“I don’t trust him, Xav.” She takes another sip. “He’s up to something.”
“He’s always up to something, Vic.”
“I know, but I’m… worried.”
“Me too. But we also need to play along, so I’ll go to the meeting. Any trouble, you know what to do. We’ve got this, okay?”
She nods, takes another drink from her coffee, and sighs.
I pull onto the base and head towards Father’s office. His assistant intercepts me in the hall.
“Morning, Six. Father has a last-minute meeting. He’s asked if you’ll wait in his office for him. He’s in the conference room and will be with you shortly.”
“Thank you, Miriam.”
I smile and head into the office. I sit for a while. I pull out my phone and check through the new conversation thread, and something doesn’t feel right. There’s nothing new, and I shake my head at myself. I need to calm down. A few minutes later, I get an alert. Shit. I text Vic immediately.
“Six.” Father enters the room, and I try to stifle the feeling that crawls up my neck. My hairs stand on end, my skin tingles and I get an eerie feeling when I greet Father. He smiles, but it’s a vicious smile. I just hope she gets the text in time.
Vic
Chapter XXV
I’m on the laptop researching my next job when my phone blings. Flipping it over, I see a message from Xav.
Xav: Coffee machine’s broken.
I don’t reply. Fuck, fuck. I thought we had more time. I snatch up the laptop and run into the bedroom, grabbing the go bag from the wardrobe. I snatch my guns and check them by slipping my holster under my jacket. I’m wearing leggings, so I slide my knife holsters over them, attach my knives, and slip over a short, flowing skirt. I ain’t gonna win any fashion awards, but it’s the best I got. I run out of the door and head to Jacob’s. They’re coming for us. I have no choice but to explain everything and try and get him to leave with me.I screech the car to a halt as I dive out in front of his house. I pull out my guns and burst through the front door.
In a split second, I take in the three guys surrounding Jacob, who’s tied blindfolded to a chair in the middle of his living room, as they turn towards me to draw their guns. I start shooting, hitting the first one in the shoulder, spinning him around to face me while I shoot the second one between the eyes. I fire on the third one, whose eyes have flicked to the one I’ve just shot, and I shoot him through his temple while shooting the first one in the forehead. There are screams, three thuds, then silence.
Jacob is rigid, his breathing heavy, his shirt is torn, and there are slight flecks of blood on it, but that could be from the twats I’ve just shot, and there’s a small trickle down his face from the corner of his mouth. I untie his feet but leave his hands bound behind his back. I grab him up from the chair. “You need to come with me if you want to live.” I yank him along behind me. As he stumbles after me.
“Please don’t hurt me, please, I can’t see. Take off the blindfold.”
I ignore his pleas as I step out of the front door only to be shot at, I shove Jacob back, and he crashes to the floor. Fuck, it's broad daylight. What are they thinking? Surely this can’t be sanctioned by The Collective? We’re more put together than this unless they’ve called open season, which sends the hit to everyone, and all bets are off. First one to call it in with proof gets the cash.
“Fucking wankers.” I spit.
Shit. I peer out, only to get shot at again. One shooter. I close my eyes and breathe for a second. “Jacob, stay fucking down.”
I dart out of the front door, keeping low as I fire at the goon. If he were in my league, he would have shot me the second I stepped out and not kept missing, so I take my chances. I fire off three rounds before there’s a groan followed by a thud. I spin on my heel and push back into the house. I grab Jacob from the floor and tug him up with his arm, yanking him towards the car.
“Please, just leave me here. I won’t say anything. I don’t know anything.”
I slap him across the face as I push him into the back seat. “They’re here to fucking kill you, Jacob. Now shut the fuck up and stop whining.”
I slam the door, angry at myself for the panic that’s shooting through me. I can’t lose him. I dive in the driver’s seat and wheel spin out of there before the police show up. A fucking shootout in a suburban neighbourhood, in broad daylight, with fucking witnesses everywhere. I’m gonna have to think fast.
“Jacob, are you hurt?”
“No, who are you? Where are you taking me?”
“Not important right now, and somewhere safe. I need you to stay laid down, keep your head down, and everything will be okay.”
His breathing is erratic, but in reality, he’s taking it like a champ, so at least there’s hope. This isn’t how I wanted to introduce myself, so I keep quiet and drive. I keep checking for people following us, and I seem to be clear. I need to ditch this car soon, so I can’t be tailed. I’m on my own now. I can’t reach out to Xav. I know theyhave us tapped. That’s why he sent me the ‘coffee machine’ text. It’s our code for shit’s gone sideways, get the fuck out.
There’s only one place I can go. It’s our safe house. No one knows about it. It’s a fortress and right under Father’s nose. I can’t go straight there either, or they will find it.
