Page 22 of The Chief's Captive

"Thank you, Mr. Finch, for agreeing to my terms." I wave a cloud of smoke out of my face as he exhales with a smile. My American buyers are generous, but this one goes beyond that. The guys will love this new alliance for our weapons trade, and it will be very lucrative. Best of all, it's something Eamon knows nothing about so right away, we have an advantage.

"I'm sure we'll work very well together, Mr. O'Rourke. I've heard only good things about your organization. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a flight to catch." He pinches his cigar between his teeth and stands up, tucking his tie into his coat and buttoning it. "Let me know when and where the drops will happen, and I'll make sure your accounts are credited."

I rise with him, happy this meeting is over. Maeve seemed distant and hollow this morning. I've been gone all day, but before coming to this meeting, I stopped by a florist to buy her some chocolates and flowers. I hope they will cheer her up a little.

I shake Mr. Finch's hand and nod my gratitude, and he walks away, puffing on his cigar with each step. Four men in black suits appear from around the room where they hid themselves earlier this evening and follow him out. My men, wise enough to not be seen, remain hidden too, tucked into tables here and there as added assurance that the deal would go smoothly. I drop a couple of bills on the table and head for the door.

Outside, Aiden waits with the car running near the back of the parking lot. As I emerge from the front doors, he pulls up and stops at the curb, and I climb into the passenger seat and buckle in. My urgency to get home and see how Maeve is feeling makes me slightly irritable, but my men are used to my edge.

"Get me home," I grumble, and Aiden pulls the car away from the restaurant and out into traffic.

I stare out the window as we pass buildings and cars. The past six weeks have been trying my patience. Attempting to keep my organization running smoothly while simultaneously hunting down an enemy who would like nothing more than to see my head on a platter, all while balancing my growing feelings for Maeve, has been nothing short of challenging, especially given the random chest pains I fight off. But I can't show weakness. Not to anyone. I'm the chief, and to stay the chief, I must be strong.

"Sir," Aiden says, and I hear the apprehension in his voice. I turn to look at him and see his eyes flicking up to the rearview mirror a few times. He looks tense, and I can guess what he's going to say before he says it.

"Yeah," I grumble, and I lean forward to look into the passenger sideview mirror. Everything looks normal to me, but I haven't been paying attention to what's going on behind us. I'm more focused on what's going on at home.

"Ro, there's a car following us. Three cars back, black sedan, no headlights." Aiden's eyes narrow as the car comes to a stop and he again looks into the rearview mirror. It doesn't surprise me that we're being followed. Eamon is a snake. He'll do whatever it takes to move in on my business and my family, and he's not shy about it either.

"Turn here," I tell him. "Well see if they turn too." Now I'm keeping an eye on the road behind us. I'm not taking any chances. Eamon knows where I live. That part isn't any mystery, but what we met Mr. Finch about is. I need to know my secret's safe.

Aiden takes the turn like it's nothing, no brakes, just a smooth turn that would send any normal person flying into the door. I grip the handle above me and my heart rate picks up.

"Shit." Aiden hisses under his breath as the car behind us also takes the turn. "Ro, we got company."

"How big?" I ask, bracing myself as Aiden starts to weave in and out of traffic.

"Three sedans, all black, no plates," he says through gritted teeth. "They're closing in fast."

"Dammit," I mutter under my breath as I reach into the glove compartment and grab my gun. I check the clip, ensuring it's fully loaded. "Aiden, next turn, go left. We'll lose them in the alleyways." Aiden nods his head and takes the turn on two tires. The car behind us screeches to a stop as they barely miss colliding with another car.

We're in the alley now and I can almost feel their breath on our tailpipes. "Left!" I yell as we come up to a dead end. Aiden doesn't hesitate and slams on the gas. The car jumps the fence and into the abandoned lot on the other side. It doesn’t shake our tail. They pick up speed, and I reach out my open window and fire off a few rounds as the car bumps over the rough terrain before it emerges out the other side onto another street where Aiden veers a hard right.

"What now?”

"Don't celebrate too soon," I say grimly as headlights appear at the other end of the lot. "They're still on us."

I lean out my window and empty the rest of the chamber in their direction. A tire pops, but they don't slow down. "Shit, they're not stopping," Aiden mutters through gritted teeth.

"I see that," I growl as I drop my gun to the floor mat. "Just keep driving!"

"Where to?" Aiden yells as he swerves to avoid a parked car.

"Anywhere! Just lose them!" I yell back as bullets fly past our windows. Suddenly, Aiden slams on the brakes and I'm thrown forward, my seatbelt the only thing saving me from a face full of windshield. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Look!" He points to a narrow alleyway between two buildings, just big enough for our car to fit through. "It's our only chance!"

Without waiting for my response, he guns the engine and we barrel down the alley, clipping both sides of the car on the way through. It's a tight squeeze, but we make it through as the other cars fly past. The car is destroyed, but we turn north and Aiden floors it on the other side of the alley.

"I can't believe that worked," Aiden pants, wiping a hand over his forehead. It was a close call. Our enemies are getting bolder now, and who knows what would have happened if they’d have caught up to us.

“Get us home, now,” I growl, and I glance at the back seat where Maeve’s flowers have been tossed around but still look at least halfway decent. After that mess, I'm surprised they survived.

"What do you think they're trying to prove?" Aiden sounds tense still, and I feel it. If he wasn't a good driver, we'd have been ambushed, and at the very least, I'd be dead. Who knows whether he would be.

"Well, if Eamon got me in his sights, there's no doubt in my mind I'd be dead. He's not out for sending messages anymore. He wants my head. If I have to guess, he's having all of us followed now. We have to go on the offensive." I keep checking for movement behind us, but we've well and truly lost them.

"You think he's ever going to stop?" He glances at me as he makes a hard turn onto the freeway and speeds up like he's driving a race car. I'm pushed back into the seat by the force, and I glare out the window at the passing city, now flying by even faster.

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