Page 26 of That Time I Accidentally Took Over the Mafia

I nod back and adjust my grip on the seats. My legs ache from bracing against the floorboard during the car’s wild movements.

The first round of the chase is over, but the next one is already bearing down on us. A fresh set of cars tears toward us like a pack of rabid animals.

“Roll all the windows down,” Enzo says over the roar of the wind as he assesses the approaching storm of vehicles behind us.

My hand reaches for the knob, but Luca beats me to it, lowering every window that isn’t already shattered. The roar of the highway and the wind engulf us, as if the chaos outside has broken into our fortress.

I grip the seat for dear life, my spatula firm in my grasp, as the SUV speeds forward, jerking through traffic. Luca’s fingers dance over the wheel, his eyes flicking between the rearview and side mirrors.

Jax is quiet beside me, his jaw clenched as he surveys the threat behind us. His hand rests on my knee, squeezing gently, then rubbing—a small tell of the nerves he’s trying to mask.

I place my hand over his, giving it a firm squeeze, and it pulls his attention.

His rich brown eyes soften as they meet mine. He cups my jaw with his free hand, his lips crashing into mine in a hurried, desperate kiss. “Get ready for round two, baby.”

“I’m ready.”

“They’re catching up,” Luca mutters, his voice calm but deadly. “Grab the larger firepower, Jax.”

Jax shifts in his seat, twisting to open a long black crate in the back. His large frame moves lithely as he pulls out several semi-automatic guns, and my jaw nearly unhinges.

“What the fuck do you guys do for work?” My eyes widen as Jax hands a gun to Enzo and retrieves something that looks suspiciously like a small machine gun.

Are those grenades? Are these men Rambo? Why can’t I stop asking myself questions?I clutch the handle of my spatula so tightly my knuckles ache, blinking rapidly to calm my racing mind. Enzo watches me take in the arsenal of weapons that they handle with practiced ease and his smirk is near deadly.

…For my panties that is because holy shit. If I were wearing any that look would make my undies combust on the spot.

“Welcome to the mafia, Delaney Caputo.” He winks as he unbuttons his shirt, revealing a thin white undershirt that clings to every ripple of muscle. Then, as if it’s the most normal thing inthe world, both he and Jax lean out of the SUV’s windows, guns in hand.

My. God.

My ovaries are planning baby registries. Her Vagesty has declared open season, rolling out the red carpet for fertilization.

Simultaneously, Jax and Enzo hurl small, heavy objects toward the first two cars pursuing us. I don’t know what the hell they’re throwing, but it’s definitely not good news for the other guys. The objects land just ahead of both vehicles with deadly precision.

A heartbeat later, twin explosions erupt in fiery chaos. Flames billow into the air like a scene ripped straight from a Michael Bay movie, hurling the cars skyward. The shockwave rattles our SUV, and the heat washes over me, making my spatula slick in my grip.

“Holy shit,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the roar of destruction.

One car crashes nose-first into the pavement, flipping dramatically before landing on its roof. The second vehicle slams into one of its companions, crumpling like a soda can and sending the car behind it veering wildly off course.

Three down. The highway behind us is a graveyard of flaming wreckage and twisted metal.

Jax and Enzo don’t miss a beat. The moment the debris clears, they line up their next shots, their weapons steady, their focus unnervingly calm.

“I need another clip,” Enzo calls out, his voice casual, like he’s ordering coffee. As Jax fires out the passenger window, I fumble in the back, rummaging through the arsenal.

Gunfire erupts in a deafening barrage, making me flinch as one car swerves violently, its tires screeching against the asphalt. The second car doesn’t stand a chance—bullets rip into its side, and it careens into the guardrail with a satisfying crunch.

I blink at the sudden silence, my heart pounding against my ribs. My mind struggles to catch up with what I just witnessed.

“Well, that’s one way to do it,” I mutter under my breath, still dazed, as I hand fresh clips to Jax and Enzo.

Jax glances back at me with a smirk, his finger hovering near the trigger. “Thanks, baby.”

I sink into my seat, my fingers gripping the seatbelt like a lifeline. This is real. I’m actually in the middle of a goddamn high-speed car chase. The absurdity of it all almost makes me laugh—or maybe cry. I can’t tell anymore.

“We’ve got two left,” Luca says, his tone steady yet urgent. His hands tighten around the wheel as he maneuvers through traffic with precision. “Enzo, check the sky.”

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