The patrons wasted no time following my directions. The sound of burning rubber filled the air.
My heart slammed against my ribcage behind the bulletproof vest as one of Rosco’s scowling men turned toward us and opened fire. His bronze skin glowed under the blazing sun.
I didn’t hesitate to peer through the scope of the AR-fifteen, unleashing bullets. I’d been shot enough for one lifetime.
“Fucking die,” I roared.
More of Rosco’s men opened fire on us. Ezra’s dominant arm was weak, but that wouldn’t stop him from blowing a fucker’s head off.
“Cover me!” I shouted to Ezra and the two soldiers.
While they kept the assholes busy, I bent over, running past the pumps. The cars had already vacated the front of the station. An open gun fight at a gas station wasn’t dangerous at all. This careless move showed this guy didn’t give a fuck about anyone but himself.
As I came to a halt at the last gas pump, my gaze moved to the eighteen-wheeler parked along the side. Brock gripped his AR-fifteen, motioning me over. It was a good place to take cover. I could work my way to the front.
The blacked-out SUV was parked in the middle of the vacant street.
A tall man with chocolate colored skin, wearing long dreads pulled into a low ponytail, climbed out of the truck. A few of his men hopped out of the SUV parked behind him. They darted in front of Rosco, aiming their weapons at me and my men.
“You have two important women with you. They belong to me and my friend. Send Tori and Simone over and I’ll let you die with dignity,” I lied.
He placed a hand over his stomach, laughing. “No fucking way.”
The smile vanished and his eyes darkened. “They’re mine. I won’t give them up,” he roared.
“So I guess fighting like men is off the table.” I waved my hand around. “I’d like to avoid risking the lives of innocent people,” I shouted over the gunfire.
He leveled the rifle, pointing it at the gas pump beside me.
“Oh fuck.”I didn’t pause to breathe, but instead bolted toward Brock, my breaths coming in short, sharp bursts. The thunderous roar of the explosion was followed by a shockwavethat sent me careening forward. My skin prickled with heat as searing flames engulfed the pump. I stretched my hands out as the force of the blast pushed against me, sending me crashing into the eighteen-wheeler.
I slammed my hand over my ears in an effort to stop the unbearable ringing. “I’ll take that as a definite no,” I grunted to myself.
Crouching near the rear of the truck, I glanced at Rosco. “Suit yourself. We’ll fight dirty. And your men will die. Because you better believe I won’t leave without my woman today,” I yelled, anger stirring in my chest. I was ready to tear him apart with my bare hands.
“She’s my woman now. She and her little friend,” he growled.
I ignored the delusional motherfucker’s words.
“Ritchie, more trucks are coming in from the main road,” Brock announced, his blue eyes darkened as they met mine. “I’m ready to kill and destroy. No one should kill innocent women and children.”
His words came out faint. My hearing hadn’t adjusted from the blast yet.
“Very true, Brock,” I muttered as I glanced under the truck. Men hung off the sides of the trucks, toting automatic weapons.
“Looks like there’s going to be a massacre today,” I yelled.
Standing to my feet, I glared at Rosco. “It doesn’t matter who I have to kill to keep what’s mine. You, Man-Man. The outcome is the same.” An evil chuckle rumbled in my chest.
“She’s coming home with me because she’s all fucking mine,” I roared as I stepped into his line of sight.
The sun beamed down, heating my skin as I peered through the scope of the AR-fifteen, ready to fire. My finger on the trigger, I watched in shock as a familiar figure across the street began unloading their weapon. A smirk settled on my lips as I took comfort in knowing he was here. He always had my back.
My soldiers emerged from various hidden spots, running toward Rosco’s men, bullets flying around us. It reminded me of a war scene on a battlefield. Only difference this war took place in the streets of a small Utah town.
Each group of soldiers was led by their leader. And prepared to die. His soldiers dropped like flies, screaming out in pain as they hit the pavement. Despite all this destruction, I didn’t hear one police siren. Why was that? Did Rosco have the police in his pocket?
Catch’s skilled finger on the trigger delivered fatal shots to their chests, eliminating our enemies.