Page 19 of Don't Break My Heart
I pull away from him before he can crash his lips into mine again. I give this guy an inch he wants to take a mile. But he’s still on my shit list. He catches up to me, pulling me possessively back into his solid chest.
Onyx pops open the car door with his fob. From his stiff body language I can see he’s on edge and just wants to get me home safe. I don’t blame him, this parking lot gives me the creeps at this time ofnight. I have no idea if this is a nice part of town or not, but there is just something shifty about it.
The screech of tires slices through the air in a way that makes me jump. Orlando holds me closer as if he can sense my unease. “The city is still busy even this late. That club won’t even close until the sun starts to rise,” he tells me, and I think it’s to reassure me we’re safe; he must be able to feel the way my heart races. It’s hard not to be on edge when I’m in a new country and I know the threat his papa placed on my head.
When I hear the roar of a car engine, I spin around just in time to spot a matte-black four-wheel drive as it plows through the parked cars lining the lot, smashing into ours with a deafening crunch.
My heart leaps into my throat, and I don’t miss the fear etched across Onyx’s face as he jumps out of the way and swoops in, coming to the opposite side of me then Orlando. A couple rounds of gunfire pierce through the night. Onyx’s massive body shields me as Orlando’s hand grips mine tightly as the five of us run for cover, ducking behind an adjoining building. “What the fuck was that?” I whisper, gasping for breath as I grab for my weapon.
“Get her out of here,” Orlando growls at Onyx, his eyes a blaze of anger.
Onyx covers my mouth as he drags me farther down the alleyway, not waiting for the others.
“Fuck,” I make out Romeo mutter under his breath, and I glance over my shoulder to see him supporting Orlando’s large frame. Orlando’s black shirt is wet with what could only be the stain of fresh blood leaking through. A cold shiver wracks my body as I meet his gaze, the pain etched on his face so palpable I can almost feel it myself. “No, Orlando,” I whisper cry, even though the sound comes out muffled around Onyx’s hand. I want to run to him, but Onyx won’t let me,his strength overpowering me as he moves quickly into the shadows of the alleyway.
Another shot rings out, the vibrations rattling the brick walls of the surrounding buildings, as Reef and Romeo spin around, returning fire, Romeo using his body to shield his brother. One of their bullets ricochets, striking the shooter with a sickening thud. I watch as he hits the cold, hard asphalt, the impact echoing in the stillness of the street.
“Keep moving, trouble,” Onyx growls when he can’t drag me forward anymore.
But I’m worried about Orlando, I can’t leave them behind. “He’s hurt,” I cry, desperately needing to go back and help him.
Onyx glances at the boys quickly, then back up the alleyway. There is nothing in sight except for a lone motorbike. He shoves me toward it. “Get on it,” he demands, pushing the helmet into my hands.
“What?” I ask in horror. He knows I can’t ride.
“Do as you’re told.” His voice deepens to scary, his face a mask of seriousness.
With my stomach churning like crazy, I throw a leg over the seat and prop myself up on the bike, securing my helmet in place.
Onyx drops to his knees, just as the other boys make it to us. He pulls a knife from his pocket. Yanking open the panel under the headlamp, wires spill out in a mess of red, black, and green. “Get Orlando on the back,” Onyx calls over his shoulder while he strips back the wires with his pocketknife.
“This is your brilliant idea?” I squeak at him.
“It’s all we have, doll face, he needs help,” Romeo says, assisting his brother onto the back of the bike.
“We have to get you as far away from this place as possible,” Reef agrees with him, still facing the opening of the alleyway, his weapon drawn, shielding us.
Orlando grips me tightly just on one side. “Treasure.” He says my nickname like he’s holding onto it for strength.
“I can’t ride this thing,” I mutter back to him in a panic, knowing I’m going to get us both killed.
“I promised I would give you a lesson. What better time?” he murmurs, and I know he’s trying to keep it light for me, but I hear the discomfort in his voice. This is bad, really fucking bad.
More shots ring out down the alleyway, and Reef fires off another round, still shielding us.
Romeo moves around in front of me, taking my hand, he places a quick kiss to the back of it. “Onyx will start it for you. You just need to move.”
“I’ll talk you through it. It’s just like swimming, you’ll see.” Orlando’s voice vibrates through me with so much confidence I want to believe him. But I don’t.
A spark, a hiss, then the engine roars to life. Onyx gets out of the way, tucking his knife back into his jeans. His dark eyes lock with mine, a flash of fear in their depths. It must be killing him to send us off without him by my side. “Get her the fuck out of here.”
I feel Orlando nod, his head moving closer to mine. “Clutch in. Right handle to go. Easy. Just keep it steady.”
“Fuck, Orlando, I’m going to kill us both,” I cry in a panic.
With his good side, he squeezes me a little tighter, but it doesn’t help because now I can smell the metallic tang of his blood. “You don’t get me out of here, I’ll bleed to death. I got you, treasure. Now ride.”
My stomach twists as I glance back, catching a glimpse of the boys sprinting down the alleyway toward the sound of fresh gunfire. I know this is our only option. With a firm shove of the clutch and a twist of the throttle, the bike lunges forward, the engine's rumble echoingoff the brick walls of the alley as we take off in the opposite direction, leaving my boys behind.
