Page 48 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set

Izzy

I had the Uber driver drop me off at my house and I’ve raced through each room looking for a weapon to bring with me, with no luck.

I take a deep breath and climb the attic stairs.

I haven’t been up here since my mom died.

She always kept a handgun with her and I pray my dad left it with her things.

Neither of us could part with her sentimental valuables after she died.

My heart’s beating hard in my chest and emotions swirl through my head when I reach the top steps.

I pull the light switch and the soft glow from the bulb lights up part of the attic.

I hurry over to a big chest in the corner, sweat forming on my brow and hands.

I wipe my hands on my jeans and flip the latch on her green chest. I take a deep breath and open the lid.

Her familiar smell of vanilla invades my nose and memories of a great childhood flood my brain.

I miss my mom so much, but I have no time to go down memory lane. I clear my throat and shake my head.

I search through her chest and my fingers land on cold unyielding steel.

I grab it and pull a small revolver out.

I search for a box of bullets and find them too, next to the gun.

I open the chamber and load the bullets.

I spin it around and snap it shut. I check to make sure the hammer is in place and the safety’s on before I tuck it in the small of my back behind my jeans.

I cover it with my shirt and gently close the chest. I stand up and send a prayer to my mom to give me strength as I make my way down the stairs.

I reach my bedroom and hesitate. Xavier’s scent is still strong in here and tears form in my eyes.

I need to leave him a note if this goes bad.

We left each other angry and I didn’t tell him I loved him.

He needs to know he’s my everything. If things go the way I think they will go, I want him to move on and keep his heart open.

I inhale his scent one more time before straightening my spine. I close my bedroom door and head downstairs to the kitchen. I find a pen and paper and write a note to him. I leave it on the island underneath my favorite coffee cup and walk out the door to my jeep.

My dad kept my Jeep in pristine condition while I was away. I have a ninety-eight CJ 7 with a deep forest green paint job. The doors and top are already removed for the summer heat. I get inside and fire it up. The engine purrs to life and I back it out of the garage.

I arrive at the address, Marie the psycho, gave me thirty minutes later and shut my jeep off.

I parked a few hundred yards away from the house.

The birds are chirping, but the rest of the area is quiet, deadly quiet.

I glance around and take in my surroundings.

The sun is setting, creating pink and red hues to light up the sky.

There is an old dirty white farmhouse in front of me that sits in the back of six acres of woods.

The old house looks sad and lonely, the wrap-around porch is falling in and the windows are boarded up on this side.

There’s a rundown red barn to the left of the house and the once green grass has dried up and turned to weeds.

The driveway leading to the house is full of ruts and no one’s taken care of it in years.

It turned into a two-track off a dirt road.

I almost missed it, except I saw the old metal mailbox barely hanging onto a wooden post.

I wipe the sweat from my hands on my jeans. My nerves are getting the best of me. I climb out of my jeep and check to make sure my mom’s gun is still tucked safely in the back of my jeans. My hands are shaking, and my heart’s beating fast in my chest.

I slowly approach the rickety old steps leading to the rundown house.

The boards creak under my feet and the noise makes me jump.

I cautiously walk up the steps, careful not to fall through, and reach the front door.

I hesitate to open the door when I hear a thump and a muffled cry coming from inside.

Straightening my spine, I turn the doorknob and slowly open the door.

When I step inside, the first thing I see is Mia still tied to a chair. She is on the ground now, like someone pushed her over. Her eyes are wide and terrified, searching all around her. Ashley is upright, but her head is still slumped forward, resting on her chest. I can see her breathing.

An old musty smell and dust invade my nose as I step further into the mudroom.

The house has an abandoned, eerie feeling to it.

Shadows in every corner from the night coming are making me nervous.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

There’s someone else, somewhere in the house, watching and waiting for me to make a move.

I step into the living room, where Mia and Ashley are bound to two chairs in the center of the room.

There’s an old couch covered with a sheet that was once white, but now grey from the settling dust. There’s an old fireplace on one wall, next to a dirty window on the west side of the house.

The sun is glaring through the window, casting its final rays of the day.

I move quickly to Mia and Ashley and undo Mia’s ropes.

I untie Mia’s hands when something outside catches my eye from the window.

Mia lets out a whimper through the rag tied around her mouth when I stand up and go to investigate.

“I’ll be right back,” I whisper to her, not waiting for an answer.

I walk past Mia and Ashley at a fast pace and into the old, dirty kitchen.

Dirt covers the linoleum, but there are footprints all around.

There’s an island in the center of the kitchen, littered with old newspapers and junk.

There is so much garbage and dust inside of here, it’s coating my sweaty skin, making it itch.

I open the back door and peek my head outside.

I inhale the fresh air and look around. There are more woods in the back of the house and the porch is in worse condition.

Missing boards are back here and the steps to get off the porch rotted out.

There is nothing out here but weeds, woods and rotten boards.

I take another deep breath and head back inside.

I cautiously walk back into the living room to Mia and Ashley.

I keep looking around to make sure no one will sneak up on me.

Mia is untied and she is trying to wake Ashley up.

Mia has bruises on her face and blood running down her nose.

She’s holding onto her left side, taking short breaths.

I untie Ashley’s hands and work on her feet.

