Hush - Fighting Fate #2 (28 page)

After
a final check to ensure all the money was right and our guns were loaded, we piled into the cars and drove south.

Keeping a little distance behind the
van TJ was in, I found myself checking the mirrors constantly. I was as nervous as hell that something was going to stop the exchange from taking place, and I wanted to be ready for anything.

As part of the plan, I followed TJ’s car through the city, taking the long way to the meeting point to hopefully flush out anyone who might be following us.

The first surprise came the second we pulled up to the gates of the warehouse estate we were meeting Mr. X. They were shut and guarded by two of Mr. X’s men with assault weapons.

After conducting a thorough search of each of us for wires, and an even more thorough search of the van, including the use of an electronic detector for transmitters, they finally let us through.

We drove at snail’s pace, following one of the guys as he led the way to the designated warehouse. At our approach, the roller door was hoisted up and we were quickly ushered inside with the door closing just as quick behind us.

The instant the door slammed shut, we were surrounded by Mr. X’s men, every single one of them pointing a gun in our direction.

“Guns please, boys,” one of them said with a nod.

TJ nodded and we followed his lead, pulling them out and holding them up in a
n appeasing way.

“On the table,” the guy said, indicating to the table a few feet away.

Making sure we made slow, deliberate movements, we all stepped over to the table and slowly lay our weapons down before moving back again.

At the guy’s nod, Mr. X’s men lowered their guns and stepped back.

“TJ…”

My head jerked up at the sound of a new voice from the shadow
s. I watched as a silhouette appeared, moving closer.

“It’s good to see you again. It’s been too long.”

“Mr. X,” TJ said. I didn’t miss the respect in his tone. “With a business such as ours, I think that’s probably for the best.”

Mr. X laughed. “Yes. I think you might be right. I am happy our little shadow problem has been eliminated.”

TJ nodded in agreement. “Although I would’ve preferred a more permanent elimination.”

“That’s being arranged,” Mr. X said softly. He moved further into the light, his dark eyes sharp and dangerous. He gestured to the table. “Shall we?”

TJ nodded and jerked his head at Vinnie. Pock, Vinnie and I stepped forward with a case each and carefully placed them on the table. With my fingers on the locks, I looked up to make sure I was okay to open it.

Guns raised
to us again, and Mr. X gave us the nod. With sure fingers, I snapped the locks and slowly opened the lid before stepping back to my position behind TJ.

The guns remained trained on us as one of Mr. X’s men checked the payment
. When he was happy it was all there, he nodded. “It’s all there, boss.”

Mr. X smiled. “Excellent.”

The guys immediately started clicking the cases closed. Mr. X gestured with a swipe of his hand towards two of his nearest guys, who immediately moved to the back of the van they were standing by. Unlatching the doors, they swung them open to reveal the entire cargo area filled with packages of cocaine and ecstasy tablets.

I watched everything.
While TJ stepped forward with Mr. X to sample the goods, Mr. X’s guys snatched up the cases and moved towards the other side of the van, ready to get moving the instant the transaction was compete.

My heart rate started to pick up a little faster. It was almost time. Resisting the urge to back up or coil my body ready to take cover, I stood my ground and continued to watch everyone’s movements.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw TJ dip his little finger in the powder and place it on his tongue. This was it. The second he confirmed its quality it was show time.

I braced myself.

He gave one, tiny little nod. And all hell broke loose.

Diving for the table, I
up-ended it and grabbed my piece at the same time, taking cover as best I could. Davo and Mac were instantly beside me, scrambling for their guns too.

“What the fuck?!” I yelled for good measure.

S.W.A.T guys and detectives were pouring in from all sides, yelling out orders to freeze and drop our weapons. I looked over to see TJ, hands in the air, by the van. He had nowhere to go. I couldn’t see Pock or Vinnie, or Mr. X anywhere. His guys seemed to have reacted quick enough to usher him somewhere out of sight, but I didn’t think they had much of a chance at escaping.

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me!” Mac barked, spinning around so his back was to the table, his gun at the ready.

I jumped when a sudden explosion rocked the entire side of the building. S.W.A.T guys leapt to the side, trying to escape the flying debris. Thick smoke clouded half the warehouse.

“Fuck this!” Davo shouted, making a run for the new gaping hole.

“Fuck!” Mac grunted, taking off after him.

I had a split second to make my decision. I couldn’t arrest them. I had to keep my cover in case the worst happened, but I couldn’t just let them escape either.

Cursing everything I had, I braced myself and ran after them.

All around the warehouse
, gunshots rang out amongst shouts and curses. Across the other side I saw one of Mr. X’s men firing at anything that moved from behind an up-turned cabinet. Just when he popped up to fire again, he caught a sniper’s bullet in the head.

I grimaced, running through the smoke, again, praying the S.W.A.T guys knew I was one of them
.

Somehow I managed to break through to the outside of the building. I liked to think it was because they knew who I was, but I couldn’t be sure. Seeing Mac and Davo’s figures running down the darkened lane, I broke into a run after them.

We’d barely gone a third of the way down the lane when a team of agents poured out at the far end.

“Fuck!” Davo shouted, darting to take cover behind a pile of machinery to the side.

Mac and I dove after him, on the lookout for anyone within striking distance. Floodlights suddenly came on in the distance, lighting up the explosion area. From where we were camped out, I could just make out more agents pouring into the area, and beyond that, sharp shooters stationed outside the fence line.

We were completely surrounded.

