Page 68 of Chase the Sunset
“Get her the hell out of here,” King called. “We’re gonna back the van up and block the exit.”
The guys jumped out of the van, and Rigid backed up.
“Go down one level. He won’t expect to see us there,” King ordered. Rigid took off down the ramp, and the guys followed behind on foot.
“What are you doing?” Birdie demanded.
“We’re taking care of business, Birdie. I need you to hide in the stairwell, and do not come out until I tell you to.”
An engine revved, and tires squealed. Aaron was coming back down.
Birdie wasn’t going to make it to the stairwell in time.
I grabbed her hand and hauled her behind a large hospital transport van. She crouched down and looked at me with panic in her eyes. “Stay here, and do not move.”
She stared at me but didn’t say anything.
“Birdie,” I hissed. “Do you hear me?”
She nodded and licked her lips. “Just let him go, Easy. He isn’t worth this.”
“He laid his hands on you again, Birdie. He’s not making it out of the garage parking lot.”
The roar of his car neared, and I pushed Birdie to the ground. “Don’t move.”
If Aaron even had a hint that Birdie was near, I didn’t know what he would do. The guy was obviously worried about her ratting on him, but that was about to be the least of his worries.
His headlights bounced off the walls of the garage and careened closer.
“What in the hell is going on?” a voice called.
“Layla,” Birdie hissed. “That’s Layla!”
Oh fuck. FUCK. Jesus Christ. Talk about shitty timing.
I darted out from in front of the car and hollered at Layla. “Hide! Get the fuck down.”
Layla stopped in her tracks and froze. Her head turned to look at me, and a scream ripped from her lips. Aaron’s car skidded around the corner and was headed straight for Layla.
“MOVE!”
Layla screamed and dove to the side, but it was too late. Aaron clipped Layla, and her body flipped through the air. She slammed into the concrete wall and landed in a pile on the ground.
“Layla!” Birdie screamed.
Aaron barely hit the brakes before he careened into a parked car and slammed into a cement pillar. The car buckled and the whole garage shook.
Birdie jumped up and ran over to Layla.
“Easy!” King called on the walkie talkie.
I fumbled to hit the bottom. “Get up here,” I shouted. “Get up here!”
I stumbled over to Birdie who had Layla laid out on the concrete. Her eyes were open, and blood dripped from her nose. Birdie was frantically checking her over and trying to check her pulse with tears streaming down her face.
I knew.
Birdie knew, too.
