Chapter 22
Ambushed
Oni
I’m still reeling from Al’s words as both his and Ed’s phones ping. Al looks down at his and his eyes go wide. Quickly, he reaches for the bag between my and Emilia’s feet.
I recognize the bag from training. It’s the one where they keep the bulletproof vests and helmets. In training, the same bag sometimes had spare guns. Knowing what the bag carries, my curiosity is piqued, and my heart begins to race.
“This truck is bulletproof. As long as you’re both inside, you’re safe. Stay in the vehicle, Oni,” Ed says pointedly.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
Despite Ed’s warning, Al still hands both me and Emilia a vest. I lick my lips and tug it on quickly. Emilia does the same. Ed is driving while tugging his on and fastening the straps.
“We might have incoming,” Al answers my question as he gets his vest on.
He pulls two guns and checks the clips. I look down at my lap, to my bag. After yesterday, I decided I never want to be caught out there without my own gun. Al reaches to place the bag back on the floor between us. I note an extra helmet and gun still inside. There are also a few clips.
I look out of the windshield and see the car ahead of us is racing forward. Ed has begun to pick up the pace as well. He runs right through a red light to keep up with the car carrying Rico and his dad.
I grab onto the passenger handle above me. Everyone has fallen silent and it’s like you can hear a pin drop. I’m holding my breath as we enter a residential area. There are large houses on either side of us, some hidden behind tall shrubs.
I finally take a breath as the car ahead turns on its blinker, indicating they’re about to turn into one of the driveways on the left-hand side. Everyone in the car seems to relax. However, the moment is short-lived as a vehicle races around us and another appears ahead of the car Mario is driving.
As Mario goes to turn the car into the driveway ahead, the car that raced around us slams right into its side. The SUV that appeared out of nowhere slams into the other side at the front end. I sit in shock as Ed slams to a stop and starts to bark orders.
“You two get down and stay here.”
He throws the truck in park as gunfire starts outside our vehicle. Ed throws on the helmet Al hands him and they both jump from the car. Heart and mind racing, I look around, not sure what I’m looking for.
Then my eyes land on the car Rico and his father are in. The gunfire has increased, but that’s not what has my attention. Juliana has climbed out of the car and she’s trying to crawl toward one of the cars with the guys firing at us.
My blood begins to boil. This bitch. I look back at the car Rico is in, and I see Mario has stumbled from the car with a bleeding head. However, I don’t see Rico or his dad. My heart picks up and begins to beat double time.
“What are you doing?” Emilia hisses at me.
I hadn’t noticed myself grabbing clips from the duffel bag to place in the slots in my vest. I also have the gun I noted earlier. I look into Emilia’s eyes, and I see the fear and worry swarming along with her tears.
“I’m going to cover Rico and Fredrico. Something is wrong,” I say.
“They told us to stay here.”
“They also taught me how to help. I can sit here with you and be safe, or I can go out there and cover my man. You know me by now. What do you think I’m going to do?”
“Wait, I don’t want to be here alone.”
“Stay low. You’re going to be fine,” I say quickly and grab my gun from my bag to have a backup.
I tuck it into the back of my pants and place the spare helmet on my head. Taking a deep breath, I pop the door open and jump out.
I can hear my breathing in my own ears as I close the door behind me and move forward with my gun out. I’ve trained in one of these helmets, so it’s not as distracting or jarring as it had been the first time I had to wear one. However, we train with blanks and paintballs.
I’ve just jumped into live action. These bullets are meant to kill. These guys are trying to hurt the people I care about.
I race forward, shooting as I go. I hit one guy, and he falls back.
I don’t have time to think about it, as I have to take out the next guy before I slide behind Rico’s car.
Mario is by the front, firing then ducking.
I reach for the door where Fredrico is. It’s completely smashed in, and I can’t tug it open.
I look into the car and see he’s lying across the seat. However, I can’t tell if he’s alive or not. I glance into the front, and I see Rico slumped forward against the dash.
I snap into action, needing to get around to the other side of the car. The problem is that’s the side taking fire. Just then, a car races to the gate of the driveway we were going to turn into. Men hop out on the other side of the gate then rush to start firing at the assholes shooting at us.
I take this as my chance. I dart around the car and jump into the back seat, where Fredrico is. He groans and looks up at me. There’s confusion written all over his face at first.
The helmets are black and gold, like the tattoos many of Rico’s men have. I’m sure he knows I’m one of theirs, he’s just not sure who.
“Oni?” he chokes out.
I nod as I check him over. His head is bleeding, but other than that, I don’t think he’s been hit. The back windshield blows out, causing me to jump and scream.
Looking into the front seat, I can see Rico still isn’t moving. I go to kick into action, ready to climb into the front seat to help him, but gunfire outside the car pulls my attention.
I look up to find Emilia has gotten out of the SUV. She looks confused and scared out of her mind. That’s when I see the asshole aiming at her.
I don’t have time to think. I pull my gun and aim, but I’m out of bullets. Then I pull my spare, but it jams. There’s no time for this.
I rush out of the car and run for Emilia. I pull a clip and try to reload as I get to her. At the last second, I reload and make it to her.
Jumping in front of Emilia, I turn and aim. I pull the trigger and catch the asshole between the eyes, but not before a burning sensation hits my shoulder.
“Oni, oh my God, Oni,” Emilia screams as I fall into her.
We drop to the ground as pain sears through me. There’s a ton of commotion happening around us, but I start to lose focus. Oh, I’m hit. I think to myself.
“Here, apply pressure. We need to get her to a hospital now,” Mario calls out.
I want to cry out as someone presses into the pain. Shit, my mom is going to be so angry. Then everything goes black.