Chapter 49

Kaeli

Hours after Aaron’s declaration of me finally being useful to him, he was still shining with happiness.

I had no idea what he had planned for me. He wouldn’t say, but considering he was happy to wait for hours and hours for whatever
, or
whoever
it was, scared the crap out of me.

I was just watching him flick through his
cell, trying to wrack my brain to figure out what he was up to, when the sound of complete and utter chaos breaking out, exploded on the other side of the door.

Aaron’s head snapped up and he lurched to his feet, eyes wide. “Shit.”

I held my breath, watching, waiting. The yells got louder. Gun shots rang out, and then it sounded like something exploded. Literally. Aaron went pale. He turned towards the door, his body language oddly uncertain. I eyed the table that held his gun and my car keys.

With shaky legs, I pushed myself up to stand, my heart beating faster and faster with what I was about to do.

This could be my only chance to escape. If there were police out there, they could help me. But only if they knew I was here.

Taking a slow step forward, I reached out for the keys, praying the noise coming from outside was loud enough to mask if they made any sound. When they were clasped tightly in my hand without Aaron noticing, I slipped them deep into my pocket.

Aaron shifted from foot to foot, reaching up to rub his hands in his hair. I still wasn’t sure how to go about the next step. He was standing between me and the way out. I took a deep breath, trying to get my brain to come up with a plan.

Eyeing the chair, I wondered if I could smash it over his head. Would that work, or was it only something that worked in the movies? I guessed the worst case scenario would be that it just shocked him, but maybe that would be enough fo
r me to get out the door.

I’d watched him
every time he left, and he never had to unlock it or anything, so I knew it would open. I just didn’t know if I would have enough time.

Swallowing, I knew I had to take the risk. It was either that
, or stay here and risk not being found, and god knew what would happen to me then.

Stealing myself, I stepped forward, clasping the chair tightly and maneuvering it upside down. Raising it above my head, I stepped closer.

Shit. Was I really going to do this?

I thought of that malicious smile as he told me I was finally going to be of use to him, and I strengthened my resolve. Neither he nor h
is father had ever done anything but cause pain for me and my mom. Neither one of them would blink twice before using us for their gain.

Clenching my teeth with all the hatred I had for him and his father, I brought the chair down as hard as I could.

Aaron grunted, a muffled curse flying from his mouth as he crumpled to the ground. Not wasting a second, I dropped the chair and darted to the door, throwing it open and launching myself outside. Turning left, I ran. It wasn’t until I’d taken a few steps that I realized I hadn’t put any thought into what I might find outside.

If it was possible, t
he sound of voices shouting and gun shots exploding in the air was even louder than before. I screamed as a cracking sound, louder than any I’d heard so far, came from somewhere behind me. Flares of fire-like light flashed in the darkness, accompanying the pops of the gun fire.

Dark shapes appeared down the lane in front of me, the shapes of guns in their hands. Shit! I had no idea if they were friend or enemy. Panicking, I darted sideways, around some rusting machinery and acr
oss the lane to the other side.

The sound of what could only be bullets hitting the metal made me scream again. I heard more shouts, closer this time, and the scream that came out of me sounded more like a cry. I ran harder, instinctively throwing my arms over my head
as I went.

Footsteps, hard and fast, closed in on me. The cracking of a gun, way too close now, reverberated in my ears.
Frantically, I pushed forward, my breath dragging in and out through my lungs, harsh and ragged with a slight whimper to it. A loud crashing came from somewhere in the direction I was running, making my footsteps falter. Three dark shapes sprang out of the shadows, running towards me.

It was pure instinct that made me dart
out into the open lane again. From somewhere, I thought I heard my name called, but I must have been imagining it, because no one could possibly know who I was.

A helicopter zoomed overhead, its bright search light sweeping over the estate.
Two seconds later, a gun shot rang out just as something hard connected with my body and I was thrown to the ground, a hard, heavy shape landing on top of me.

The breath was instantly knocked from me as my back connected with the pavement and my head spun from the sudden hit. Another gun shot came and a loud grunt sounded in my ear before the heavy mass on top of me jerked hard.

“Kaeli…” I heard a deep voice say against my ear.

My head refused to stop spinning. That voice…

The mass shifted, awkwardly trying to get off me. “Kaeli. Please tell me you’re alright.”

The spinning seemed to be slowing, but I still couldn’t get myself to respond to the voice.

It wasn’t until I found my body moving that it came to me. That voice. I knew that voice! My boy…

Jerking my gaze up to the dark figure holding me, I cried and flung my arms around his neck. “You found me!”

He grunted and awkwardly lowered me to the ground, slumping down against the wall beside me. When he didn’t answer me, I looked at him.
Really
looked at him. His face was scrunched up with pain and his hand was clutching his stomach. Lowering my gaze, I finally noticed the red staining his fingers.

“Oh my god. No!”

Dropping to my knees, I took his face in my hands.

“What do I do? Tell me what I can do!” I cried.

His gaze ran over my face and the corners of his mouth twitched up a little. “I looked everywhere for you. I was so worried…”

I shook my head, tears brimming my eyes. “I’m fine. You found me. You saved me. Now I have to save you. Please. Tell me what I can do. I’ll do anything.”

“Was it Aaron?” he asked, speaking as though he hadn’t heard me.

I frowned. “Yes. He’s…here somewhere…”

He watched me for a while before moistening his lips. “I need you to go, Kaeli. I need you to be safe.”