Page 29 of The Devil's Price

“What the feck?” I gasp, dropping the phone. I instinctively reach for my gun holstered on my hip, and Noah’s evasive maneuvers buy us a few minutes’ time.

“Patrick, you have a gun?” I shout, and he nods, reaching for the glove box. “Shoot back, we have a tail!”

The tires scream as Noah swerves the car to avoid a trash bin. My heart hammers in my chest, the sound of it almost drowned out by the roaring engine. The black SUV stays on our tail,relentless as ever. I don’t take my eyes off the rearview mirror, watching the headlights grow bigger with each second.

“Don’t let them close, Noah!” I shout, bracing myself.

He doesn’t answer. He doesn’t need to. He’s doing everything he can. His hands are a blur on the wheel, eyes sharp.

The street up ahead is clear, but we’re running out of options. I look to my right. Patrick pulls his gun from the holster, his knuckles tight around the grip. He’s ready.

"Ready to return fire, Finn?" Patrick growls, as if he’s been waiting for this.

I don’t need to respond. I’ve already got mine drawn. I slap the butt of my gun against the seat to steady myself.

“Take the next turn, Noah. Hard left.”

He doesn’t hesitate. The tires screech as we make the sharp turn, cutting across two lanes of traffic. A quick look in the side mirror confirms what I already know. The SUV follows, like a shadow.

The headlights flicker on the damp road behind us, and I raise my gun out the window. A single shot rings out. The SUV swerves, its front tires skidding for a second before the driver regains control. We’re gaining ground, but not enough.

“Get us into the next alley. Quick!”

Noah’s eyes dart to me for a fraction of a second, just long enough for me to catch a glimpse of his jaw clenching. He slams the wheel left again, taking us down a narrow alley, the brick walls closing in on both sides.

The sound of the SUV’s engine rumbles behind us. I glance back just in time to see headlights flash before they disappear behind a corner.

“Are they still on us?” I shout to Patrick, who’s got his own eyes glued to the rearview.

“They’re close!” Patrick yells back as a blast of gunfire hits the rear door.

I feel the car lurch, my body pressed against the seat. “We’re hit!” I yell. The adrenaline is thick in the air, suffocating. My hands tighten around the grip of my gun.

“Focus on driving, Noah!” I bark.

He’s already ahead of me, taking a sharp right into another alley. We zigzag through the streets like a rat in a maze. The SUV’s headlights remain in pursuit, cutting through the misty night air like a predator hunting its prey.

“Patrick, cover us!” I shout as I press my head against the seat, trying to stay low. Patrick fires back, shots ringing out, but they seem to do little more than push the SUV back temporarily. We need more time.

Noah swerves right again, narrowly missing a dumpster. We keep our speed, but the SUV doesn’t fall behind. It matches every move, staying glued to our bumper.

I can see it now—the gap is closing. We need to lose them. There’s no other choice.

“Take the next left, Noah. Hard left!” I yell again.

He obeys instantly, tires screeching as the car slides into a wider road. The SUV barrels after us. This is our last shot. My eyes scan the street ahead.

“There!” I shout, pointing. A construction site, wide open with concrete barriers on both sides, a narrow exit at the far end. If we can just make it…

We squeeze through, heading straight for the opening. The SUV doesn’t make it. It slams into the barriers, throwing a ball of flames into the air in an explosive impact. I watch the mushroom cloud rise and heave out an angry sigh.

We make it to the end, the dirt road kicking up around us. We’re free, for now, but I know there will be more of them coming. Siobhan knows it too. That's why she finally asked me for security, and not a moment too soon. The Doyles aren't going to back down without a fight. They'll do anything to keep their secret from coming out.

21

SIOBHAN

My nails are chewed to the quick, my hair frazzled. When Finn knocks, I nearly jump out of my skin expecting Liam or Brendan to show up, and I’m so relieved to see him, I don’t even care that I throw my arms around him while two more hulking men with guns and sweat dripping from their foreheads watch.

---