you."

A flash of sadness crossed his face. "I'd never do anything to put Casey in danger. If I accept, can you keep Casey and our families safe?"

Emmett crossed his arms over his chest. "I'll do everything within my power to protect them. But this will mean you can't live anywhere in Black Viper territory, August. There's no way I'd be able to keep some of my men near that area. Casey's house doesn't fall into either gang's territory, so that's better."

August nodded. "I see."

"No need to make any drastic decisions yet. I'm not cruel enough to force you to join after almost dying here." Emmett clasped his hands together. "Just don't take too long. No offense, but you're not valuable to me, August."

No good could come from messing around with the gangs, but Casey wasn't concerned about it at the moment. He only cared about having Wyatt and August back, safe and sound. Just having them at his side reminded him of why he sacrificed so much to save them.

Casey knew if he had a second chance, he'd do the same thing again.