“Because my wife is Bratva,” he bites back, eyes scanning the dark ribbon of highway asphalt bordered by dirty snow. “And I’m tight with the Koslov Enforcer. Been on rides like these, moving cargo.”
“My girlfriend isn’t cargo,” I bark, then raise the intercom to my mouth to updatemy brother. “Trace, we don’t have a visual on Fallon. Lachlan thinks she’s in the last car.”
Below us, driving an armored SUV packed with explosives racing north to catch up with Black’s line of cars, Trace responds through the radio, “The O’Rourkes fought against the Bratva, we haven’t. I would trust Lachlan, but it’s your call, Rhys.”
My stomach knots so hard I nearly double over. I can’t pick wrong. If I do, Fallon dies.
All I have is Lachlan’s intuition. The man has so many scars and should have died several times, according to Griffin, who used to be his second-in-command. I have to trust his instincts.
I swing toward him. “You’re sure, Lachlan? Car three?”
“It’s the call I’d make.” Lachlan meets my eyes. “If it were my wife down there.”
There’s no doubt, no hesitation.
“Then that’s enough for me.” I press the comm button hard. “Trace. Blow the first two cars, we’ll drive the last car off the road. Move now.”
“Aye,” Trace says, and the line goes silent.
It’s an excruciating ten minutes wondering if I made the right call, but then the road below erupts.
Chapter 53
Fallon
There’s a crash.
Then another.
Followed by noises that I cannot decipher.
Then a blaze of fire.
And lots of smoke.
Then, the squeal of metal twisting.
I cover my ears. It’s loud, and my sensory triggers go haywire. I can’t breathe. My brain goes offline with overstimulation, and nothing feels like it’s really happening. It’s all suspended.
Kosta is yelling at the driver, saying my father’s name, but I’m not sure why. I can’t process what I’m seeing. I blink the tears from my eyes, and the breath is stolen from my lungs, watching gray metal blades from a giant metal helicopter descend from the clouds and zoom toward us.
“What the fuck is that helicopter doing?” Kosta shrieks, gripping the headrest.
“It’s coming right at us, boss,” the driver’s voice cracks, slamming on the brakes.
“That’s…” Kosta gasps. “I know that bird. Oh Christ, that’s the psycho from Astoria, Lachlan O’Rourke!”
O’Rourke…
Dr. O’Rourke is my brother-in-law…
Trace mentioned the family connection the night Rhys got hurt. Family. They’re coming for me.
I look out the windshield, and the helicopter’s shadow blankets the sky.
Chapter 54
Rhys
