“Hold the fuck on. Let’s talk this shit out. I think I’ve got it figured out.” I order. All eyes swing in my direction, except Natalia’s. She’s crying now, but I don’t feel bad for her. She left out a big piece of information.
“Shaun is Rush’s half-brother, that’s why he’s been after Ashley. He wants revenge on Rush getting the attention from their father. He blames Rush for Ashley breaking up with him.” I start pacing back and forth as I proceed. “He kidnaps Ashley, trying to draw Rush out. We’ve been thinking wrong this whole time. We’ve believed it was the other bosses or Marcus that wanted Ashley out, but it’s been Rush’s father the whole time pulling the strings. He's responsible for her parent's death and now he’s behind her disappearing this time. Ramirez, see if you can locate Rush’s father. Last name Fleming. Start in L.A. then expand to San Diego, where Rush lives. We need to figure out why he’s doing this.”
Ramirez starts typing on the laptop, searching for Rush’s father. His fingers are flying over the keys.
“Hey, we have a hit on Rush’s phone,” Ramirez says. “There’s a text that came through a few days ago from his father, asking Rush to bring Ashley to him at some cabin in the woods. Rush told him to fuck off. That’s it. He blocked his father’s number from his phone.”
“Fuck," I yell into the air. “Come on, I know where they are. Strap up, locked and loaded.” I’m furious now.
“Where are they?” Ashton asks.
“The place they took Ash and me last night. The hunting cabin in the woods. Shit. I don’t know how we got there, I was drugged. Ramirez, search for hunting cabins or wooded property in the names of Shaun Reiser, Jonathan Force or Justin Fleming.”
“On it boss,” Ramirez responds.
“Ok when we find the location, there’s a single dirt road that leads in and out, I remember that much. So, the road isn’t an option, they’ll see us coming. We have to wait for night fall and go in hard and hot. We'll come in from the woods, which if I remember correctly, was about a hundred yards from the cabin in an open field. That means, low and fast.”
“Got it," Ramirez yells.
“What about me and Hotflash?” Noah asks.
“Good question. You guys can come with us while we hide out in the woods, but you have to stay behind and let us do our jobs. We have done this plenty of times.” I answer walking to Natalia’s car.
I’m still pissed about her withholding the information and I’ll be damned if I let her drive. I hold my hand out for her keys and she hesitates to give them to me.
“We don’t have time for this bullshit, Natalia. You’ve withheld vital information from us. Now Ashley and Rush are in trouble if they’re not dead already, and you want to act like a little child. Grow up and do the right thing."
Natalia glares at me but tosses me her keys with a huff. She climbs into the back seat with Noah and Ashton gets in the passenger seat.
“We need to make a stop at Ashley’s house and pick up the rest of our gear,” Ashton says.
“There’s no time.” I argue.
“Nolan, come on we can’t go in half-cocked we have to get the rest of our gear.” Ashton replies calmly.
Fuck, he’s right. I drop the gear from reverse to drive and head off to Ashley’s house, Ramirez is right on my ass as we fly down the freeway.
We reach Ashley’s house about twenty minutes later and I turn the car off. We all climb out and head inside through the back door. I’m the first one to open her door and am greeted with a hissing noise coming from the kitchen and the house smelling of gas. I put my hand up signaling everyone to stop moving.
“Get out. It’s going to blow." I shout.
We all run away from the house near the beach. Noah is the first one over the railing, landing on his knees in the sand. Natalia is right behind him, followed by Ramirez, Harris, Marks, Ashton, then myself. We race down the beach as far away from the house as possible. A deafening explosion rocks the ground, sucking the air out of my lungs as Ashley’s house bursts into a massive fireball. I’m thrown forward from the blast, face first into the sand. My ears are ringing as I roll over onto my back, trying to get my bearings.
“Everyone OK?” I ask, sitting up. I search around and see Noah struggling to get up.
“Yeah, I’m good,” Ashton says.
“Good here,” Ramirez says.
“Same,” Harris and Marks respond.
“Natalia, you ok?” Ashton asks her, helping her up. His body took the brunt of the blast, protecting her.
