Page 12 of Twisted Revelations

Laura’s gun sounded loud and demanding as I concentrated and steadied my aim at another approaching from a distance in the hall. My gun kicked, sending fast-moving death into the darkness and my target. He stumbled around like a drunk before he dropped to the floor.

“This way!” I shouted, pointing out the cleared path in the direction of the doorway that would lead us to freedom. I wasn’t sure Laura trusted me enough not to shoot me, but we had to move before we became sitting ducks.

I hopped through the busted-out window with ease as I scanned the area. Laura with her short stature faced a bit of difficulty in her attempt to hop across the wall. I gripped her forearm and yanked her across. As soon as her feet struck the ground, fire flashed from her pistol as she took down the man who’d turned the corner in our direction.

No one gave chase as we ran the expanse of the hall, exited a side door, and maneuvered the twists and turns between warehouses to get to my car. Laura didn’t voice a complaint as she remained on guard. Our feet beat up the ground, and our harsh breaths breathed life into the darkness we traveled through.

The shadow of my black car stood against the darkness enough for me to make it out. I’d backed it into the alley for an easier getaway. A few clicks of the key fob in my hand caused the lights to flash once, alerting I’d unlocked the car before the engine roared to life.

Laura ran to the passenger’s side, climbed in, and hunkered low without me having to tell her. I hopped in, keyed a secondary code, and sped along the tight alley without headlights. There were no other cars on the deserted street we’d turned onto, only the large structures of warehouses that all looked the same.

After minutes of the engine’s roar and our accelerated breathing, it pleased me no cars approached from either direction. The infrared D had provided into the warehouse had revealed at least twenty, so I expected them to give chase.

A long stretch of silence filled the interior of my car as we approached the flowing traffic of the city and turned into the hectic movements. Laura’s neck continued to snap back in the direction we’d left and faced front before she eyeballed the side mirror.

The dash lighting revealed the gun gripped tight in her hand, waiting for a chance to be fired.

“So, what are you? Some rich wanna-be hit man?” Her eyes were glued to the side mirror, searching for a tail as she spoke.

“I’m the man that saved your life. Besides, I wasn’t the one inciting my own death.” I straightened as I scanned the rearview mirror.

“I wasn’t about to let those assholes torture me or do something worse. I’d rather die the quick ending I had incited than suffer a torturous one for no reason. If you’re truly the help, where the hell is Beverly? Is she okay? Or better yet, where the hell is Megan?”

“How could you possibly connect me to Megan when you don’t know who I am?”

“I didn’t actually. However, there was a fake detective that came searching for Megan months back. The assholes who just took me repeatedly questioned me about Megan and insisted that some white guys were protecting her. I assumed if you’re here to help me, it meant Beverly found you somehow.”

“Beverly is fine. She’s with my friend, D, which is where we’re headed as soon as I know for certain that we don’t have a tail. Megan is fine also. She’s in California with our friend, Ansel. He’s keeping her safe from the same crew that’s apparently hunting you.”

It appeared my words satisfied her, but she remained quiet. I kept a keen eye on the rearview.

“Trust me,” she declared, lifting the gun, “if we had a tail, I’d have spotted them by now, and they would have caught some of this heat.”

I didn’t doubt that. I didn’t know what to make of this woman. If I hadn’t shown up, she’d be dead or everyone in that warehouse would be.

“So, Suit-and-tie. What’s your story? Do you always go around killing people and attempting rescue missions dressed like you’re about to receive an Academy Award? Montblanc watch, a tailor-cut suit, Ferragamo oxfords,” she rambled off accurately, identifying my attire, proving she’d paid more attention than I’d assumed.

“First, my name’s Dax, and I’d appreciate you addressing me that way. Second, I didn’t attempt a rescue mission. I completed one, saving you before you ended up getting yourself killed.”

“Whatever,” she grumbled as she bent and fished around in her back pocket. A small object was in her hand that was obscured by the darkness. I sensed her assessing gaze on me as the low click of my cigarette lighter sounded.

When the lighter popped up, she removed it. A few seconds later, the burning glow of orange floated through the dim interior. When the flames caught the tobacco of her cigarette, she cracked her window as a pathetic show of respect for my property.

“Would you put that cigarette out and respect my car? I don’t smoke, and you should have asked before lighting up,” I disciplined, irritated with her.

“Sorry. Not a cigarette,” she choked out before taking another long drag, the hot orange tip flaring to life.

When the scent drifted up my nose, my foot stomped on the brake, causing her to fight the force of the interior momentum. She managed to avoid slamming into the dash as her lips kept the lit and illegal cigarette in her mouth.

From my control panel, I rolled her window the rest of the way down before snatching what appeared to be a half a blunt from her lips and tossed it through her window. My finger pointed in her direction like a father disciplining his child.

“You’re next if you don’t respect me and my property.”

“Are you crazy? That was certified moon rock,” she yelled like I was the one in the wrong. This woman was certifiably nuts.

“I don’t care if it was the earth’s crust. You need to keep a level head. You were abducted by a cartel. They are going to keep coming after you until they get what they want. Getting high is not the solution in this situation,” I briefed, certain my words weren’t making an impact on her half-dead brain cells.

A teasing laugh sounded. “I don’t know how you relieve your stress, but you just tossed the one thing that’s going to keep me calm and easy going.”

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