Chapter Twelve #2
They all share a look, Hunter glancing back in the rear-view mirror. Another bullet hits the back window followed rapidly by more. I can hear more thuds as some of the shooter’s bullets go wide and hit other parts of our SUV.
"Around ten or so. It was just a precaution and standard issue on all of our cars. So, it's only got the first level of protection." Kai answers me. I send him a grateful smile and nod.
I make quick calculations in my head adding up the number of bullets that have hit the back window since we've been talking. So far, they've shot eight, two more and the window shatters allowing the bullets to be shot into the car and possibly injure one of my guys.
My heart clenches painfully in my chest at the thought of anything happening to them. I steel myself, nope, not going to happen.
"Maverick, where are the guns?" Levi questions urgently, having obviously come to the same conclusion as me.
"In the compartment underneath all of our luggage in the trunk."
"Shit, there is no way we can get to them quick enough!" Kai curses, frustrated.
Another bullet hits the back window despite Hunter weaving across the deserted road trying to make us a harder target to hit.
"Hunter do you have any still hidden in the car?" Levi snaps rapidly.
"No, I had to take them all out because of that stupid school. They check all the new students’ cars. Brent must be bribing them to turn a blind eye.” Hunter grates out, obviously frustrated.
Levi turns a questioning look to Jax and Kai. They both shake their heads.
"I've only got my knife and that won't do much good from here." Kai admits. Suddenly there's a loud bang followed by the shattering of glass.
"Fuck, shit, fuck, bollocks, motherfucker!" Kai curses colourfully.
I look up from my crouched position to see Kai clutching his arm, bright red blood seeping through his fingers, his face a ghostly white. My eyes snap to his and he smiles playfully at me, trying and failing, to hide the pain in his eyes.
"It's alright, Beautiful, it's just a graze. Nothing to worry about.” He says through gritted teeth as his breathing becomes laboured.
"Oh, fuck no!" I curse my eyes narrowing.
Kai's eyes widen at my outburst, but I take no notice.
Following my screaming instincts, I take a deep breath and find my centre. I need a gun; I know how to shoot. Suddenly I know without a doubt that there is a gun underneath the front of my seat. I bend down and pull it out.
"Where the fuck did that come from!?" Hunter questions loudly.
Ignoring him and the question since I have no idea how to answer it, I check that it’s loaded before taking off the safety. I'm aware that once again the guys all seem to be staring at me in shock. I seem to have shocked them a lot on this car ride so far and the surprises aren't going to stop now.
I smirk and Kai narrows his eyes at me.
Before he can warn the others that I'm up to something, I've unsnapped my seatbelt, turned around so my back is braced against the dashboard and aimed the gun out of the window.
"Sage, what the fuck do you think you are doing!?" Maverick growls at me along with various exclamations from the others.
"Just keep the fucking car steady!" I growl at Hunter, ignoring Mav completely, he’ll work it out in a second.
Hunter glances in the rear-view mirror at Levi whose face has gone a deathly white, his fists clenched tightly, even though he’s obviously worried about me, he nods. Hunter clenches his jaw muscles ticking with the strain but relents.
"Good, keep it steady." I reiterate firmly.
I lean further out the window, quickly take aim and pull the trigger before ducking back inside the car.
I'm barely back inside the car before the wing mirror smashes from the impact of yet another bullet.
I glance back at the SUV along with guys in time to see it stop spinning the engine letting out giant billows of thick, dark smoke.
My aim was true and blew out one of the front tires causing the SUV to go into a tailspin.
The car has gone deathly quiet.
I place the safety back on the gun. Then place the gun back underneath my seat.
I calmly reach for my seatbelt, knowing that if I don't put it back on Hunter will yell as soon as he unfreezes.
Before I can pull the seatbelt across my body to click it into place though, I'm suddenly but carefully hauled backwards and turned until I'm straddling Levi, his face buried in my neck.
Unsure about what's happening right now, I simply weave my hand through his soft, shoulder length, sandy blond hair, securing him to me.
The Sparks are subdued and from that alone I know that Levi is struggling with something.