“Dios Mio. My God, I’m good. Thank you, Ashton.” Natalia whispers.
Noah still hasn’t spoken. I stand up carefully checking my body for injuries. Nothing appears to be broken or injured except for my ankle as I limp my way over to Noah. He’s still sitting in the sand, staring off into the distance.
“Noah, you good?” I ask him. His shoulders stiffen as I approach.
“No, but I will be. That explosion was meant to kill us, why would they do this?” Noah asks, hugging his knees.
“Sometimes we can’t predict what other’s will do, Noah. We can’t sit here and blame ourselves for their actions. We have to pick ourselves up, dust off the bad shit and get revenge.” I tell him, resting my hand on his shoulder.
“I don’t know if I can do this. I’m scared and worried about Ash. What if she isn’t alive?” Noah whispers, voicing the fear I’ve done my best to ignore.
“You can do this Noah, I believe in you. Ashley and Rush, they believe in you and they’re counting on you. Come on, let’s catch these fuckers.” I hold out my hand to help him up. He accepts it and pulls himself to a standing position.
“What are we going to do about cars?” Marks asks. He has a strip of blood dripping down the side of his face.
“We’re in L.A.” Noah answers. Everyone gives him a questioning look, and he rolls his eyes. “Hasn’t Ashley taught you anything?” Noah challenges me.
“I have no fucking idea what you’re talking about,” I respond.
“Dude, we’re in the City of Angels. Fast cars and hot women on every street. I’ve got the cars covered. How many do we need?” Noah pulls out his phone and dials a number, his confidence is back.
“At least three,” I answer. Noah nods his head and walks down the beach away from us. I can’t hear who he’s talking to, but I’m not too concerned about it.
“What about the rest of our gear?” Marks asks.
“I’ve got that covered,” Ashton reveals. “We need to make a stop on the way there.”
Noah comes back, slipping his phone in his pocket. A spark is in his eyes as he approaches us. “All set. The advantage of being the front man of every race, is having connections so deep, no one ever tells me no. We have to walk, but our cars will be waiting for us at the end of the street in fifteen minutes.”
I hear sirens in the distance, growing closer and nod my head at Noah in approval. He’s officially off my shit list at the moment. We walk down the beach and away from what used to be Ashley’s house. Sadness for her rests heavy in my heart. She loved that home and these mother fuckers took it away from her. They tried to take us too, but fuck that, we won’t go down without a fucking fight. They need to try harder than that to get rid of me. I’ve been through so much more pain and torture in my life, a little explosion is fucking cake.
We reach the end of the street and sure enough, three fast cars are sitting in the parking lot by the pier. Appreciation for the beautiful pieces of machinery, glistening in the sun, fills my eyes. Noah got us a red Dodge Charger, blue Ford Mustang, and a black Chevy Camaro.
“Nice work kid.” I appraise Noah, slapping him on the back.
“Thanks. Pop the hoods.” He orders. I hit the latch of the Ford. Marks and Harris do the same with the other two. “I’m searching for tracking devices. Nolan, look underneath each car and see if you can find a red blinking light. If there is, we need to remove it.”
After a few minutes checking to find any, we discover one
on each car. Noah removes them carefully and tosses each device into the ocean. We all load up, Ashton and Noah ride with me in the Mustang. Natalia rides with Harris in the Dodge, which Ashton isn’t thrilled about. Marks and Ramirez bring up the tail in the Camaro. After a quick pit stop for our new gear, we’re on our way to the cabin.
We park our cars in a turn around off a dirt road, away from wandering eyes. I strap my new semi-automatic 9 mill Luger’s to my thighs and tuck a knife in my boot. I put in my ear piece and strap two tactical, semi-automatic, .45 Mill’s on each side of my waist. I tuck another one in my back, the cold, heavy steel bringing me peace.
“Noah, Natalia, you two need to remain here and watch the cars.” I order them.
“But, I want to join you.” Noah retorts.
