Page 31 of Teddy Sinatra: Go Your Own Way
She rolled her eyes rather than accept his fake apology and got back on her phone. She was on social media, strolling messages, but all she could think about was the end of the school year. “Our last day can’t get here fast enough,” she said.
Duke glanced over at her. “So you’re in a rush now? You’re the one can’t wait to go to college. Won’t even take a gap year. College is still school.”
“It’s not the same at all,” said Jackie. “Besides, Ma won’t let us take any gap years. She already said so.”
“When you’re grown your parents can’t tell you what to do,” Duke said as he glanced out of his rearview mirror to see if their security detail in the car behind them was keeping up.
“They can if they’re paying for it.”
“They can’t make us have security either.”
“Sure buddy. And what you’re gonna say if Daddy says you have to have security for the rest of your life?”
An annoyed look came across Duke’s handsome face. “Don’t even mention that man’s name to me.”
Jackie looked at him. “Didn’t Ma tell you Daddy didn’t start that fight last night?”
“Yeah, but he didn’t try to stop it either. What father beats on his own son like that?”
“Daddy,” Jackie said without hesitation. “He’ll knock us through a wall if we disobey him. He’s already knocked you through a few walls.”
“Yeah but I was mouthing off and acting stupid. But Teddy works his butt off for Daddy. He and Nikki both. And what do they get in return? Nothing.”
“What do you mean nothing? They’re running the most powerful organization in the underworld.”
“Which you aren’t supposed to ever mention,” Duke said, correcting her. “So cut it out, J.”
“I’m just saying we know what time it is. They’re getting something out of working for Daddy. They’re getting power out of it.”
“Teddy can get power anywhere he wants to get it. He doesn’t need Daddy for power.”
Jackie was staring at her brother.
Duke glanced at her once, and then again when he stopped at a red light. “What are you staring at me for?”
“You confuse me. You’re downing Daddy every chance you get, but yet in still you’re the one wanna be all up under him all the time.”
Duke frowned. “What be up under? That is such a lie.”
“Oh yeah? Then why won’t you apply for any schools outside of Philly? And why don’t you wanna stay in a dorm? Why would you prefer to stay home?”
“Because I do. So what?”
Jackie continued to stare at him. All the men in their family were just alike. Mick was just like Big Daddy. Teddy was just like Mick. Duke was just like Teddy. And they all never wanted to be too far from each other. It was a co-dependency unlike she’d ever seen. But you could never tell any of them that. But her cousin Tony Sinatra, who was a renowned psychologist, agreed with her. He saw it too.
Duke frowned. “What was that?” he asked as soon as they both heard what sounded like a big rock ricocheting off their windshield. But when they didn’t see a crack in their window, but began to hear the definite sound of gunfire, Duke quickly looked in his rearview.
And that was when he saw the car containing his security detail under fire. “Get down!” he yelled at his sister as he pushed her head down and hit on the gas pedal. He was taught by his father himself how to maneuver if they ever came under attack, and the main point was always the main point: get out of the area and get out of the area as fast as he could get out. And press the customized-by-his-father distress button.
He sped out of the area while he was pressing the distress button.
But the problem was that the attack wasn’t only on their security detail, but on them too, and a car began speeding behind them, firing at them as it drove.
Duke was speeding so fast, and turning corners so wildly that Jackie, down on the floor, just knew he was going to lose control and crash.
But Duke maintained control as he swerved side to side to avoid as much of the incoming fire as he possibly could. His Mustang was riddled with bullet holes. And no matter how fast he went or how sharply he turned every corner, that car was still on his tail.
But when the shooters in the car behind them shattered their back window with a volley of bullets that seemed never-ending, and when he saw that he was coming to a warehouse at the end of the street that would become a dead end, he had no choice but to turn offroad and fly through the woods.