I concentrate on trying to make the Sparks comforting but I have no idea if it actually works. I think it’s pretty clear by now, that I’ve got no idea what I’m doing when it comes to this sort of stuff.
I glance over at Kai and Jax but Jax is busy tending to Kai's arm and they are talking quietly to each other.
A quick glance at Mav shows me that he's very studiously studying his phone and Hunters concentrating on the road ahead.
It seems that the guys are trying to give us a private moment.
Well as private a moment as we can get in a car full of people.
Levi's grip tightens and he lets out a shuddering breath before leaning back and placing his hands gently on my face.
"You scared me Darling, don't ever do that to me again." The fear in his eyes tells me that I didn’t merely scare him, I downright terrified him.
I nod my head and lean forward, lightly placing my lips on his in what I intended to be a quick comforting kiss.
Levi gasps and stills at the suddenness of my unexpected kiss before his chest rumbles, his hands glide from my cheeks and slowly down my neck causing the Sparks to ignite in their wake.
His tongue traces the seam of my lips and they open on a gasp allowing his tongue to slip inside, sensually caressing my own.
Before the Sparks can overtake us completely the car doors all slam closed at the same moment and we pull apart, both of us breathing heavily, our chests rising and falling in time with one another. Levi chuckles as he tucks a stray piece of my black hair behind my ear.
"We're here Darling.” His face turns serious. "We will be talking about how you know how to shoot and how you knew where the gun was, once we are on the plane.” He raises his eyebrow at me, waiting for me to agree.
I sigh heavily, nodding my head and climbing off his lap and out of the car door.
Before I can get out completely to let him out of the car, I feel a sharp but pleasant sting on my ass.
Kai and Mav who are standing nearby and obviously saw what Levi just did, both burst into laughter, clutching their sides, at what must be the comical face I'm pulling. I can’t decide if I’m turned on or pissed, deciding angry is probably the safest option right now I spin around to face Levi.
"Levi!" I screech.
He leans towards the door a bit more a delightfully sinful smirk gracing his handsome features as he shrugs unapologetically.
"It's too perfect, I couldn't help it.” His green eyes light up with amusement as a blush stains my cheeks as his words melt my pretty minimal anger.
Instead of giving into the embarrassment, I let the full force of my desire shine through my eyes, smirking when I notice his breathing hitch and his eyes darken to a forest green. I make sure to speak loud enough for Kai and Maverick to hear since they laughed.
"That's alright, I liked it." I wink at Levi before turning and winking at Kai and Maverick too.
Enjoying their dropped jaws and heated eyes, I walk up to where Hunter is waiting by the plane and follow him inside.
"What was that about?" He asks me, eyebrow raised.
"Just a little payback." I shrug, grinning up at him.
He chuckles quietly then reaches out to me, pulling me under his arm and bending to lightly place a kiss on the top of my head. A warm feeling courses through me at his gesture although I can't identify what the emotion is.
It isn't until we have finally sat down and taken off that it occurs to me what that feeling must've been.
I felt loved, for possibly the first time in my life, I felt loved.
I panic, my breathing speeds up and my heart beats so fast that I'm sure it's trying to beat straight out of my chest. I get up as casually as I can, feeling more than one set of eyes on me and make my way to the bathroom.
Once there I splash cold water on my face and ignore my shaking hands.
I stare at my pale face in the mirror, my eyes frantic.
What is wrong with me?
Why does the feeling of being loved make me panic? That’s not normal.
What if they realise, I'm not worth it? Now that I know what it feels like to be loved, I don't want to lose that feeling, I don't want to lose them. I realise it’s not the thought of being loved that is making me panic but the thought of losing them and that feeling.
I'm nearing a full-blown panic attack when suddenly there are two large hands cradling my face.
I look up and lock eyes with Hunters gorgeous green and gold orbs.
My breathing is still ragged, my pulse too fast and I'm starting to feel lightheaded.
Not good, so not good.
Hunter’s eyes are lit with understanding and concern. I can see his lips moving as he talks to me, but I can't hear a single word of what he is saying over the rushing sound in my ears. I watch him as he takes deep breaths, his eyes pleading with me. I start to follow along.
Deep breathe in.
Deep breathe out.