“I need you both to stay here and observe anyone coming in or out. Radio back to me if you catch anyone. Your responsibility is to protect our cars and watch our six. When we come out, it’ll be fast, so we need you to have our escape route ready.” Noah tries to protest further, but I lay a revolver and an ear piece in his hand. “This isn’t up for debate. Let us do our jobs and you do yours. The ear piece will allow you to communicate with us and the gun is for protection. I need you to protect our backs. I’m trusting you, Noah. Please, do this for Ashley.”
That’s all the convincing he needs, Noah takes the ear piece and inserts it in his ear, then he cocks the gun and gives me a nod.
“For Ashley and Rush.” Noah determined face makes me proud of how far he’s come from being the shy kid on the side to a man wanting in on the action.
I jog off towards my men standing by the edge of the woods. We’re all bad ass mother fuckers, locked and loaded, each of us ready to unleash fucking hell on anyone who stands in our path. We’re dressed in black jeans, black t-shirts, boots and black baseball hats. We each have on dark war paint to blend into the night. Ashton gives me a nod and we make our way quietly into the woods. No one making a noise as we approach the cabin.
Day is turning to dusk as we wait and watch from the edge of the woods. Sweat is beading on my forehead, rolling down into my eyes, but I don’t wipe it away. None of us can afford to move a muscle, so we don’t give into temptation and give away our location. Ramirez and Harris are to the right of me, on the opposite side of the cabin. Marks is in the middle scanning the side, and Ashton is next to me watching the only door leading in and out.
“A white van just passed. Shit, there’s a black car following it.” Noah says in my ear.
“Copy that.” Harris responds.
“Nolan?” Noah says into the ear piece.
“Yeah, kid. I’m here.” I respond.
“Please, be careful.” I hear the vulnerability in his voice.
“I will kid. Once we’re out of this and I take care of my own business, I’m gonna take you and Ash on a vacation. How does that sound?”
“Sound’s great to me. Nolan?” Noah says. I pick up the hesitation in his voice and wait for him to finish. “Thanks for being here for her.”
“Anytime, kid.” I respond.
I focus back on the cabin and locate the white van barreling down the road, kicking dust up behind it. The black car is close behind as they come to a screeching halt in front of the cabin. Shaun gets out of the passenger side of the van, heavily armed, and slams the door. My blood pumps through my veins at the sight of the little fucker. He strolls to the car without a care in the world and an older man gets out. Their voices drift our way.
“Reiser, I take it everything is in order?” The man says.
“Yes. I took care of the fuckers she was with. No one survived.” Shaun says with a smug expression on his face. He’s talking about Ashley’s house. I can’t wait to punch the look right off him. He’ll pay the worst. My fingers tighten on the .45 mill in my grip. Ashton, squeezes my shoulder, calming me down, keeping the demon at bay.
“Very good son. Now, let’s go have a chat with Ashley, shall we?” the man says.
“Right this way, father.” Shaun responds, gesturing with his hands towards the cabin.
So that is Rush’s father, Justin Fleming. He’s wearing black dress pants, a light blue button-down shirt with a black blazer over it. His black hair ruffles in the breeze and he has dark skin like Rush. He is trying to express power, but I will take him down like the cock sucker he is. His eyes scan the woods in our direction and gives the men standing next to him a brief nod. They walk towards the cabin and my blood turns hot. If those mother fuckers lay a hand on her, I will make each and every one of them pay. Shaun opens the door and allows Justin to enter first. Then Shaun goes in and the two guards stand outside the door, watching and waiting. Smart man, but not smart enough.
“Two guards posted outside the door.” I say quietly into my ear piece.
“Copy that.” Marks responds.
The sun has set, and the moon is shining brightly on the cabin, there’s not a cloud in sight. They’ve been in the cabin for a while, but I have heard no commotion coming from inside, yet.
“Someone just turned on a small light and a shadow moved across the window.” Ramirez says in my ear.
I’m sick of waiting and my body trembles with the agitation I’m feeling. Ashton gives me a nod, signaling he thinks it’s time to move.
“Harris and Ramirez, move up the side of the cabin and take those two fuckers out. Iverson and I can’t move until they’re neutralized.”
“Got it, boss.” Ramirez’s tone is deadly.
I catch a glimpse of Harris and Ramirez moving quickly from the opposite side of the cabin and catch the two men off guard. They quietly neutralize the threat and drag the bodies out of sight.
