Page 9 of Knights Game

I hadn’t explored the Citizens Advice angle before, and I couldn’t continue this path for much longer.

If it wasn’t for Katy, I’d be living in a cardboard box on the very High Street I’m about to walk down. I owe her a lot.

I approach the same crossing that I always use, waiting as the lights change. Horns blare and people shout around me, the mutters of “arseholes” and “idiots” along with gasps from the surrounding pedestrians, and I stop mid step.

Following the direction of everyone’s gazes, I jump back as a Mercedes Benz and Audi come careering round the bend, wheels screeching as they fight for grip against the tight corner.

Fear freezes me to the spot as people around me start screaming and jumping out of the way as the car crash unfolds.I leap back as the Audi drives parallel to the Mercedes, smacks into the front bumper, and miraculously keeps control. The driver of the Mercedes avoids hitting any other cars as the vehicle swerves across both lanes of traffic. The tyres hit the kerb at the perfect angle, or imperfect angle, causing it to flip.

The Audi, after causing the destruction, wheel spins away.

The Mercedes still seems to catapult through the air as though it’s a toy car thrown by a child. There’s a horrible grating of metal grinding against the road, and I flinch and shut my eyes. All I can still see is my parents’ twisted bodies …

Not now. Not now.

I dig my fingernails into my palms to ground myself into the chaos of the present not the pain of the past.

The car slows, tilting on its side as the momentum dispels and crashes back down onto all four warped tyres.

It’s obvious that the occupants will need help.

I start running into the road before anyone else can move.

3

Luca

My ears ring likea motherfucker, and I swallow the metallic taste of blood in my mouth.

“Fuck,” I hear Roman say as he groans next to me.

My body feels battered from the impact. One minute we’re cruising towards the club I want to buy, next minute we’re being chased and spinning out of control.

Just a normal night in the world of Luca Knight.

Glass shards pepper my lap and the floor, the deflated airbags look like popped saggy balloons, the windows around us completely caved in.

“You alright?” I ask, wincing as I lean forward, the seat belt digging into my bruised chest. It did its job but hurts like a bitch. “Fuck.” I hiss, as blood trickles into my eye. I wipe it away and my fingers come back saturated.

Why do head wounds insist on bleeding so much?

“Yeah. You?” Roman’s voice is gruff, but I sense him move next to me. Turning my head carefully, a shooting pain pierces through my temple. I clench my teeth and breathe through it, focusing on my anger, instead of how much my head ispounding. Every pulse of my heart feels like my head is beating along with it.

I’m going to kill the bastards.

Shouts and screams erupt around us, but my banging head is still catching up and processing what’s just happened, stars dancing in front of my eyes.

“Jesus Christ.” I touch the tender spot on my head again assessing the damage, wincing in the process.

The door to my right flies open, and Roman whips his gun out in a swift smooth move. Thank God one of us is coherent, because I’m downright fucked.

“Are you guys okay?”

The streetlights light the absolute beauty in an angelic halo as she bends to peer into the car. Her light blue eyes meet mine and I stare at her breathtaking face. Fuck me, I must have hit my head hard. I’m rendered speechless.

“Dude, are you okay?” she repeats. Her eyes look past me to Roman, who has already dropped the gun,hopefullybefore she saw the thing.

“Dude?” I mutter, shaking my head, trying to clear my blurry vision. Roman shuffles and unbuckles his seat belt, struggling to free himself and I just stare stupid as the woman crouches down next to the car and leans in closer to me, reaching her small hand toward my face. She tucks her fingers under my chin and tilts my head towards her, trying to get a look at my wound.

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