Page 132 of Wine & Whiskey
Nick pulses with rage, unable to think about anything but destroying the man sitting in front of him, no matter how much he loves him. Carter remains motionless, staring at the gun lying on his right leg. He traces the shallow crevice along the handle with his fingertip before curling his finger around the trigger. “Don’t let Shae get into the car. I tried to call it off, but it’s too late. I can’t stop it.”
A fucking hit.His own cousin fucking hates him enough to want him dead, yet doesn’t have the balls to kill him himself. At least he protects the person who deserves it the most. “You fucking son of a bitch! You put her through hell just to set me up. Why did you pull her into it?”
“Didn’t plan it that way. She was an easy answer to an unexpected complication. Funny thing is…her…all this…” He waves the Glock through the air before tapping the edge of the barrel on his thigh, never lifting his gaze. “Reminds me why you rule the empire, and I should have been satisfied as number two.”
Even funnier, if Carter would’ve only asked for it, he would have gladly relinquished his power. No revolution required. Too late to dream about the freedom his abdication would have meant for him with Shae, he focuses on the immediate danger. “Who’s the target?”
“You and Max.”
“When?”
Carter glances at his watch. “Now.” He blows out a deep breath before pressing the metal tip to his temple. “Whoever said revenge is sweet, fucking lied.”
The last words Carter speaks before pulling the trigger. His head explodes onto the window before his body slumps forward and his cell slides to the floor. Nick swipes the phone from the carpet and shoves it in his pocket as gunfire erupts outside the plane.
Outside the window, two men stand in front of the crumbling, white brick building that used to serve as the airport office, blasting his car. Glass and metal shards rain across Max’s back as he covers Shae with his body. After a few crackles and sparks, flames shoot out from under the hood. Max wraps one arm around the top of Shae’s head and props the other across the ground, aiming at the closest shooter.
Sweat engulfs his body as he sprints down the plane aisle. Once Max hits the man, he exposes their position on the other side of the car, leaving them open to the second shooter. Nick kicks out the rear emergency door, and drops down to the cracked asphalt below. Ignoring the pain radiating up his heels from the impact, he crouches behind the wheel mechanism. He must time his shot with Max’s so they bring them down together.
Nick extends his arm and drops the farthest hit man with a shot to the head. Max’s bullet drives through the shoe of the other man, who unleashes one last round before he slams backward onto the concrete.
Red circles puddle at both the head and almost severed foot of the dying shooter as Nick leans over him. “Who do you work for?”
His mouth opens and closes like a fish struggling to breathe. With a jerky hand, he reaches for his gun before Nick kicks it out of his reach.
“Come on, motherfucker. You know it’s over. You might as well give it up.”
Pink-tinged bubbles gather in the corners of his mouth before his lips form the shape of an “o.” His voice is barely audible as he lifts up his chin. “Juan.”
The pain of Carter’s disloyalty stabs deeper into his chest. Once united against a common enemy, Carter sacrificed their relationship for his opportunity to reign. Yet too blind with jealousy to realize the hollowness of his partnership with Juan, who would have turned on him once Nick was eliminated.
To be sure, he pumps a shot into the hit man’s head and heart before he turns around. Fully engulfed, flames leap higher from the hissing car, threatening to explode. Both Max and Shae remain motionless as Nick races to them, heat scorching his face and hands as he struggles to rouse Max.
“Come on, Max. I’ve got to get you guys out of here.”
Max nods and pushes himself up with one hand before sitting back on his heels and holding his head.
“Sweetness, I have to get you away from the fire.”
Uncertain if she’s unconscious or dazed, he scoops her up and carries her behind her SUV. Relief pours through him at her soft, scratchy voice. “What about Max?”
Reluctant to let her go, he kisses her forehead and sits her against the tire. “I’m getting him. I’ll be right back.”
He hops up and sprints to Max. “Come on. You too.”
Max accepts his outstretched hand, and Nick pulls him up. Supporting Max’s weight, he guides him to Shae, while Max rubs the back of his head. “I think my ears are fucking ringing.”
“No, it’s sirens. We’re about to have company.”
Behind the car, Nick squats in front of her, caressing her cheek. “I’m sorry. All this shit happens to you because of me.”
Her silky hair tickles his skin as she shakes her head. “I don’t understand what happened.”
Amidst the chaos, he avoids giving her the real answer. He needs to protect her a little longer from the savagery of his world, especially when instigated by someone she thought she could trust. “Don’t be scared. You’re safe now. Everything’s going to be okay.”
She leans into his hand, her eyes locking with his, humbling him with her faith in him. “I know. I trust you.”
A convoy of emergency vehicles races through the parking lot. The ambulance stops closest to the car, and two EMTs jog toward them. A curly-haired woman drops an orange and white bag next to Shae’s foot and kneels down in front of Shae. “Are you hurt, miss?”
