Chapter 6 #2
An ugly memory shoved into the forefront of my mind. The vision was so clear and vibrant that I felt claws clamping around my throat. Fuck. The last thing I needed was a reminder of the past.
“We can do this,” Alexander insisted. I noticed his gaze in the rearview mirror, his eyes piercing into mine.
He knew I was the wild card at this point, growing weary of his bullshit, the games no longer entertaining.
What he was attempting today was out of our league, but exactly what his father wanted him to do in order to prove his manhood.
We were Alexander’s soldiers, supplying the brawn as he inflicted pain on an asshole who’d dared betray the Durante family. This was nothing more than a test.
We’d all been promised jobs within the Durante organization upon successful completion, but the thought held no interest any longer.
Besides, the longevity for any of us was a fleeting dream, violence within the organization cutting lives short.
I doubted I’d make it to thirty and I had a full life planned in my mind.
“You’re insane, Alex. This is crazy,” I hissed through clenched teeth.
He lifted his weapon for my viewing purpose alone. “What do the rest of you think?” he asked with a singsong tone.
Garrison answered first, his eagerness no longer surprising. The sweet, bumbling kid had transformed into a trained killer.
“We will do this. Period.” Garrison twisted his neck, glaring at me. “Because that’s what we agreed to, all four of us.”
“The Wild Boys,” Brogan snarled, pulling his Glock into his hand.
“Then let’s roll.” Alexander laughed as he cut the engine.
I could still hear that laugh in my mind, but it had been quickly drowned out by the barrage of gunfire, the stench of blood filling the air.
Then there’d been silence so deafening all I’d been able to hear was the pounding of my heart only seconds before we all heard sirens.
My heart racing, I took a deep whiff, shoving the memory aside.
Dahlia’s perfume immediately assaulted my senses, the combination of exotic spices and hints of jasmine and vanilla enticing the man I’d once become.
He’d just broken free of his chains, crashing through the surface of all rationality.
I pulled her against me, exhaling as she involuntarily moaned.
Then I shoved the chloroform-covered cloth into my jacket pocket before sliding my arm under her legs.
Her eyes opened, the streetlight allowing me to see the shimmer sparkling from her unfocused irises.
As I carried her to my car, I had a strange sense of foreboding that had nothing to do with my actions of kidnapping a woman in a prominent neighborhood.
My sixth sense had never steered me wrong. The scenario felt plastic, caustic.
I struggled to open the passenger door, gingerly placing her inside, fighting with the seatbelt until I was able to strap her in.
The dome light was able to provide me a better look at her angelic face.
She was young, maybe twenty-three. The gorgeous woman had a beautiful complexion, her long dark lashes framing high cheekbones.
I shifted my gaze toward her lips, my cock twitching.
No wonder the other two had found her irresistible.
While it was obvious that she was wearing a wig, that didn’t deter from her incredible beauty.
I’d never been mesmerized by a woman before, at least not to this degree. I found myself sliding her hair from her eyes then brushing the tips of my fingers down her cheek. She stirred, but only slightly, murmuring something I couldn’t understand.
“Just rest, our mysterious girl.”
I chuckled then proceeded to check her for any identification. As expected, she had nothing on her. There wasn’t a ring or a necklace of any kind either. Yes, she’d been very careful.
Easing out of the car, I closed the door.
Then I reached for my Sig, removing the safety and scanning the perimeter.
The sound of traffic in the distance was from travelers on the main road and nothing closer.
However, my gut told me I wasn’t alone. After a few seconds of nothing, I headed toward the car she’d used, tugging the small flashlight from my pocket and shining it on her license plate.
While rental cars were no longer easy to spot, the single small sticker the rental company thought wouldn’t be easily detectable provided a glaring answer.
Either she wasn’t from the area or had been smart enough not to use her own vehicle.
Given the fact she’d traveled before, I would guess the former.
After opening the driver’s door and flashing the light, I marveled at what she didn’t have with her.
No purse. No obvious signs of identification.
No bag of any kind. Only a water bottle, the key still in the ignition.
The girl was clever, careful enough she could pass for a pro.
Except for her failures. No assassin failed not once but twice in their endeavors.
They always had a backup plan let alone specked out their marks thoroughly.
Alexander’s severe allergies couldn’t have been difficult to find.
I pressed the button to release the trunk.
Then the hair stood up on the back of my neck.
I snapped my head to the right, glaring down the darkened street.
Within seconds, headlights appeared from two hundred yards away.
While it could mean nothing, I closed the car door and eased my other hand around my weapon.
As the vehicle started to move closer, I remained where I was, every muscle tense.
I’d been in far too many situations where the only thing that had kept me alive was my instinct.
I’d never been wrong.
The approaching vehicle picked up speed on a twenty-five mile per hour residential road.
Soon, I could hear the engine. As the car roared closer, I raised my weapon by a few inches.
The driver was headed in this direction, missing a turn for the last side street.
What I couldn’t afford to do was to make a mistake.
If I did, it would be my last. There’d be no way to explain why an unconscious woman resided on my passenger seat.
I heard the gunning of the engine as the driver floored the pedal.
Then I raised my gun, prepared to shoot.
As with every situation of this nature, it all happened quickly, the streetlight capturing almost everything except the detail of the single person inside as he or she headed straight for me.
The shot should be clean, but I second guessed my decision too little, too late.
Just before impact, I jumped backward, rolling over the hood of the rental car, tumbling over the other side. Jarred, I scrambled to get to my feet, racing into the middle of the street just as I heard the screech of tires, the fucker careening around the corner. I jogged a few steps then hissed.
