Page 71 of Ready to Cash Out

In the distance, tires squealed.

“Shit, shit, shit.” Howell hissed. “Change of plans.”

“What is that?” Trev demanded. “Who is that?”

Jupiter scowled angrily. “Luchesis. They’re probably following the tag on the SUV.”

“Time to go!” Howell snatched the keys from Trev.

“But… you… What are we doing?” Trev threw up his hands in frustration.

“Yous dumbasses want to live? Then get your asses in the fuckin’ car!” Howell shouted as he jumped behind the wheel. “Now!”

Jupiter gritted his teeth. “Fuck. Let’s go.”

Trev hurried into the car, crawling into the back seat with the lockbox and bag. He stared as Jupiter got in the front seat, snapping, “We’re really doing this?”

“I do like living,” Jupiter replied.

“Hang onto your butts!” Howell turned the car on and then took off, not waiting for either Trev or Jupiter to even get their seat belts on. He peeled out onto the road, swinging the car around the SUV and driving back the way they came.

“Where the fuck are you going?” Jupiter snapped angrily.

“I got this shit, shuddup!” Howell barked back.

“Uh, guys?” Trev blinked slowly.

Maybe he was seeing things, but it looked like there were two SUVs up ahead, one in each lane and driving right at them.

“Guys?” Trev repeated. “Hello?”

“I sees ’em!” Howell continued forward.

“Howell—” Jupiter growled.

Neither of the incoming SUVs changed course, and Trev cringed, certain they were about to collide with one if not both vehicles. At the last possible second, Howell spun the wheel and took them into the ditch. Trev’s head smacked the roof as the sedan bounced along through the grass, and Howell hit the gas, taking them back onto the road.

The drivers of the SUVs hit the brakes and got caught up trying to make three point turns without hitting each other to give chase.

Howell hummed as he turned around, smoothly driving by the SUVs as soon as there was an opening.

“Where the fuck are you going?” Jupiter snapped. “You’re heading right back to the house!”

“Uh, yeah, because we need to go the other fuckin’ way.” Howell snorted. “Road behind us dead-ends into nothin’. We gotta get to the highway and that means drivin’ back by the damn house.”

Trev scrambled to get buckled in, grimacing as Howell took the next turn hard enough for the tires to squeal. “Jesus fuck! Come on!”

“Hang on!” Howell hit the gas again, zooming by the SUV they’d abandoned. “Those dumbasses ain’t gonna let us get away that easy.”

“Wait, you’re not working for the Luchesis?” Trev demanded.

“What? Fuck those fuckin’ fucks!” Howell scoffed. “I tried to fuckin’ tell yous that I’m here to help you! So just?—”

The back window shattered, raining glass over Trev. “Fuck!”

“Fuck me runnin’ sideways!” Howell hissed.

“Get down!” Jupiter shouted.

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