Chapter 28
Miles
Sofia’s hushed sobs finally eased as we crossed back into Hollows Bay. “You okay, Jailbait?” I asked, sliding my gaze over to her.
She continued to stare at the dark road ahead of us. “My hand hurts.”
“I’m not surprised. That was some whack you gave her.”
“She deserved it.”
“I’d say so. Remind me not to get on the wrong side of you,” I grinned, hoping to lighten the mood.
It worked. Sofia twisted to face me with a coy smirk playing on her lips. “It…it felt good. Even if Papa is going to be furious with me.”
“Fuck him. If he is furious with anyone, it should be with what’s-her-name, not you,” I replied, pulling the car to the side to let a motorbike pass.
“What’s-her-name?” Sofia laughed.
“She’s not important to me, so I chose not to remember her name.”
“I wish I could forget her name. Seriously, what is Papa playing at, making Rafe marry someone like her?”
Headlights flashed in my side mirror as another bike overtook us. “I wish I knew the answer,” I replied, distracted by the two bikes now ahead of the leading SUV.
It wasn’t unusual to see bikers on this stretch of road; the straights and bends made it fun to drive. It had been a few years since I’d ridden a bike, but growing up, Theo and I often raced along these roads, challenging each other to see who was faster.
No, it wasn’t the fact that the bikes were on the road that caught my attention. It was the way they were riding next to each other, and had slowed their speed so they were only several feet ahead of the front car.
“Is everything okay?” Sofia asked, sensing my distraction.
“Yeah,” I replied, not wanting to spook her before deciding not to lie to her. “I just don’t like the way those bikes have slowed down.”
She stretched in her seat to get a better look while I tapped at the dashboard computer to dial Rob, the driver of the car in front. He answered on the first ring. “Mr. Wolfe?”
“Give me a sitrep on those bikes.”
“Looks like a couple of kids out for a ride, Sir,” he replied nonchalantly.
“Right. Keep an eye on them, I don’t like how close they are to you.”
“Yes, Sir, will do.”
Hanging up on him, my gaze shot to the rear mirror when the revving of more bikes sounded, and two more bikes appeared, surrounding the SUV behind us.
Everything happened at once. I barely had time to acknowledge the two riders in the rear mirror pulling out their guns before they started firing at the car behind us, while in front, the other two did the same, hitting Rob’s car.
They meant business, too; the weapons they were using were semi-automatic, firing round after round of bullets in an endless stream. The tires of Rob’s SUV skidded when he slammed on the brakes, right at the moment bullets hit the engine block, and the car burst into a fireball.
Sofia gasped from beside me, grabbing her seat belt as I abruptly swerved out from behind the burning vehicle, hitting the gas to pass it at the same time as hitting a button on the dashboard.
The SOS alarm was fitted in every one of our cars, and the instant it was pressed, it would send an alert with the coordinates of where we were to Kai’s phone, along with the phone of every man who worked for us.
I only hoped they reached us in time, because with the weapons the bikers had, I was pretty damn certain we’d be lucky to escape with our lives.
Cleared of the burning wreck, and with adrenaline pumping through my veins, I glanced in the mirror just in time to see the rear SUV flip. It rolled twice before disappearing off the side of the hill, plummeting to the rocks below, and no doubt killing everyone inside.
We were well and truly on our own, and despite her stillness, I could feel the terror coming from Sofia.
It was taking all my effort to not let my own fear show.
“We’re okay, Sofe. Help will be on their way.”
She didn’t reply, but her silence spoke a thousand words.
She didn’t believe me.
And I didn’t blame her.
Not when I rounded the corner, to be met with two more bikes, parked alongside a stationary car.
The bikers instantly fired at us. They didn’t aim for the windshield, nor the engine, but aimed for our tires, telling me two things: they knew the car was bulletproof, and they weren’t trying to kill us.
Not yet, at least.
Despite my attempt, it was impossible to avoid the barrage of bullets, and it didn’t take long for them to find their targets. The front tires burst, and I gripped the steering wheel with all my might when the car began to fishtail, desperately trying to keep it upright.
But when the stationary car suddenly lurched forward and slammed into the side of us, our car flipped. My head slammed against the steering wheel, and the last thing I heard before darkness consumed me was Sofia’s terrified cries over the crunching of metal.