Page 24 of Psycho Boys

“Let’s be quick,” she says, her voice slicing through the tense silence. “They’ll check the apartment soon.”

“I know.” My heart races at the thought of the guys back at the apartment, unaware of how close they are to danger. “We’ll pick them up at the diner and make our way to the cabin together.”

A brief semblance of calm wash over me as I weave through the streets, the hum of the engine grounding me amidst the chaos. But the moment the diner comes into view, that sense of ease dissipates, replaced by an icy knot in my stomach.

I park and turn to Cali. “Stay close. Keep your head down.”

Stepping into the diner instantly exposes us to the dim glow of fluorescent lights and muted conversations. The smells of grease and old coffee envelop us, but they do little to mask the tension coiled in the air.

I spot Dom, Killian, and Ash in one of the back booths, huddled together, their expressions pale against the slick blacktables. As I make my way towards them, I don’t miss the way their gazes flicker to Cali, incredulity mingling with relief.

“We need to talk,” I assert, my voice low but urgent as I slide into the booth next to Killian. Cali follows my lead, sitting beside me.

“What the hell happened out there?” Ash asks, disbelief etched across his face. “We thought you were gone for good.”

“I wasn’t,” Cali interjects, her voice firm. “I got away. But we don’t have time for that now. We need to find a safe place, and we need to do it fast.”

“Fuck, it's so good to see you,” Killian chimes in, his words heavily slurred from the liquor flowing through his veins.

Cali smiles, reaching across the table to give his gloved hand a small squeeze. Her smile is bright, but not as bright as it usually is, which is understandable.

Dom, who’s been silent until now, glances out the window nervously, like a caged animal sensing danger. “They know we’re here. I saw something—guys in black, looking around. It’s only a matter of time before they come here.”

Adrenaline surges as I absorb the information. “Then we need to move now—get the hell out of this town.”

“What about supplies?” Killian asks, his brow knit in concern. “We can’t leave without something. We need food, water?—”

“I’ll grab what we need,” I say, my determination resurfacing as I shove my chair back. “I’ll go in and out. Just keep a lookout. If you see anything suspicious, let me know.”

Cali reaches for my hand, squeezing it softly as she leans in. “Be careful, please.” Her voice trembles slightly, amplifying the weight of my resolve.

“I will be. Trust me.” I can’t help but lean in and drop a quick kiss on her forehead before rising, ignoring the death glare all three men give me.

As I make my way toward the diner’s entrance, I glance back at the four of them huddled in the booth—just as I suspected, we are family now. No matter how messy and chaotic this gets, we are bound by loyalty—even if the world is unraveling around us.

Outside, the air feels heavy, laden with unspoken fears. I shake off the anxiety threatening to creep back in and stride toward the nearby convenience store. The flickering lights betray the sense of normalcy—the daily grind of life continuing even as ours spins into chaos.

Stepping inside, I quickly tick through my mental checklist—snacks, bottled water, anything we can carry. I grab a basket and start tossing items in; my focus narrows as I stock up on the necessities. I can’t shake the itch between my shoulder blades, tempting me to look over my shoulder, but I suppress it, refusing to be paralyzed by fear.

As I reach the checkout, I hear the distant sound of sirens—the shriek of urgency echoing in my ears. Panic rises within me, and I hasten my movements, tossing bills at the cashier as I grab the bags and rush back outside.

The moment I step into the parking lot, I see the unmistakable outline of a black van idling nearby. My pulse quickens, every instinct screaming at me to run. Not knowing if they are here for me or for Cali, I turn back toward the car, praying everyone is still inside.

But the sight that meets my eyes yanks the breath from my lungs. The diner door swings wide, and before I can process the scene, Killian bursts out first, followed closely by Ash and Dom, hopping on his crutches with the guy's help. Unmistakable fear radiates from them as they sprint toward the car, shouts echoing behind them like a thunderous drumroll.

“They're coming! Move it!” Dom yells, his eyes wild with desperation.

I take off toward them, adrenaline surging as the back door flings open. “Get in! Get in!” I bark, feeling the weight of impending doom crashing down on us.

Cali jumps into the front seat beside me while the others scramble into the back, hearts racing as we slam the doors shut.

“Go! NOW!" Ash shouts from the backseat.

I slam the car into gear and peel out of the lot, the tires screeching against the pavement. But as I glance into the rearview mirror, my heart drops—the black van is already barreling toward us, its headlights painting us in a blanket of sheer terror.

“You couldn't have brought a faster car, Five? You do that shit for a living!” Dominic growls, but I know he's right. At the same time, I didn't want to stand out, so I figured this was the best option.

“Faster!” Cali screams, her voice laced with panic, and I push the gas pedal down deeper, heart hammering in my chest.

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