Burke
"Anna wants to have everyone over for dinner on Sunday," Logan said as he and I walked out of the bar. "Since your parents will be in town."
"Fine."
"Have you heard—" He cut off as we caught movement from the corner of the block. "Down!"
At the shouted command, I dropped into a crouch without question; I trusted Logan's intuition implicitly. The two of us moved behind our car parked on the street, and I looked around us as Logan and I pulled our weapons from our sides.
"What is it?"
"Peralta soldiers lurking next to the building." He glanced around the fender and then sat back on his haunches. "Two thugs. Big guns. Get in the car."
Before I could reach up to pull on the door handle, shots rang out. It was the rapid fire sound of a high-capacity weapon, giving me the brief worry of bystanders caught in the crossfire. I felt something hit me, but it lacked the following sting of pain.
"Shit!" I managed to climb in the back seat and keep low until I heard Logan close the front passenger door.
Logan hit the locks, scooted over to the driver's seat, and reached for his phone. He dialed as he started the car, barking into the receiver and putting the car in gear. As he accelerated, the tires squealed as we careened around a corner. I had to brace myself against the back seat as another round of bullets pinged off the rear fender. Logan checked the mirror and announced several cars were following us.
"Looks like they had backup."
"Of course they did," I responded. "Clearly, they planned this."
Logan punched it and went through a red light, ignoring the angry blast of horns. Then he glanced in the rearview mirror and swore.
"We're not losing them," I said calmly, straightening my tie and sitting upright.
"No shit. Who knew they'd be so sensitive about a low-level spy?" Logan grumbled.
"Word is he wasn't just a low-level spy."
"Yeah, I heard the same. Thought it was bullshit chatter."
As we rounded another corner on what felt like two wheels, I replied, "Obviously not."
The Peralta Family had not taken the delivery of Marcus in the oil drum with grace and chagrin at getting caught. In fact, they'd issued several threats aimed at the Gallagher Family. I hadn't taken them lightly, but also hadn't worried overmuch about what I considered idle threats.
Apparently, Marcus was someone's cousin. That someone took out a hit on none other than me, Burke Gallagher. Clearly, I should have taken those rumors more seriously, too.
"Where is our backup?" I asked through gritted teeth.
"They better be here soon or I'll personally cut off their balls."
Two burly SUVs came at the sedan head on, but Logan would understand who they were and not react. He continued straight down the road, allowing the other two vehicles to separate and go around us. Another hail of gunfire sounded muffled through the interior of our car.
"The cavalry," I said dryly.
Since the crisis had been averted, I checked myself for bullet holes. There was no blood, no pain, but I knew I'd caught something in the side. I searched my pockets and pulled my blown-out phone from one of them. There was a hole in my coat pocket big enough to put my hand through.
"I must have caught ricochet or some shit. Phone's busted."
"You're breathing, aren't you?"
"Shut up, prick."
I considered it a close call, one that should never have happened. I would need to beef up my security; it didn't seem Logan and I could go out for a drink together without becoming targets.
"Is Caden at the house?"
