24. EMMA
Chapter twenty-four
EMMA
W hat we asked for is unfolding in front of my eyes as I get closer to the finish line. I feel like gasoline is running through my own veins, burning me alive.
Ace and Bear are outnumbered as men surround them. I scan everywhere for our men and I see no one; where the fuck are they?
But I don’t have time to figure that out.
A car races towards me, like they are playing fucking chicken with me. Like I’m going to back down; I’m not. My foot presses the gas harder, and I pull my gun from between my legs. Alright beauty, let’s have some fun.
My eyes strain on the car in front of me, Zeke has backed off. Noticing they are trying to box me in, but I am off the mountain, I just need to keep going in this direction.
The anticipation of what the driver in front of me might do, has me crawling with adrenaline, as my nerves touch every sensor in my body. I drop a gear; Focus Emma.
Four car lengths apart.
Three.
My mouth is parted, panting with my racing heart.
Two.
Pop's voice sounds in my head, NOW EMMA!
Pressing my clutch in, I give beauty that Devil gear as I turn my wheel to the right, and beauty launches herself to the right, avoiding the car's front end as I throw my arm out the window with my gun.
Aiming. I fire. My bullet delivers its blow, causing the car to shoot off the side of the road, and over the embankment.
Thanks Pops!
I dodge another car, not getting a shot, but I am over the finish line. Ace and Bear have managed to get into their cars and as I speed past, Ace and Bear peel out behind me and we race down the road.
I hit that call button as fast as I possibly can, engulfed with rage. It rings. This fucking assshole better answer his fucking phone.
“Nice driving, Baby Girl.”
“What the fuck, Ace!”
“Sorry, I was a little busy. I couldn’t answer the phone.” He chuckles into the phone and I can’t help but laugh, but then I get serious because we are still being followed. “Are we taking them for a joy ride or do we have a plan here, honey.”
“Mhm… I kind of like that.” He jokes. “Ace!” I laugh with his name.
“You know where to take them.”
“Oh, okay! Let’s have some fun.”
“Baby Girl.”
“Yeah.”
“I love you.” I smile. “I love you too.” I wait a moment before I hit the end button, not wanting to leave the sound of him on the other line. But I eventually do. And I listen to my music to break the silence as I race down the highway, taking them to the South Warehouse.
ACE
There are no words to describe what I just witnessed my wife do.
Her fucking driving is like no one I have seen.
She is fucking crazy. Even with the bullets flying over my head, trying to get into my car, I saw her challenge that driver, and she didn’t back down.
She knew exactly what to do, and when to fucking do it.
She’s a better driver than me. And now I follow behind her zipping down the highway taking these fuckers to their ending.
In my fucking glory; racing cars, shootouts, violence, killing, this is what I was made to fucking do, what my father turned me into and made me enjoy.
It makes me sick in a way, but I still find the crazy enjoyment of it.
Bear lives for this shit, and that’s why I brought his crazy ass here and will have him stay for as long as he will.
I hiss when I adjust myself in my seat causing me to look down, I touch my stomach and pull my hand away. Fuck, I’ve been shot.
Blood covers my hand and I take that same hand and reach behind me, to check if the bullet has gone through, which it has, good.
I pull my jacket from my arms and toss it into the passenger seat, then pull my t-shirt off.
I hit the call button on my dash screen and call Bear; I don’t want Emma to know this.
“Getting bored brother.” He asks when he answers. “I’ve been shot, Bear.”
“Where?”
“In the stomach, it went through, but she’s juicing.” I joke.
“Not funny, bro.”
The pain starts rising, now knowing I’ve been shot and my adrenaline slowing. “Bear you stay with her, do not leave her.”
“Shut the fuck up and drive motherfucker.”
I wrap my t-shirt around my waist, driving with my knee, I tighten my t-shirt down tight, ripping a pained roar from my throat. “FUCK!”
“Breathe, Brother.”
Painful tears sting my eyes as I grit my teeth, catching my bearings. I grip my steering wheel, my knuckles turning white with the firm hold.
“Did it stop?” Bear asks. I forgot he was on the fucking phone, so I check my work. “It’s slowed, I’m good for now. I’m serious though, Bear.”
“Yeah yeah, don’t leave Baby Girl by herself.” And he hangs up. I chuckle to myself, wincing with the discomfort, my adrenaline still up, but nothing like it was and that whole through my body is burning.
EMMA
I hope Ace has a plan, these drivers are not backing down. I race down the road with Ace and Bear behind me before turning off the highway. I slide around the exit ramp, getting to the road that will lead us to the warehouse.
