Page 102 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set

Nolan

“Boss, we have company,” Marks chirps in my ear. “Three cars coming and picking up speed fast.”

“Copy that. Hang tight boys, it’s going to get dicey,” I reply and punch the gas, shifting smoothly. We pull away from the cars following us and fly up Interstate moving at top speed.

“Fuck, Nolan. Watch out!” Ashley screams and braces herself against the seat, hanging onto the ‘oh shit’ bar when a car appears onto the highway and tries to sideswipe us.

I jerk the wheel hard to the left and hit the median.

Grass and dirt kick up behind me making the car fishtail.

I tear back onto the highway and steady the car and my beating heart.

“You good boss?” Ramirez asks.

“Yup, I’m good,” I reply, releasing a breath. “That was close.”

“It’s not over yet,” Ashton says from the backseat.

I glance into my rearview mirror and see three cars surrounding the SUV, slowing it down. Every time my team speeds up, a car cuts them off making them slow down.

“Boss, I can’t get past them. Get out of here and take care of business,” Harris shouts into the comm pieces.

“I’m not leaving you behind,” I shout back, zigzagging up the highway, passing cars left and right.

“Boss get the fuck out of here. There’s more coming up behind us. We will take care of them and catch up.” Harris orders.

“Nolan, we have to go, they’re trying to stop us from reaching our destination.

If they do, we’re as good as dead.” As soon as Ashton says the words, gunshots ring out.

I glance in the rearview mirror; the black SUV and the other cars are nowhere in sight.

“Keep going. Trust your team to do the right thing.” Ashton reassures me.

Punching the gas, I shift again and race past the other cars on the highway. Looking in my mirror, bright headlights are right on my ass, not giving me any room. I speed up and they keep the same pace, inching closer and closer.

“Brace yourselves,” I hold on to the steering wheel with a tight grip, turning my knuckles white.

Ashley throws her seatbelt on and braces herself against the dash.

Ashton tightens his hold on the seats. The car behind me nudges my back bumper, and the wheel shakes under my grip.

The asshole behind me backs off, gains speed, and hits me again, slamming into the rear end hard.

I keep the car on the road, just barely.

My heart is beating hard in my chest and my hands are sweating.

Adrenaline is pumping through my veins and my fight or flight instincts are kicking in.

“Get us out of here,” Ashley pleads from the passenger seat.

I look from side to side trying to find an escape route.

There’s a break in the cars and a left turn exit approaches fast. I yank the wheel hard to the left and cut across several lanes and shoot off the exit, leaving blaring horns and bright lights behind me.

I don’t let up until I’m right on the hairpin turn, then I let up on the gas, grab the e-brake, and turn hard to the right.

We barely make the turn when I’m forced to repeat the process to the left.

“Who in the fuck made the roads?” Ashton grumbles from the back seat.

“I don’t know but we’re almost out and in the clear.

” I grit through my teeth. Another curve to the right descends upon us and I repeat the process.

Relaxing my grip on the wheel, I check my rearview mirror at the same time Ashton turns around.

I breathe a sigh of relief and calm my racing heart when I see no headlights in sight. “Pull up the GPS and see where we are.”

Ashley fumbles for her phone and clicks on the app with shaking fingers as she steadies her breathing. Her face is pale, illuminated by the glow of her phone. “We’ve gone too far. We’re two exits away from the one we wanted.”

“Is there a way back that isn’t on the highway?” I ask.

“Yeah, but we have to go through some Podunk towns to get there and some windy mountainsides. I think it’ll be best if we get back on the highway and head south. It’s the quickest.”

“All right keep your eyes open for any more trouble,” I answer and whip a quick U-turn in the middle of the road.

I drive back toward the highway, watching and waiting.

Taking the turns to get back on the highway, no other cars are in sight.

We ride in silence, the moon high in the sky creating an eerie glow of the treetops.

Once I reach the exit, I check my rearview mirrors.

Cars are coming up behind us, but they’re too far back to cause me concern.

“Harris, Marks, Ramirez, are you back online yet?” Silence greets me on the other end. I try again. “Harris, can you hear me?” No response. “Marks, you there?” Silence. “Ramirez?” Nothing. “Where the fuck are they?”

