Page 49 of Utah

We raced away from the building in case Rafael had a change of heart. Not that I saw that happening, but I neveranticipated whatdidhappen. We weren’t leaving anything to chance.

As we pulled up alongside the other SUV, the guys were waiting outside of the vehicle. An overwhelming feeling of something I couldn’t describe raced through me, and when I opened the door and stepped into the cool night air, my legs began to buckle. Seconds later, I’d fallen to my knees, consumed with gratitude but also surprise that I wasn’t dead.

Miles rushed forward and put his hand on my shoulder. “You get to see your kid, brother.”

I nodded as my hair fell around me and covered my face, allowing me a moment of privacy. Words rested in my throat, but my body refused to release them.

“We all get to go home to our families,” Jagger said. “It’s the best outcome.”

A collective sound of relief surrounded us all as I rose to my feet. While most were smiling, some still appeared to be in shock, including me. I’d written off the rest of my life, so to be given another shot… words couldn’t express how grateful I was to still be standing.

“What happened back there?” Ace stepped next to Marek, his attention bouncing between those of us who’d met with Carrillo.

Stone was the one to answer. “Rafael killed his nephew right in front of us. Apparently, the fucker was making moves to take out his uncle.”

“He got what he deserved,” Hawke responded, “but it doesn’t feel like enough for Crash. Is it me, or do you guys miss being able to take out our revenge too?”

“That’s just you,” Tripp said, eliciting the softest chuckle as he slung his arm over his younger brother’s shoulders. “And it’s the closest thing we’re gonna get to justice for Crash.”

“I should’ve been the one to kill Javier,” I blurted, tucking my hair behind my ear.

“Then we’d still be in a war,” Prez retorted. “No, everything went down how it should’ve. Carrillo let us walk away whole.”

“Just like that?” Dax asked.

“Just like that,” Prez answered, sharing a look with Marek. But I didn’t study the exchange long enough to determine if they also felt robbed of justice or if they were simply thankful to still be breathing.

“Do you really think he won’t come after any of us? If he has time to think about it, he might blame us for his nephew’s death, as odd as that sounds.” Miles asked the question most of us were probably thinking.

“I believe him,” Marek answered. “Javier was untrustworthy. Disloyal. And Rafael knew that. He was gonna kill him regardless. He just made a spectacle of it, put on a show. I told you he was ruthless.” The smallest smirk graced Marek’s face, appearing as if he had more respect for Carrillo than before.

“I’m still a little uneasy. I fully expected some of us not to make it home. It’s such a calm ending,” Dax said, running his hand over the top of his head.

“Say that to Prez and Marek.” I pointed toward the two presidents. “I think they’re still wearing some of Javier’s blood.”

“Oh shit,” Stone mumbled. “You are.” He pointed toward Marek’s neck.

“Doesn’t bother me. At least it’s not mine.”

We all nodded in agreement, thankful we were spared to see another day.

I was in the middle of telling Ace some of the details of the meet when Knox’s name flashed across my screen.

“Yeah,” I answered.

“You guys whole?”

“We are.”

“Good. Now get back here. Ria is in the hospital. She’s bleeding.”

I didn’t hear what he said after “she’s bleeding” because my arm dropped to my side, my gaze colliding with Salzar’s.

“We gotta go. Now,” I shouted.

Everyone piled into the SUVs, and we sped off toward home.

I’d escaped death.

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