Jury’s hand came up with a beer, then a pistol. He grinned back at Cynic. “I always stash an extra, just in case.”
“In every fucking cage?” Scythe asked.
Jury just shrugged. “I like to be prepared.”
“Saw you all running out like the hounds of hell were chasing you. Figured we’d help out,” Torque’s reply was to me, but he snatched the pistol from Jury.
I stomped on the gas, racing out of our complex and onto the road while Scythe explained what we knew to him. I wasn’t hearing shit anymore. Barely saw what was happening. Tunnel vision had set in and all I could think about was getting to Rae. I wasn’t outrunning my headlights just yet because I was still trying to get out of town. But once I hit the highway I didn’t give a shit if I couldn’t see in the darkness, I wasn’t slowing down.
It was four against one. Every round in our pistols was going to be lethal to the fuckers going after my woman and our friend. Worst case? I’d beat them to death with my two bare hands if I had to.
“Can you try to get us there in one piece?” Jury asked, holding onto the ‘oh shit’ handle as I took a corner and two of the tires lifted slightly off the ground.
“I fucking plan to,” I growled.
“Maybe I should drive,” he said as I blew through a red light and we barely missed getting t-boned by a truck.
“Not stopping,” I muttered, hands gripping the wheel until my knuckles were white.
“Leave him the fuck alone,” Scythe said from the back. Then he answered his phone as it started ringing. “Yeah, Prez. We’re already on the way.” He craned his head. “About to hit the highway. You’re not far behind.”
The buzzing in my head was making it hard to focus on his side of the conversation, or on the cursing from Jury and Cynic as I swerved when a cow stepped into my headlights.
“Who the fuck’s cows are out?” Cynic barked.
Torque was sitting in the back seat, watching everything with a neutral expression. The kid was nearly always smiling. Not now. He had his game face on. I was glad to have each of my brothers in the car with me. It wasn’t like I couldn’t take on four assholes alone. But taking them on and ensuring neither Rae nor Owen were hurt in the process? That was a harder ask. I wouldn’t hesitate to throw myself into danger for anyone. But with them as collateral damage, potentially hostages? I had to think before acting.
I wasn’t worried about getting pulled over. An officer down call over the radio? Every cop in the vicinity was heading that way. Hell, you could go do burnouts in the station’s parking lot and the deputies would ignore you right now. I honestly didn’t even give a fuck if they got there first. As long as Rae and Owen got some damn back up.
“Don’t take that turn too-” Jury swallowed back the words as I turned onto Warren Road at nearly full speed and the backtires fish tailed. He fell silent after that, resigned to accept I’d get them there in one piece or today was the day he’d die.
“Up ahead.”
I reached my hand back and smacked Cynic in the forehead because he’d said that right in my ear as he leaned forward between the front seats to stare at the scene ahead. As if I hadn’t seen the fucking fire fight between the police vehicles and who we all suspected was the Iron Circle Crew. Who else would be in this area in force? There were vehicles strewn everywhere. There were way more than four men out here now.
The bitch of it was this wasn’t even where Rae and Owen were. The bridge was still at least six miles away. Which meant reinforcements had been called for the Iron Circle. I didn’t even want to think about what that meant for Rae. It was something I couldn’t think of or I’d lose my shit.
“Get ready,” I told the others before sliding the vehicle to a stop. The dust cloud I created wafted over the group exchanging rounds. Everyone had their headlights still on, providing the only light out here as they fought.
We were out of the cage in a hurry and I ended up behind a police cruiser near a younger deputy named Joel. Poking my head above the hood, I surveyed the area, then ducked back down. “Hell of a day for a gun fight.”
“It’s night,” he said, looking at me in bewilderment. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Going to get my old lady… and Owen.”
“How’d you even… Wait, Rae is your old lady?” A grin formed on his face even though we didn’t have time for this conversation.
“Who’s in charge out here?” I asked, ignoring his question.
“Shane. He’s over by the furthest left squad-”
I didn’t let him finish. Dashing from car to car, I made my way over until I saw Shane. I ducked down behind his car. “How many?”
“You can’t be out here,” he barked, glaring at me.
“You seriously are turning down help when you’re outnumbered three to one?”
He considered that. “Damn it.”