“I don’t know, but their phones are off too,” Ashton answers from the back seat.

Turning left, a dreadful feeling sets in the pit of my stomach as I drive into the night. I turn down a dirt road and pull off to the side.

“Here’s the plan. Since Harris, Marks, and Ramirez are missing, we need to do this with just the three of us.

We won’t have eyes on our six so it’s up to us to watch each other’s backs.

The house I know Switch is in is at the end of this road.

I’m going to hide the car here and we’re walking to it through the woods.

Remember to stay quiet and do not hesitate to take any of them out.

” I pull back onto the road and find a spot to hide the car.

We quietly get out and make our way into the forest.

“Why is it when things are getting dicey we end up traipsing through the woods?” Ashley whispers.

“I was wondering the same thing,” I respond and we both chuckle.

“We’re getting close, silence from here on out.

We go in fast and hard. Don’t ask questions.

Switch will not hesitate to kill you, and neither will Wrath.

We take them out along with Marcus, and we slice off the head of the whole operation.

Everyone ready?” We stop walking and check our weapons.

“Ready,” Ashley whispers.

“Ready,” Ashton responds.

“Let’s do this.” We come to the edge of the clearing and a huge old farmhouse lights up the night sky.

Every light is on the first and second floor.

Cars are parked haphazardly in the driveway and front lawn.

The bass of the music is pouring out the open windows and creating a cover for us.

Sneaking around the back of the old house, it’s dark and deserted back here.

I check the area for anyone patrolling the grounds and there’s no one around.

These guys are too comfortable and I’m about to change all that.

Channeling my inner strength, we climb the back porch and I place one hand on the doorknob.

I hold up three fingers signaling to go on my count.

Lowering one finger, Ashton moves to the left of the door and Ashley moves behind me on the right.

My second finger lowers and we aim our weapons at the door.

My third finger drops, and I turn the knob cracking the door open.

We all file into the back mudroom, staying low and silent.

The music is vibrating the old wooden floorboards and we quietly creep into the kitchen doorway.

The bright lights from the room cause me to pause before entering.

“We need to find the fuse box and kill the lights,” I whisper in my earpiece. This is why I need my team. Fucking assholes for splitting us apart.

“I’m on it boss,” Harris’s voice comes across my earpiece.

“Thank fuck. What took you so long?” I tease him.

“Marks had to make a pit stop,” Harris jokes.

“Fuck off,” Marks responds.

“We’re in the back mudroom, right next to the kitchen. You all locked and loaded?”

“You know it,” Ramirez replies. “Let’s put the women and kids to bed and play with the big boys.”

The house plunges into darkness and chaos ensues. People are shouting and running around, trying to figure out what happened.

“Get Switch and Wrath out of here,” I hear someone yell.

“What about the kid?” Another one asks.

“Fuck that kid, leave him.” The same person barks out. I spot them moving into the kitchen and heading right for us by the flashlights on their phones. “Wrath doesn’t even want the little asshole.”

I hold up three fingers, signaling to Ashton and Ashley.

They both give me a quick nod and prepare to take them out.

The three men turn around and have their backs to us when they hear a noise from the living room.

We each sneak up behind them and I don’t see what the other two are doing.

I know what I must do. Channeling my inner self, I grab the man from behind and without thinking twist his neck until he drops to the floor, not moving. I’ll deal with the outcome later.

Moving quickly into the next room, I find two more men, strapped with AK 47’s. They’re looking all around and are scared shitless. I keep to the shadows, waiting and listening.

“What if it’s that guy Switch warned us about is here?” One whispers.

“Kill him. Those were our orders. Kill him and anyone with him.” The second guy answers.

“I’ve never killed anyone before. I don’t know if I can do it.” The first one responds.

“If you have a chance to kill him and don’t, Switch will kill you. Which would you rather have?”

“I…,” the first guy stutters.

“Listen, the first kill is always hard, but after that it gets easy and you don’t even think about it anymore. Just do the fucking job or I’ll take you out myself.”

The flashlight shines in the first guy’s face. He swallows hard and his face is pale. He’s shaking and backing away from the second guy. “I can’t do it, man. I didn’t sign on for this.”