Page 4 of Guarded By Them

We took the stairs down to the garage, Rue sandwiched between us all, like we were the harder parts of a nutshell and she was our precious center. Our combined footsteps sounded too loud in the confined space, each step like heavy rain falling on a tin roof. We reached the door at the bottom, and instinctively, all pressed ourselves back, half expecting to be on the end of gunfire.

We were all armed, except for Rue, and we would return fire, of course. But a dead man couldn’t shoot back.

Ryan darted a look back at us and mouthed, “One, two, three—”

He pushed open the door with his shoulder and stepped out into the garage. We followed close behind, poised for all hell to break loose.

Everything remained quiet. With the exception of the vehicles, the garage appeared to be empty.

I allowed myself to breathe.

“Why haven’t they come after us?” Dillon asked. “It isn’t as though they don’t know exactly where we live.”

I twisted my lips, sharing his confusion. “I don’t know. Maybe they think we wouldn’t be stupid enough to come back here.”

Rue spoke up. “Or maybe they don’t think you’re the ones who would kill to get me back. Who are the people who’ve got more riding on me staying alive than you?”

Ryan nodded thoughtfully. “The Capello brothers.”

“Exactly.”

I admired her for her insight. “You think the Capello brothers might be dealing with the fallout of what we just did—killing his men, I mean.”

She shrugged one shoulder. “It’s just a guess, but it would explain why we haven’t seen anyone here.”

“They don’t think it was us.” I pressed my lips together and nodded. “Of course, they’re going to figure out quickly enough that it isn’t the Capellos who are responsible for killing their men.”

“In which case,” Ryan said, “we need to make the most of the possibility that both gangs are going to be kept busy with each other, and get the hell out of the city.”

We ran across the silent garage, toward our vehicles. Dillon had his bike, but it made sense for us to stick together.

“Get in the car,” I told him as he headed toward the motorcycle. “You’re coming with us.”

He stopped short. “No way. I’m not leaving the bike.”

“You’re too exposed riding that thing. Someone could shoot you off the back from the street.”

He scowled and folded his arms across his chest. “They’d have to hit me first.”

“I’m sure they could manage.”

“Dillon...” There was a warning tone to my voice. “Now isn’t the time to act like an overgrown teenager.”

Rue reached out and curled her fingers around his forearm. “I’d feel safer if we were all in one car.” She peered up at him with those wide blue eyes we’d all fallen in love with.

She was so sweet, none of us could say no to her, and Dillon was no different.

He growled. “Fine. But I’m not happy about it.”

I smirked. “Clearly.”

Ryan’s car was too recognizable, as was Dillon’s bike, but that was all we had. I hadn’t driven since the accident where I’d lost my wife and son. The thought alone was enough to make me rush with hot and cold, and my heart race. To any other driver, the idea of dying behind the wheel was an abstract thing. Sure, they knew it could happen, but they never expect it to happen to them. I’d been through it for real, and had lost the people I’d loved most in the world. Being in a car was bad enough, but the thought of being behind the wheel and being responsible for all the lives inside that vehicle sent me into a whirlwind of panic.

Checking the garage was still free of people, we moved at a fast walk over to where Ryan’s car was parked. He hit the button on the key fob, and the lights flashed, and a shrill beep beep sounded around the echoey space.

“Wait a second,” Dillon said suddenly. “Perhaps one of us should start the vehicle while the others stay back.”

Ryan frowned at him, immediately understanding where his train of thought had taken him. “You think there’s a chance they’ve rigged the car?”

---