Page 90 of Exile and Embrace

I shrug and lean back in the seat, crossing my arms and closing my eyes.

It’s a long drive to the border, and I need all the rest I can get. “We do. Ava’s sister has been here for almost a week already. Staying with Ava’s aunt. Ava wanted to go out with her tonight. I think her brother-in-law flew in this morning too, so the three of them are off having fun.”

“Which means that you get to spend the entire night driving to the British Colombia border with me and back. How exciting.”

I chuckle and stretch my legs out as far as I can. “Her brother-in-law is an intimidating man. The less time I have to spend around him, the better.”

At least it’s just Christian who flew out. If he had brought Alessio and Jovan with him, I would have been worried that they were coming out here to see me.

If he had brought his right-hand, Ruben, with him, I would have been running for the hills.

Instead, Christian nodded to me when I dropped Ava off at her aunt’s house this morning. He didn’t approach the car or say a single word, but the nod was friendly enough.

Dawson laughs. “I know the feeling. My future in-laws are terrifying. I would never see them if I had a say in the matter. Unfortunately, I don’t.”

My eyes open as the car jerks hard to the side. “What the hell?”

Dawson glances in the mirror. “There was something in the middle of the road.”

“Do you think we’re about to be in some deep shit?” I pull my gun out of the glovebox.

“Yeah.”

Three black SUVs race out from around a corner up ahead. They speed toward us, no signs of slowing down.

My heart pounds as I roll down the window and lean out, aiming at one of the front tires.

The gunshot cracks through the air, followed by the sound of a tire bursting. The SUV I shot loses control, hitting the rim hard. It’s moving too fast to stay upright, flipping onto its side.

Dawson throws the car into reverse, backing up and spinning us around before taking off.

He swerves around whatever was in the middle of the road, but seconds later, the sound of spikes popping tires fills the car.

He slams his hand against the wheel. “Fuck!”

I fling the door open and get out of the car, ducking behind it and using it as a shield.

Dawson does the same on the other side as the two remaining SUVs get closer.

Nobody was supposed to know about this drop. Cillian would’ve been the only one, other than me and Dawson. He said that he wanted this to go off without a hitch. He was sure that we were the only ones who could get this done.

Did he find out about the plan my father has?

I don't have time to worry about that right now. I fire at one of the other vehicles, but the bullet buries into the hood instead of one of the tires or the person driving the SUV.

The SUVs stop in front of us, four men pouring out of each one. They use the SUVs as shields, firing off shot after shot.

My heart hammers in my chest as I pop around the side of my door just long enough to shoot one of the men.

Another bullet grazes my arm in the process, pain searing through my bicep.

Dawson takes out two of the men in the time that it takes me to kill another one. Four down, four to go, but I’ve lost sight of them.

To the left of us is a massive cliff that leads down to the frigid water below, but there is a forest to the right.

Dawson creeps around the front of the car to join me. “We’re going to steal one of the SUVs and get the run done. You’re going to be the one to do it. Grab the money from the back and make a run for it. I’ll cover you and then clean up here.”

I nod and slide around the door and into the car long enough to grab the bag of money.

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