Page 2 of Tempted
It’s funny the things that go through yourmind in dangerous situations. Some people say their lives flashbefore their eyes. Some think about their regrets, things theyhaven’t done. Some get scared shitless and don’t know what to do.Others say they think about their loved ones. Me? I thrive ondanger and feel that much more powerful when I come out on top. I’malways ten steps ahead, weaving my way out before my opponent evenrealizes what’s going on. Tonight is different. Tonight, all I canthink about is the scared girl next to me, no regard whatsoever formyself. Tonight, she’s the only thing on my mind. I need to keepher safe, by any means necessary.
“Get down!” I shout.
I swerve right, bumping the rider on Raven’sside of the car. She unbuckles her seat belt and drops down to thefloor, covering her head with her hands. Before I can get the guyon my side, he fires a shot. It hits my window, the sound echoingthrough the car.Thank God for bullet-proof windows.I floorthe gas pedal, trying to put some distance between us. Raven peeksup at me, fear in her exquisite eyes.
“You’re gonna be fine,” I assure her. “Do youtrust me?”
She nods just as a bullet hits thepassenger-side window. The horn blares from a truck coming in theopposite direction, and the rider on the right falls back and pullsin behind us. The one on the left fires another shot, hitting myrear view mirror.Think, Gage, think. What would you do if shewasn’t with you?I’d take the fuckers down.
I need to get off the main road.Imove over onto the shoulder and pass a few cars, but the bikersfollow right behind. If I don’t do something quickly, a lot ofpeople will get hurt. An access road comes into view, so I head inthat direction. A couple more shots hit the rear windshield. Iglance down at Raven, cowering on the floor. I need to end thisnow.
I hit a hard right, take a few side streets,and get a good lead on them. I know they won’t give up, though. Ipress the button I have hidden under my seat and the secretcompartment on the dash opens.
“Whoa,” Raven says, eyes wide in wonder.
“Cool, huh?” I grab one of the unregisteredGlocks I keep in there and drop it in my lap, along with an extramagazine. “Look, we can’t outrun them, so I need to get rid ofthem. Just stay down, and I’ll get us out of here.”
“Fuck that. You got an extra one?”
She climbs back into her seat and grabs theother Glock out of the dash. Shock turns into pride as she looksover at me, a fire burning in her eyes.
“Okay. Let’s do this,” I say, more to myselfthan her.
There’s an open field up ahead, so I racetoward it, turn in, and face the road. I turn the high beams on sothe fuckers can see us, then put my window down. She does thesame.
“On my cue, start firing. There are extramags in there.”
The bikers stop at the edge of the field, andI rev the engine.Come on, motherfuckers. They sit there,just waiting and watching. I rev the engine again and they take offtoward us. I shift into gear and press the gas.
“Now, babe!”
They fire a shit-storm of bullets which hitthe windshield and the grill. Raven fires at the guy on her side,taking him down after four shots. I wait until the other is closeenough and fire one into his chest. He flies backwards, flopping tothe ground. I need to make sure they’re dead. I stop the car andturn to her, taking her hand. She’s breathing heavily, but shedoesn’t seem scared anymore. She stares into my eyes, waiting.Waiting for me to tell her our next move. She trusts me to get usout of this shit, and I will. “Get into the driver’s seat and lockthe doors. Anything happens to me, you drive away. Got it?”
“What? I’m not leaving you!”
Fuck me.Each day that passes, shelooks more and more like the perfect woman. I crush my lips to hersthen pull back reluctantly. “Just do as I say,” I command whilegrabbing my flashlight from the glove compartment.
I hop out and listen for the click of thelocks. The moment I hear it, I move slowly toward the biker I shot,listening to the two shitheads groaning. Make that one; one of themgoes quiet. I find the one I shot, but he’s done for. I put anotherbullet in him anyway before I head to the opposite side and findthe other fucker. Damn. All Raven’s shots connected – one in thestomach and three in the chest. The girl is good. I crouch down andremove his helmet. He coughs, blood dripping out of his mouth. “Whosent you?”
“F…fuck…you.”
“Fuck me? Nah. Fuck you, motherfucker.” I puta bullet in his neck and watch as the life drains from his eyes.“Fucker.”
I head back to the car and Raven jumps outand into my arms.Fuck, she feels good.I hold her to metightly, thanking God she’s safe. I don’t know what I would havedone if she’d been hurt. Or worse.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. You good?” I ask as I toss theflashlight onto the back seat.
She nods, her head bouncing up and downemphatically.I need to get her out of here.I pull out myphone and dial Razor.
“Prez,” he answers.
“I need clean-up…and a ride. Bring thetrailer, too.”
“Got it. Where?”
“I don’t have a fucking clue. Have Tek trackthe Mustang.”