Another threat, only this one was far too personal.
I looked from one side of the street to the other, my thoughts drifting back to the mysterious woman.
It was obvious she was working with someone else, her backup plan almost infallible.
Yet something remained stuck in the back of my mind.
Things weren’t adding up. Maybe her failures had been discovered.
If that was the case, Alexander had a mole inside his organization.
That I doubted.
I knew my mafia friend. He ruled with an iron fist. It would take a man with balls the size of watermelons to betray someone like Alexander.
Unless they’d been offered enough money to disappear permanently.
No, I didn’t like this at all.
I moved quickly toward my car, settling into the driver’s seat.
Dahlia’s head was slumped over, her breathing easy.
As I started the engine, I placed my weapon on the dashboard.
Somehow, I doubted this was over. When she murmured, I knew I’d need to give her the sedative I’d brought with me.
But that would come later. At this point, getting the hell out of here was imperative.
As I rolled onto the street, checking the rearview mirror, I debated the road I’d take heading to Dulles. Alexander’s jet was in standby mode, Brogan and Alexander likely already waiting at the private location that had been predesignated
I was almost out of the residential neighborhood when I noticed headlights in the distance.
I slowed, hissing as I realized I’d been boxed in.
While I couldn’t jump to conclusions, the same sixth sense remained.
I rolled forward at barely five miles per hour.
Then the approaching vehicle sped up. Goddamn it.
The fucker was determined to take me out.
That wasn’t going to happen. I certainly wasn’t going to die because of some game Dahlia was playing.
With both hands on the wheel, I pressed down on the accelerator.
The fucker was heading right for me. Fuck.
The game of chicken never ended well; however, I refused to back down, speeding up as I scanned from one side of the road to the other.
There were far too many cars parked on the street.
That would make whatever maneuvers I used dicey.
The opposing vehicle shifted, now only a few car lengths ahead.
My brain went into CIA mode, all the training I’d received on defensive driving kicking in.
I grabbed my weapon, prepared to fire when I noticed a flash coming from the other vehicle.
The asshole was firing his weapon. The cracking sound as a single bullet crashed through my windshield was exaggerated, the shot barely missing.
I careened to the right, fighting the inertia of the engine as I slammed on the brakes, stopping only millimeters away from a massive tree.
As the front right wheel dumped into a ditch, I threw my arm across the passenger seat, able to keep Dahlia secure. Just as soon as the car screeched to a halt, I threw open the door, jumping out and racing after the opposing vehicle. Aiming, I took a deep breath, holding it.
Then I fired a single bullet.
When the car swerved, I knew I’d hit my mark, but I watched as the driver continued going.
I remained where I was until the taillights faded into the distance.
Then I cursed under my breath. This was the worst possible location for this to happen, every house on the block close enough to the street that the shots had to have been heard.
I jerked out my phone as I headed toward my car, dialing Alexander. The other person involved, if Dahlia was working with someone, had to be flushed out. The only way for that to happen was to allow the fucker to think Alexander and Brogan were dead.
I’d caught a single glimpse of the man’s face. While he wasn’t anyone I recognized, that meant nothing.
I raced to the passenger side, checking for any damage. Thank God the vehicle appeared operational. “Alexander,” I barked as soon as he answered.
“Did she take the bait?” he asked, already chuckling.
“Yeah, but we have bigger problems. Whoever sent the texted threats is very interested in finishing the job. I was ambushed on the street, shots fired.”
“You still think this is personal?” he growled.
“It doesn’t matter what I think at this point.
The facts are clear. Dahlia isn’t the only threat we’re facing.
I need those goons of yours on Waldrop Street to grab her rental car now.
The key is in the ignition. I also need you to put out something that you are very dead.
Made certain it goes to every media organization. ”
“You still think this girl is innocent?”
“Just do what the fuck I said. I don’t have time to argue.” I jumped into the driver’s seat, shaking my head. At least she’d slept through the attack.
“Fine. Get to the airport. We’re almost there.”
“Yeah, I’ll do that.” As soon as I tried to reverse in order to get out of the ditch, the car bucked.
Damn it. This couldn’t be happening. I slammed my hand on the steering wheel before trying again, breathing a small sigh of relief as the tire jerked away from the dirt.
“Who in your organization knew about this little mission?”
“What the hell are you insinuating, my friend?” Alexander barked.
“I’m telling you that someone else has been paying close attention to the possibility of our demise, ready to finish the job Dahlia started.
We can’t place all our eggs in one basket.
Now, can we? We have far too many enemies who’d enjoy serving up retaliation in response to the vicious actions we performed all those years ago.
” I sped down the street, constantly looking in the rearview mirror.
“I don’t fucking like what you’re trying to say, but I’ll make certain my men had nothing to do with it. Just get your ass here. We are following through with our plan.”
Goddamn it, I hated the man.
I ended the call, trying to keep my anger in check.
When she groaned, shifting in her seat, I threw her a quick glance as several streetlights flashed in through the windows.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, her skin unblemished and her lips rosy and full.
I smashed my hand on the steering wheel again.
This shit wasn’t going to end well. That much I knew.
And all I could think about was the one man who’d died believing in a pact I’d lost faith in years before.
I made a promise to myself, the very one I’d thought I’d done all those years ago.
The Wild Boys were done, dead to me, and it didn’t matter about the pact we’d made in solidarity or the pledge we’d forged in blood, I was finished.
If I had to take Alexander down in the process, that’s what I’d do.
Even if it damned me to hell.