She lets out a quiet groan and rolls her head on her shoulders.

“Come on Ash, wake up,” I whisper to her.

I shake her hands, trying to get the blood flowing back into her fingertips.

She slowly opens her eyes, but the sun’s rays coming through the window make her wince and close her eyes again.

I get a good look at her face, she has a massive bruise forming on the left side of her head, near her temple.

Dried blood is stuck to her hairline. Someone hit her with something and caused a concussion.

“Ash, honey. Come on we have to get out of here.” I shake her shoulders gently. She opens her eyes again and squints.

“Izzy?" Ashley croaks out.

“Shh, honey. Yeah, it’s me.” I tell her gently.

Mia finally speaks, her voice is barely a whisper. “Thank God you got here when you did. That woman is batshit crazy. She makes my crazy look calm."

My spine stiffens as we help Ashley out of her chair. Her legs give out slightly and I wrap her arm around my shoulders. Mia does the same and we support Ashley’s weight between the two of us.

“What do you mean? Where is she?" I ask in a soft voice.

“I don’t know. She was here and then when you came in the front door, she went out the back door.”

I stop walking and look around again. “Fuck, Mia. She’s still here.” I whisper. My heart is beating fast again and every shadow in the old house is making me jump. I hear a click of a gun at the back of my head and I take a harsh breath. Mia let out a little squeal.

“You got that right, bitch. I’m still here. Don’t move.” Marie’s voice is low and deadly as she keeps talking. “You took everything away from me. I thought I had you beat, but you wouldn’t stay away. I told you, Xavier is mine." This woman is crazy, and I can hear it in her voice.

“Marie let’s talk about this,” I say calmly. On the inside, I’m fucking terrified, but I can’t show any weakness. On the track, if I show any weakness, those guys will eat me alive. Just like here. I’m terrified, but I can’t let it show.

“There’s no talking anymore.” Marie hisses.

“OK, no more talking. Let these two go and you can keep me. The one you want. They’re in no shape to fight you anyway.” I respond. “Please Marie, let them go.” I plead with her. The gun is still flush with the back of my head.

“You two go get the fuck out. I have who I want.” Marie says after a beat.

“I’m not leaving you, Izzy.” Mia cries.

“Mia, you have to. Ashley needs a doctor, you need a doctor. Take my jeep outside and get Ashley the help she needs." I’m trying to talk in code and I hope Mia gets it.

I transfer Ashley’s arm from around my shoulders slowly. She’s standing on her own a little better. The glaze in her eyes isn’t as bad as before, but she’s still not out of it yet. Mia is sobbing now.

“Mia, please keep it together and get both of you to a doctor. I’ll be fine,” my voice is strong, but I’m still shaking on the inside.

Keep it together for a little longer, Izabella. I pep talk myself. Mia controls her sobbing and nods her head.

“OK, but I don’t like this.” Mia’s breath hitches. I give Mia a forced smile.

“I know. It’s the only way. Now go.” I command. The gun is pressing harder against the back of my head and I lift my hands in the air.

“You better fucking move before I change my mind. You have five seconds to get out that door or I’ll shoot her in the head, then shoot you.” Marie hisses out to Mia.

Mia helps Ashley to the front door and opens it. I’m relieved when they disappear from my line of sight.

“Thank you,” I tell Marie.

“I didn’t do it for you bitch,” she hisses. The gun presses even harder to the back of my head. “Though it would have been fun to watch you watch me torture them, but I have other plans for you." The venom in her voice sends a shiver down my spine.

“What are you going to do?" I ask.

Marie removes the gun from the back of my head. She yanks on my hands hard and ties them behind my back. I hear her gasp. Anger radiates from her body when she runs her fingers down my left hand.

I close my eyes. Fuck. My engagement ring. I forgot I had it on.

She yanks my ring from my finger and her other hand pulls my head back harshly, bringing tears to my eyes. I’m almost bent over backward.

I finally get a good look at her face. I haven’t seen her since the day she paid me a visit and ruined our lives five years ago.

She looks so different now. Her shoulder-length black hair is greasy and dirty.

Her cheekbones are sunken in, and her lips are dry and cracked.

Her black eyes are cold and deadly as they stare into mine.

I swallow hard at the sight of her and the smell of body odor and sweat coming off her makes me want to gag. I hold it in and meet her gaze.

“You don’t deserve this,” she sneers. Her chapped lips reveal yellow teeth. I want to vomit, but I can’t.

“You’re right.” I grit through my teeth, trying to keep her from doing something stupid, like shooting me. Her cold, deadly black eyes take on a look of surprise.

“I’m glad you agree,” Marie hisses.

She yanks my hair again and drags me to the chair Ashley was in.

Tears are welling in my eyes and I pray Xavier finds my note and finds me.

It was a stupid idea to come here alone.

Only Mia and Ashley know where I’m at right now and it took me a half-hour to get here from town.

Marie ties me to the chair and stands in front of me with a look of satisfaction on her face, the gun pointed at me again.

“I have one last surprise for you,” she sneers at me.

I hear someone come up from behind me and my heart drops to my toes when they stand next to Marie.

“Well, we meet again.” The man standing in front of me says. This is it, this is the end. It wasn’t about my dad, it was about me.