Page 102 of Shifting Gears

“I don’t have a lot. But, shit, this is all I have left.” I reached into my pocket and gripped my car keys. I pulled them out and tossed them at him.

He caught them and opened his hand, looking at them.

“Mmm … the car. It’s nice. Would fetch a lot of money down south,” Ken mumbled under his breath as he mulled my offer over.

“All right. Help me load the cars on the truck. Don’t make any sounds until you hear the plane start up. You get caught? You don’t know me—got it?” Ken said as he walked over to the Infiniti and slid inside it.

Within thirty minutes, we had both cars loaded onto the truck bed, and I was opening the trunk of the Nissan. I flung my duffel bag inside and turned to Ken.

“Appreciate the help. Been good working with you,” I said as I held out my hand.

“Uh-huh,” he grunted and shook it before hopping down and getting into the truck’s driver’s seat.

I sat in the trunk and swung my legs in before reaching up and closing it from the inside.

The ride over to the airport gave me time to think about my first moves when I got back to LA.

First things first. I was going to hit up my girl. Everything else would fall into place after that.

They unloaded the cars when we arrived, neither trunk being checked—the perk of regular shipments to the same buyer, I guessed. After they drove the cars onto the plane, I stayed hidden, waiting for some sign it was safe to get out.

I heard the plane engines fire up. They would taxi out onto the airway soon. Now was the time to get out of the trunk and into some place more comfortable.

I reached up and grabbed the emergency trunk latch that was on the inside of the car. I tugged it hard, and the trunk poppedopen. I cracked it barely enough to see out. I needed to make sure the plane door was closed and no one else was inside before I shoved it fully open and pulled myself out of the trunk. If I was caught, I didn’t know what would happen.

The plane shook lightly as we idled in place. I leaned in and grabbed my duffel bag, yanking it out and closing the trunk. I walked around the bay, deciding to slide into a Toyota Altezza that Kayden had ordered this month. It was comfortable and in the center of the plane, so hopefully, it would be the smoothest space to catch some sleep in on the ride over.

I stepped up to the car as the plane jolted. We rolled forward, and I caught myself on the hood of the Altezza before I ate shit.

I opened the driver’s door and set my bag down in the passenger seat. I got inside and closed the door. Rummaging around my bag, I took out my earbuds and a bag of chips. I plugged in my buds and cranked up the music. Snoop Dogg started playing as I dug into the bag. The sound of the plane’s engines began to pick up, and I felt us move.

It was time to take off. In less than a day, my feet would be on LA soil once more.

I leaned the seat back and drew my hood up over my hat, tipping it lower to block the bay’s lights as the engines’ hum grew louder.

My excitement rose as the plane lifted off the ground.

I’m coming home, baby girl.

CHAPTER 32

AJ

I jolted awake.The plane lurched sideways, slamming me against the car door. The plane was hitting some turbulence as it felt like we circled the airport. I glanced at my phone. It was mid-morning, and I had just minutes to get my shit and get back in the trunk as I felt the plane tip slightly downward.

“Shit,” I growled out as I pulled my earbuds out, shoving them into my pocket with my phone and throwing the empty snack bags into my duffel bag.

I reached down and pulled the lever to pop the trunk of the Altezza.

Might be a tighter fit than the Nissan, but I didn’t have much of a choice. I got out of the car and shut the door, rushed to the back, and shoved the trunk up. I tossed in my bag and squeezed inside. The plane lurched again, and I smacked my shin into the taillight.

“Motherfucker,” I swore as I tucked myself in fully and closed it.

As we landed, I focused on getting through this next part. I knew cars were taken from the plane to a holding space for pickup. I just didn’t know how long that would take.

Hopefully, they don’t need to open anything up and do their business as usual.

We sat on the tarmac for a few minutes before I heard the jet engines winding down, then muffled voices before the cargo bay door opened and began to lower.

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