Why didn’t Ace have the men at the race? What was he thinking? He has to have his reasons, but I don’t get it right now.
My phone rings again and this time it’s Zee. Needing to make sure he got out of there safely, I hit the button on my dash screen and answer the call. “Hey Zee.”
“Hey Zee! Are you serious, what the fuck Emma!”
My eyes flutter closed for a second, dragging a deep breath into my lungs, trying to prepare myself to explain. “Zee look, I need you to stay low for a day or so.”
“Emma, tell me what I just saw.”
“Bad people are after Ace and I, Zee…” He interrupts me. “Why?”
“Zee, can I explain this to you later? I’m a little busy right now.” I drop a gear as I turn, sliding into the warehouse gates.
“I don’t know Emma, I feel like I don’t even know you.”
“You don’ t.” The words shoot out of my mouth so fast, my lips suck into my mouth and I bite down on them.
“That’s reassuring.” He hisses.
“Zee, I’m sorry. I promise when I get out of this, I’m going to tell you what I can that won’t risk your life, okay? But right now, I need you to get everyone home and off the roads. Can you please do that for me?” I plead with him. I don’t want anyone getting hurt at the cost of my family's war.
“Yes, you know I will.” Tears well in my eyes.
I hate lying to the one person I have always been able to rely on and I am lying through my teeth.
“I have to go. Zee, please go home.” I would never be able to live with myself if something happened to him.
I need him to listen and go. “Already on my way, Em.”
“Good. Talk later.” I hit the end button.
I race down the rows of warehouses and slide in between the last two.
Driving all the way to the back, I turn around the back of the building and then pull my car into the warehouse, Ace and Bear behind me.
The orchestra of gunshots and tires squealing fills the air, watching the door close down behind Bear's car; we made it.
I watch Bear jump out of his car and run to Ace’s car door, ripping it open, causing me to panic. I jump out of my car and turn towards Bear.
“Bear?” My eyes fall into the seat where Ace is sitting and I notice his shirt is off. “What the fuck!” I run over to him. “Emma, get down.” Bear's hand grabs the back of my neck and he shoves me to the ground.
I get up on my knees and crawl to Ace, as the bullets fly over my head. “Ace, what happened?”
“Get down, Baby Girl.” He rasps out, as he drops out of the car, taking cover beside me. I pull at the shirt tied around his waist. “ You’ve been shot.”
“It’s fine Emma, focus.” How in the fuck am I going to focus with him beside me with a hole through his stomach. When my eyes meet his, he deepens his gaze on me like he’s communicating through my eyes and I nod. Pulling my fear away, replacing it with rage.
My gun comes up and I start firing shots back at Luca’s men that are swarming the warehouse.
But our men are through all the warehouses, some in view, some not, some even a mile away, but they are working, keeping Luca’s men back.
Keeping them from getting into this warehouse and protecting what they are here to protect, Ace and I.
One by one, the sound of gunshots lessens until it has disappeared completely, allowing us to stand from our positions of cover.
“You’re secure, Sir.” Caz clears us. Ace nods, as he staggers to his feet and I loop my arm through his, allowing him to use me as a crutch if needed, but he stands to his full height and squares his shoulders.
“I want to know how all Luca’s men are sneaking into this city unnoticed.” Ace barks as he shoots daggers at Caz. I lift a brow at Caz because he is supposed to be monitoring this and tonight should have never gotten to be this far; Luca’s men have tripled in force.
“I’m not sure, I’m working on it.” Caz drops his gaze on us.
“Not anymore you're not. I am taking over that part.” I say before I look over to Tommy, my right hand that I have secretly kept as that, keeping me filled in on his orders given by Ace and Caz, not letting anyone know that is what he is to me.
A girl has to have her secrets for her own safety, always. Remember that.
“Tommy, drive Ace’s car home then, get the doctor and staff ready.” He nods. Tommy doesn’t talk much, more like at all. He absorbs the information and relays, that is it.
Then I look over to Caz. Narrowing my eyes. “I don’t know what you're up to, but I will figure it out.” Ace looks at me with a questioning brow and my hooded eyes look up, staring into his. I hold it. Hoping he gets what I’m putting off here; I don’t trust Caz. And he does. And so does Bear.
Bear reaches out and grabs Caz by the throat. Lifting him in the air in front of him. Ace holds his gun up. “Care to tell me what you’re up to, Caz?” Ace dangerously asks, his eyes turning crazed and that jaw ticks uncontrollably.
Caz holds his deadly gaze on me before his lip curls. “Your brother is coming to claim what is his.”