Page 35 of The Fortunate Ones
“Yeah. On three, boss?”
I snorted. Iwastechnically his boss, but that was Luca’s title, typically.
The light turned yellow just as I pulled up to it. The timing was perfect for our purposes, but I still sent out a prayer to the universe that all the cars going the opposite way would stop as they should.
“One . . . ” I called out. Everyone in the SUV braced for whatever came next. “Two . . . Three!”
The light turned red, and I snapped the wheel sharply to the right, enough that it tipped slightly before righting itself. Leo took the left just as quickly, luckily avoiding a fucking collision.
The white Explorer stopped at the light like a regular person would. I couldn’t see their expression anymore because we were too far away as I was fucking booking it, but I imagined they were saying, “What the fuck is wrong with people?”
“Sedan followed Leo,” Skye reported, watching from his phone camera. “Fucker clipped a car.”
“Shit.”
“Leo, you got company.”
“Roger. I see it. They’re coming fast. I’m going to try and lose them.”
“Get Diego on the phone,” Luca ordered, voice tight.
Skye leaned over and pressed a button on the center dash console.
“What happened?” Diego asked, semi-distracted as usual.
I stifled a laugh while Skye scoffed, mock offended, “What, couldn’t we be calling just to shoot the shit?”
“Not while you’re in the process of bringing a major target home.” I glanced back at Everett to see if that term upset him, but he was only staring with wide eyes, taking everything in. There was a general air of fear surrounding him, but he didn’t seem particularly upset about anything. “And when yourand Leo’s trackers are going in two different directions,” Diego continued. “So, what the hell is going on?”
“We’re being tailed. A black Honda Civic. It followed Leo.”
“Okay, let me get him on the line.”
“Hi, Diego,” Leo chimed in, being added into the call so all of us could hear. He sounded oddly chipper for someone in the middle of the car chase. “Here to help me get this asshole off me?”
“Yup. Just give me a second to . . .” His keyboard keys clacked rapidly. “Alright, I see you. There’s a turnoff a quarter of a mile up ahead, take that.”
“Got it.”
I continued driving as I listened to Leo and Diego work together to lose his tail. I took more turns than necessary, and just in case there was someone else waiting in the wings, I was extra cautious.
Part of me wanted to turn around and help Leo, but I knew better. We had the client with us, and it was our responsibility to make sure he got to safety. Leo could handle his shit.
Just as the words crossed my mind, there was a loud crash and the unmistakable sound of crunching metal.
“Motherfucking asshole!” Leo screamed, sounding pissed and winded but not hurt. “Fucker shot out my tire. Stand by.”
“Fuck. Diego, talk to me,” Luca snapped from behind me.
“I’m sending backup now. Do not go over there, Luc. Keep driving.”
Before Luca could respond, two crisp shots rang out through the speakers and then silence.
I followed instructions and didn’t do the U-turn I desperately wanted to. Still, the tension was like a physical weight on all of us while we waited for an update.
“I got the fucker.” Leo’s voice came in. “We got him secured. We’re gonna need a ride. Are we taking him with us?”
“Were you or Foley hurt?” Luca asked first, indicating the team member who had been with Leo.
