Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Oni’s suggestion, by the way. He sends me a screenshot of the text she just sent to the dead asshole. This time, I can’t hold my laughter in.
Juliana: Why haven’t you answered my calls? This isn’t funny. What are these pictures? Where the fuck are you?
“You’re in a good mood this morning,” Pop says to me.
“Nothing to be in a bad mood about. Business is good, I’m engaged. I see my promotion coming any day now.
“Who knows, Uncle Emilio could be calling us in to discuss the wedding or the promotion.” I pause and rub my hands together. “This is all so exciting. Right, Juliana?”
“Uh, um. Yeah,” she says, still sounding distracted.
I cut my eyes to Mario in the driver’s seat. He’s giving me the same look. I give a slight nod, causing him to pull his phone. At the next stoplight, he begins to type feverishly.
I shoot a text to Ed and Al, so they’re on alert. We’re not that far from my uncle’s house now. However, I will feel better when we’re all there.
My next text is to my uncle. He should know what’s going on and what might be headed his way. However, before I can get the text off, a group text comes in from my pop. I stare down at my phone, wide-eyed.
Pop: Floor it, Mario. Rico, look alive. Emilio, we are coming in hot. Be ready.
I elbow Mario to get him to look at his phone. He looks down and then immediately steps on the gas.
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.