Page 72 of Malicious Desires

“Because he caught Jasper and me together, and like the good boyfriend I am, at Jasper’s request I went to make peace with his cousin.”

“And how does that involve Malyk?”

I sigh, careening around a corner, sure that someone is following me. “It’s complicated,” I voice, laying off the accelerator a little to slow the car down. “You at the club?”

“Nah, mine cuz.”

“I’m coming to get you. Be there in ten.”

“Sweet, cuz. Catch ya soon,” he says, hanging up.

Gunning it again, I take the last corner to head to Bartholomew’s house. His digs are pretty sweet, his very own flat behind his parents' house that faces the beach.

When I arrive, he’s waiting out the front of the iron gates. I come to a stop and press the door open button. His door rises open and he slides in, clicking his seatbelt into place as the door closes.

“Hey cuz, you ok?”

“Yeah, just a bit shaken. I’m scared Mal is going to die.” I realise with my words that my breathing is laboured, on the verge of a panic attack.

Barth places a hand on my thigh. “He’ll be fine, cuz. Mal is a strong fucker. I can’t see a bullet wound taking him down.”

“I fucking hope so, Barth. I can’t lose him, even though he drives me crazy sometimes. He’s like my brother.”

“I know, he’ll be fine,” Barth reassures me, glancing backwards to look out the rear windscreen.

I tilt my eyes towards the rear vision mirror, and nod to Barth. “We’re being followed, cuz.”

“It’s fucking Tidus. Have you got your gun on you?”

He taps his hip. “Of course, cuz.”

I press the electric window engage button, and it slides down. Barth unclips his seatbelt, withdrawing his gun from his belt. He leans out the window, and shoots towards Tidus’ car behind us. His car skids, before he speeds up and aligns his car with mine. His window rolls down, and he fires a shot towards Barth. It misses, hitting the side of my car instead. Barth shrinks back into the seat.

“Drive cuz, your car is faster than his piece of shit Merc.”

I thrash the engine, sending the speedometer towards two hundred. Barth fires another shot out the window, and the sound of it hitting metal reverberates around the street.

The next few minutes are a complete blur. I haven’t turned on my headlamps and it’s nearing dark. Shots are being fired, left and right, by Barth and Tidus, or his fucking minions. But it’s the hiss that is the most prominent sound, causing me to lose control of the car when Tidus fires a shot into my front tyre. The screech of my patent black rims colliding with the bitumen is ear splitting, and I scream out, “Fuck!” as I mount the curb and collide with the traffic lights. Barth and I jump out of the car. I’m irate. The fucker has not only killed–or hopefully just injured–my best friend, but he’s also caused me to total my car. And for what? Falling in love with his cousin, as though that is a crime.

Tidus comes screeching to a stop, crashing into the back of my car to thoroughly crush it, slamming it further into the pole. I can’t even be satisfied with him totalling his car, because mine is beyond repair now. He gets out of his car, and spits on the ground, whilst butting out the cigarette he throws on the ground at his feet.

I draw my gun, and stalk towards him.

“You fucking piece of shit! You totalled my Bugatti!”

“Worth it,” Tidus snarls. “You’ll have no means to get to Jasper. I’ll kill you myself and tell my cousin you died in the fiery wreck of your car,” he growls, just as my car erupts into flames. I want to cry–fucking cry–like a damn fool. I should be happy right now, I should be with Jasper enjoying being in love, but instead I’m here watching the car I love–and can’t replace–turning into a fireball.

“You’re heartless, Tidus. You’ll break your cousin’s heart with your malice.”

He points the gun at me, and even in the darkness I can see his pupils are dilated with rage. There is silence surrounding us, only the hiss of the fire so I hear Tidus pull back on the trigger of his gun. I do the same, and close my eyes as I fire the gun.

“Fuck, cuz, fuck.” My heart stops a moment, and I open my eyes to find Barth in front of me, clutching his side, his other hand limply by his with his gun only barely in his grip. I accidentally shot Bartholomew.

“Shit, Barth, I….”

“You didn’t, cuz. It was Tidus.” I’m speechless, glancing around to find Tidus also on the ground, having been shot as well. Who shot who isn’t clear, but Tidus is bleeding, lying lifeless on the ground. I should help him, but instead I snake an arm around my cousin’s waist, and help him over to the curb. It’s like deja vu–from a mere hour ago–with sirens coming towards us.

“Go cuz, I’ll be ok. Make sure Malyk is ok.”

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