Page 85 of Psychological War

Shaking my thoughts off, I went back to focusing on the task at hand. Getting Tobias out.

Locking the brakes I slid to a crawling speed. No one can see the car between the smoke from the explosion Dimitri and Aziza set off and from the amount of dirt I picked up. Throwing my door open, I grabbed Tobias around the waist and hauled him onto the passenger seat.

“Shh, little one, it’s just me.” I smiled before shifting gears again and shooting forward. I didn’t pay attention as Killian dragged Mila to the SUV, then I took off.

“Salem, I never thought I would see you again,” he cried.

“It’s okay, you’ll see me anytime you want. But I’m going to need you to pay attention alright?” I asked, shifting gears again, turning right sharply.

“Are we on that secret task?” he asked.

“Remember all those driving lessons we’ve practiced?”

“Secret two or four?” he asked.

“Definitely four.”

“Alright, let’s do it!” He smiled over at me. Taking the ear plugs, he climbed over into my lap, and his hands went to the wheel, tightening them.

I reached to my side and grabbed both Glocks, just in time as the SUV came in behind us. Letting a breath go that I didn’t realize I was holding, I said a silent, “Let's go.” It was time to end this once and for all.

I shot out the windows at all the men coming towards us. All we had to do was reach the end of this road, and then they could take Tobias and run.

“Salem, do you love Zane?” Tobias yelled out of nowhere.

“With everything,” I whispered. I knew he couldn’t hear me, but he always asked personal questions that he knew I’d answer because he couldn’t hear me. It was how we started training.

“If Uncle Zane doesn’t get his shit together, I might make you my wife first.” He giggled.

That is what made it all worth it.

Looking out the windshield, I barely had time. A dozen men stood there. I yelled at Tobias to get in the back and buckle up before my hand flew to the wheel. I slowed down, yanking the wheel to the left hard. The right bumper flew into the wall, Tobias let out a little yelp. Causing my eyes to wander to him. I knew I shouldn’t have done that because when I turned back around the car jolted over something on the ground, causing the car to flip.

“Tobias…” I mumbled the moment the car stopped rolling. I could feel the gash above my eye reopen, along with every other wound that had been stitched up and was now bleeding. My body suddenly felt very weak. But I couldn’t stop, not just yet.

“SALEM!” Tobias screamed from the back.

Trying my best to climb out of the window, it wasn’t until I felt two sets of hands grab hold of each arm that I realized how truly fucked I was.

“Well well well, what do we have here?” A deep Italian accent invaded my head. I couldn’t look up to face him. If I did, it would cause too much rage. I would become too angry. I always knew I would face Luca and Dante, but I was never prepared for the feelings it would cause. My chest felt on fire with hurt. My body ached from my emotions.

“What do we have here?” His voice.

The voice that haunted all my nightmares, haunted everything inside me. Everything in me burned with rage. I felt my skin ignite. I was ready to drive any sharp object into his body.

“Dante.” His father nodded at him. The blow to my cheek should’ve done something to me but instead I felt numb. As I looked up, for the first time I faced Luca since that night.

“Get rid of her.”

“Get rid of her.”

“Get rid of her.”

Blow after blow to my face should’ve been enough to again make me react to something, but I felt nothing. I was numb.

Numb to feelings.

“Stopppp.” A little voice broke me away from my rage. Looking over, Tobias filled my sight.

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