Page 181 of Finish Line

I try to settle the uneasy feeling. I let out a deep breath. “What can we do to help?”

“Nothing. We’re good,” Mark says.

Angry shouts come from behind us. I turn and watch a group of guys push people out of the way as they walk toward us.

“Ahh, guys. We got trouble.” I nod toward the group.

“Is he carrying a gun?” Ricky squints his eyes.

“Yep, and that one has a sawed-off shotgun. Ricky, move your crew behind Nick’s truck.” Dom’s eyes don’t leave the group.

“If you can shoot, guns are stashed in Nick’s truck.” Luke checks that his gun is loaded.

“I know where they are.” Cin runs around the side of the truck and jumps into the bed.

She opens the container and pulls out several guns. She hands them to Mark, who’s behind the truck. She makes sure we each have one, then joins us.

Luke yells, “Run, people. Don’t stand around.”

“They have guns. Take cover,” I add.

Shelby’s in trouble. I’m running back home as soon as possible, but first, we must take care of this.

“I think you might be at the wrong place.” Dom keeps his hands loose at his side.

When it’s eighty degrees out, the guy wearing a long leather coat stands out from the group.

“I don’t think so. We have a message for you,” the big guy taunts.

“What’s that?” Dom slides his hand down his back to where he tucked his gun.

The rest of us do the same thing.

“Die!” He reaches for his shotgun and fires at Dom.

Dom dives right, but he’s not quick enough. The buckshot hits him in the chest, and he flies back.

“Dom!” Mav steps toward his brother, but I pull him behind the truck.

Everyone else dives behind anything they can find. People scream as they run in all directions.

“I have to go to Dom.” Mav pushes away from me so he can stand up again.

I grab his shoulder and pull him down next to me. “We will, babe, but if you try to help him now, you’ll be the next one shot.”

Without looking, Mav reaches over the top of the truck and fires. We go back and forth for a bit. All I think about is Dom lying in the street, bleeding out.

“Dom is hurt.” Mav panics beside me. “We have to help him.”

I peek over the car we’ve ducked behind. Blood pools around Dom.

“Luke, Mav, pull Dom to safety. We’ll cover you.” I look to my left.

Ricky, Mark, Billy, and Cin nod in agreement.

“On the count of three,” I yell. “One, two, three!”

We stand up and shoot across the road as Luke and Mav run to Dom’s side. They drag him a foot when Luke swears and grabs his arm.

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