“Done.”
I looked ahead and saw the garbage truck we’dborrowed, slowing pulling out of the side road. Dom was driving it. If the Bimmer hit it, we’d be in deep shit.
They stopped hard, just as I imagined they would.
“Box them in!” I shouted as I got closer.
My buddy from the fire department appeared in his massive red engine, sirens blaring. He blocked Alek’s escape.
I swerved around the fire truck. Guns were going off in front of me. My crew against Alek and a masked man, who had a similar stature as Deputy Mitchell. They were on foot running into someone’s backyard.
“Don’t lose them!” I hollered into my microphone. “Anyone see Cass?”
I slowed my Harley, parked it and bolted toward the car where she could still be, but before I could reach it, the vehicle blew up.
I jumped, stumbling back from the inferno. “Cassandra!” I yelled, dodging debris falling from the sky. “God no! Cassandra!” I fell to my knees, bile racing to my throat as I watched the engulfed car with the love of my life trapped inside.
What would I tell her parents? Jesus, they couldn’t lose another child. And Steve? I didn’t think he could handle it either. I hardly could.
The heat from the fire didn’t even bother me. I’d rather burn in hell than be without Cass on earth.
“Corcoran has her.” Tequila’s shaking voice came through my earpiece.
I jumped to my feet and scanned the area. “Corcoran, where are you?”
It was hard to see through all the black smoke.
“He can’t hear you,” Tequila shouted, sounding out of breath. Yes! He was going after Alek and the masked man. “Lost Alek but got the other one in the back.”
“Where are they?”
“Who?”
“Never mind.” Movement on my left, an overgrown bush rustling drew my attention.
Corcoran appeared with Cass in his arms. She was limp and her eyes were closed.
“Is she breathing?” I ran toward them, pounding the pavement in time with my pounding heart. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hector running as well with his EMT bag in hand.
“Yes, but she’s unconscious,” Corcoran said. “Probably drugged.”
“Nothing else?” I did a quick once over, looking for blood, and didn’t find any.
“Let me check her out,” Hector said, directing Corcoran to lay her on the sidewalk.
A crowd of people were filing out of their homes but staying in their yards. Curious to see what all the commotion was about, of course. Most locals knew who the Kings of Anarchy MC were and didn’t dare to take their cell phones out to record what was happening. I appreciated them showing us respect.
I literally wanted to cry right now, after having the shit scared out of me. My limbs violently shook and my stomach felt like the organs inside were twisted into one big knot.
“I thought she was still in the car,” I said to no one specific, touching her head. “Thought she was dead.”
“Nah, they wouldn’t have taken her. She would’ve been dead weight for those guys to carry while running for it,” Corcoran said. “Tequila told me to check the car, so I did. Figured I’d take her out and hide in case one of them came back.”
“That was smart thinking.” I put my hand on his shoulder and gave it an affirming squeeze. “Thank you.”
The roar of motorcycles approaching gave me comfort. We were out in the open on the sidewalk. Vulnerable to anyone who might want to take us out. I had no clue how many people were working with Alek, so it was good to have back up.
“How is she?” Jefe asked and crouched beside me.