“All clear.” Harris says into the ear piece.
Ashton and I move at a rapid pace through the open field, keeping as low as possible and out of sight. Marks follows us from his spot. We approach the cabin and I press my back against the wood. Once we have the cabin surrounded, I give the signal to go in hard and fast.
My blood is pounding in my ears and adrenaline is pouring through my veins. Something feels off, this is too easy to breach. I hold up my hand, signaling to wait a moment. I sneak over to the window and peer inside, see what we’re walking into.
My blood turns cold when I see Shaun, bending over Ashley in the dim light. She’s out cold as he runs his fingers down the side of her face. There’s a figure I didn’t expect standing just inside the door, fury burning in a familiar set of brown eyes at Shaun as he steps out of the shadows.
“Don’t fucking touch her.” The man growls at Shaun. Shaun turns around and withdraws a pistol from his side holster and points it at the guy's head.
“You got a fucking problem now?” Shaun seethes.
“Yeah, I fucking do. Don’t. Fucking. Touch. My. Sister.” His voice low and deadly, his massive arms cross over his chest.
My heart skips a beat as I radio into my mic quietly, “Fuck, Austin is in there, Ashley’s dead brother. Watch his back, this is going to turn ugly really quick.”
I peer back into the low lighted room. Shaun stands toe to toe with Austin. Both are breathing hard and Shaun gives him a smirk.
“In case you forgot, Austin, she left you behind. She left you to be with the devil himself, what makes you think she won’t do it again? Now get back in your place and do what the fuck I say.” Shaun growls.
Shaun turns back around and walks towards Ashley. I spot Justin off to the right next to the door, sitting in a chair. He’s watching the two of them with amusement. Twisted mother fucker. Rush is laying on the floor next to Ashley, not moving. I return to the door, not waiting anymore. I hold up a hand, five fingers out to wait. I bring one finger down, then another.
The countdown begins.
I close my eyes and center my mind to focus on the two threats inside. Once I reach one finger left held up, I close my fist and nod my head. Ashton kicks the door in hard, splintering it off the wood. I open my eyes and duck low. A shot rings out and a bu
llet just barely grazes my head. Ashton breaches the room first and goes right for Justin. He grabs him by the throat, against the wall. Justin’s face is turning red from the hold Ashton has on him.
I focus on Shaun, but he’s quicker than I gave him credit for. He has a limp Ashley up in front of him, using her as a shield. He has her hair in his fists, yanking it back, to keep her head up. Her eyes are closed but I watch her fingers twitch.
“Put her down Reiser,” I growl.
“Not a fucking chance. I’m going to use her to get the fuck out of here.” His eyes dart around the small space taking in the four of us, guns pointed at his head.
“No, you’re fucking not. Put her down and get your hands on your head before I shoot you.” I demand.
“You won’t shoot me.” Shaun snorts. He moves his lips to Ashley’s ear and licks the side of her face. “Mmm, she still tastes good.” He smirks.
My vision turns red. I’m going to kill the mother fucker after I torture him for a long time. The demon is breaking free inside of me, begging me to release it and unleash holy hell, and once I let it out, there’s no turning back. Everyone’s voices fade away as I charge Shaun holding Ashley. I tackle them both, his gun flying from his hands, his eyes widen in surprise. I rip Ashley out of his grip and Ramirez takes her quickly.
Now it’s just the two of us. “Time to play mother fucker,” I sneer.
My hand rears back, making a fist and I strike him in the face. The sickening, sweet crunch of bone giving away as I make contact, is music to my fucked up ears. I keep hitting him over and over, in the face, the stomach, the ribs. This mother fucker will be eating out of a straw when I’m through with him. Rage has dominated my body and soul. I don’t hear the screams or shouts. I feel nothing as someone rips me up off the worthless piece of shit. I don’t see anything but the body sprawled on the dirt floor, not moving. Breathing hard, I break free of the hold someone has on me as I charge back to Shaun, ready to finish him. Gentle hands grab my face, stopping me in my tracks.
Racing Dirty, L.A. Page 27
