Reality hits me in the face. I can run. I can get the fuck out of here and save myself. I turn to look over my shoulder and Dom is staring me down. His face is all hard edges and his eyes hold an edge of a threat. But I doubt he’d leave his crying, pregnant wife to chase me down. But then again, I wouldn’t get very far. I’m not a fast runner. I settle my back against the brick wall and sink down until my ass hits the pavement.
I feel far too sober. What the fuck am I doing? Who is this woman I’ve become? I wish Vince were here more than anything. I feel like that thought should be alarming to me. That it should send up red flags, but instead it offers me comfort. I’ll feel better once he comes to get me. My gut twists. He better come get me. He better not get hurt. I don’t know what I’d do without him.
The door to the right of me slams open, and Dante comes out. I rise to my feet and look behind him. Vince isn’t there. My heart races faster. What if something happened to him?
“He’ll be alright.” I jump at Dante’s words. He puts a hand on my shoulder, but I move away from him.
“This doesn’t happen,” I hear Becca say as she tries to calm her breathing. Her hand rests against her belly and she looks me in the eyes. “I don’t know how long you’ve been with Vince, but I promise you this is not normal.” She swallows and breathes in. She’s sitting in Dom’s lap and he’s rubbing her shoulders.
This is not normal.
“Let’s get you to the hospital, doll.” He stands and helps lifts her up.
“I’m fine. I’m fine,” she says, pushing him away. Dante walks closer to them, leaving me alone across the opposite side of the door.
“You should go to the hospital just to be sure. Get a look at my granddaughter and make sure everything's okay.” He gives her a reassuring smile and Dom whispers something in her ear.
I can’t handle this. I turn and walk to the door.
“I have to go to the bathroom.” They all turn to me and I wait for a response. No one says anything. Both men look at me like they aren’t sure I’m telling the truth. If I’m honest with myself, I’m not sure that I am.
“Make a right outside of the office,” Becca answers with her eyes closed. I nod my head once, and walk through the door with my eyes on the ground. The commotion in the dining hall makes me walk faster. I get to the bathroom, shutting the door behind me and the noises are muted. It’s quiet. I walk quickly to the faucet and turn it on. I take a moment to splash some cold water on my face, then run my wet hands down the back of my neck.
I breathe in and out. What am I doing? What am I going to do? I swallow thickly. I don’t know the answer to either question.
“Miss Hawthorne? Elle Hawthorne?” Hearing my name startles me and I turn around to face two women, each holding a badge out for me to see. It takes me a minute to realize what’s going on. Two cops. Blood drains from my face and my hands go numb. Fuck. Fuck, this cannot be good.
“Yes?” I ask weakly.
“You’re coming with us.”
Chapter 28: Vince
My feet pound against the pavement, my eyes focused on the red Honda ahead of me. Multiple car doors open and slam shut, then the tires squeal as they peel out. Someone fires a gun out of their window as I duck into Tommy’s car.
He starts it and hits the gas. The tires spin, and my back presses against the seat as we take off after those fuckers.
They hit us on our home turf. With my mother there. My pregnant sister-in-law. My sweetheart on my arm. They’re going to fucking pay for this shit.
“Don’t lose 'em, Tommy!” I yell, leaning out of the window. I line up my gun and fire, aiming at the fucker in the passenger seat.
Bang! Bang! Bang! The third shot gets him. I see the asshole lean down in the seat and the driver turns the wheel but the motion is too sharp, and the car swerves into the intersection. They go over the lines and almost lose control of the car. We’re closer now.
Tommy hits the gas, trying to get closer. But there are so many fucking cars out this late at night. My heart slams in my chest. They could’ve got my girl. Adrenaline fills my veins.
I look up and see we’re closer. I need to get my head on right.
The driver keeps one hand on the steering wheel, then points his gun out of the window, spraying bullets. I duck behind the dash as a bullet hits the windshield. Tommy swerves, but stays on that fucker's ass. A car honks a warning, another to my right swerves to avoid us, and all hell breaks loose. A car behind us crashes into a parked car, and the traffic light turns red. Brakes squeal and my hands push against the dash.
Fuck! They speed through the intersection and several cars speed by us as they run the light. Tommy slams on the brakes, just barely avoiding a crash. Tires screech and the smell of burning rubber floods my lungs. My head slams down on the dash, and my palms push against the leather.