Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
A black SUV with tinted windows roared past, muzzle flashes illuminating the dark interior as the shooters unloaded in our direction. Venus hit the pavement and rolled, coming up on one knee with a pistol already drawn. She squeezed off three shots at the retreating vehicle.
“Fuck!” Chains bellowed, blood streaming from his upper arm as he ducked behind a concrete barrier. “Menendez cartel!”
The SUV screeched around the perimeter of the truck stop and came back for another pass. Oktober and Griffin were already moving, weapons drawn, taking positions behind parked semis.
“Stay down!” I pressed Tillie harder against the ground as another volley of bullets ricocheted off the metal fuel pump above us. Her body trembled beneath mine, but she remained silent, her arms going up to cover her head instinctively.
“Xavier,” Tillie whispered, her voice barely audible over the chaos. “What’s happening?”
“Not sure, honey.” I kept my body covering hers, my eyes scanning for an opportunity to move. The SUV was coming around for another pass. “When I say go, we’re making a run for Tiny’s truck. You stay low and do exactly what I say, understand?”
She nodded against my chest, and I could feel her heart hammering wildly. The rhythmic thud of boots on pavement told me our backup was repositioning.
“Piston! Left flank!” Venus’s voice rang out, clear and commanding despite the mayhem.
The SUV’s engine roared as it accelerated toward us again. I moved Tillie to the wall at the corner of the building and pinned her between the hard brick and my body, covering her as completely as I could.
Several gunshots rang out in the night as all around us, people screamed and ran for cover. Piston waited until the vehicle was clear of the pumps and any bystanders before he fired off a shot at the same time Venus did. Each of them got one back tire and the SUV skidded as it made the turn out of the parking lot and onto the interstate ramp.
“They won’t get far,” Piston growled as he holstered his weapon.
“Come on, Tillie.” I snagged her hand and tugged her along with me. I heard Tiny giving Knuckles the rundown on the phone as I lifted Tillie into the truck and followed her. “Are you hurt, honey?” I tried to keep my voice calm to reassure her. The woman was going to be scarred for life after this.
“No. I didn’t get hurt. I promise.” Her eyes were wide, but she didn’t seem like she was on the verge of panic. “I thought I heard someone yell during the… commotion.”
“I think Chains got hit, but it looked more like the bullet grazed his arm.” Tiny said as he ended his call. “All in all, we got out unscathed.”
“What about all these people?” Now Tillie looked concerned. “Won’t they tell the police?”
“Likely. But don’t worry. Knuckles will take care of everything.” I smiled down at her. “Buckle up. Tiny’s gonna speed things up just a hair. I don’t want to take any unnecessary chances. OK?” She nodded and did as I told her.
Once we were peeled out of the parking lot, we came across the same SUV on the side of the road. “Fuck,” Tiny swore softly. “Wanted to take the state road because it’s less likely to be watched, but I ain’t takin’ chances with these fuckers still out there.”
“At this point I think speed over stealth is the better option.”
“Yep,” Tiny agreed. “I think you’re right.”
Chapter Six
Tillie
I’d always heard it didn’t matter if you were speeding down the interstate, you could only go so fast. The likelihood of you making it to your destination more than a couple minutes faster than anticipated by speeding is slim to none. Math is involved, and I could never be bothered to work it out. It was obvious Tiny had never heard of this rule.
“Who’s he talking to?” I was afraid to speak too loudly. The last thing I wanted to do was break Tiny’s concentration. I sat in the seat behind Tiny while Xavier sat next to me. I gripped his hand.
“Likely Knight. Knight will have eyes on us and can keep the police away from us. Don’t ask me how, because I have no idea. But he’ll let Tiny know which way to go if he needs to take an alternate route.” Xavier squeezed my hand and met my gaze. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
I nodded and squeezed his hand back. I wasn’t sure I had the correct words to tell him what he meant to me and how grateful I was for his help and protection. “I owe you so much, Xave.”
“Not another word, Tillie.” There was fire in his eyes. “You owe me nothing.” I could tell he was serious, but I didn’t agree with him. There was nothing he could ever say to convince me our scales were even. Then he pulled my hand to him and kissed my fingers.