Page 51 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set

Xavier

I’m driving toward the old farmhouse at breakneck speed.

My hands are gripping the steering wheel so hard, that my knuckles are turning white.

I keep pressure on the gas until I spot a mailbox almost falling off a post. I slam on the brakes and Nolan throws his arms up to stop himself from kissing the dashboard.

I throw the car in park and yank my door open.

Night is approaching fast and my nerves are getting the best of me.

Before I can charge up the driveway, Nolan grabs my shoulder and yanks me back, halting my progress.

“Fucker, we need a plan. We can’t just go in, guns blazing." Nolan says.

“Nolan, they’ve had her for God knows how long, doing God knows what to her. We need to get in there and get her out.” I plead with him.

“I know but let me do what I do. We need a plan, and this is where I excel. This is what I do,” he says gently. I glance at Nolan confusion clouding my mind.

“How is this what you do? How do I not know any of this? It’s like I don’t even know you."

“Now isn’t the time to get into it. I need you to trust me and I’ll explain everything later.” He grips my arm, silently begging me to understand.

A black SUV pulls up behind us and the four muscle freaks from the track get out.

They’re all strapped down with guns and knives.

They approach us, appearing more menacing than at the track, which I didn’t think was possible.

They’re all standing stiff and rigid, waiting for orders.

The one who is Christian’s brother speaks first. “Boss, what’s the plan? "

Before Nolan answers him, he pins me with a look I haven’t seen before. His brown eyes have lost all the humor I’m used to seeing and he’s afraid. He’s afraid I won’t accept him and his secrets.

“Please Xavier, trust me,” Nolan says. Immediately, I know my answer with no hesitation. I’ve known Nolan almost our whole lives. I trust him with my life and I trust him with Izzy’s.

“I trust you brother, but I need an explanation later,” I tell him.

Relief fills his eyes and he turns to the four men standing to attention. “Harris, Marks, and Ramirez. You three take the south side. Come up through the woods and cover the back door. Stay low and out of sight.” His voice is sharp and to the point, what a great leader is made of.

“Got it, boss,” one of them says.

Nolan turns to me and the other muscle freak left. “Iverson, you’re with me and Xavier. We’re going up and covering the front." He directs his attention to all of us. “None of you move until I give the signal. Shoot to kill. Everyone has their mics?"

They all affirm and Nolan walks behind the SUV. A few moments later he comes back with a nine-millimeter gun and two extra earpieces. He handed me the gun and one earpiece.

“Xavier, you need to strap up. Put this earpiece in and you can communicate with us all."

I take the earpiece and put it in. When I hear everyone, I give a thumbs up. I take the gun and cock it back, chambering a round.

“Ok boys, we’re going to go in fast and hard on my signal. Remember, Izzy is our priority. Get her out and shoot to kill anyone in our way.” Nolan says, bringing his gun out from behind his back and cocking it, chambering a round.

The three men, Harris, Marks, and Ramirez disappear into the woods. I strain to listen, but I don’t hear them stomping through the woods. Nolan puts a steady hand on my shoulder.

“Ready brother?" he asks.

“Yeah.”

“Let’s go get your girl and finally end this."

Nolan is calm and collective, he’s in his element and I have so much respect for him right now. “Let’s do it.”

Night has fallen and we’re silently jogging down the heavily weeded two-track road that used to be a driveway.

As we approach the open field leading to the house, Nolan throws his right hand up, fist closed.

Iverson and I stop jogging and we assess our surroundings.

There’s an old, dilapidated white farmhouse in front of us.

There is a faint light coming from the west side of the house.

There are boards over the windows and the wrap-around porch is falling in.

That’s both an advantage and a disadvantage to us.

They can’t see us coming, but we can’t see inside either.

Birds and crickets are chirping in the woods surrounding the house and there is a rundown red barn to the left.

Nolan signals to go towards the barn instead of hitting the house straight on.

I catch three figures in the back of the house moving low and fast from the woods out of the corner of my eye. If I blinked, I would have missed them.

Nolan, Iverson, and I stay low and move with quick paces towards the barn. When we reach it, Iverson disappears inside for a minute and comes back out.

“Clear boss, just a rusty old car and a shiny Mercedes inside,” Iverson whispers.

“Got it, now we’re going to stay low and quiet, approach the house from this end, and assess what we’re walking into,” Nolan whispers back.

He looks directly at me. “Do not go in half-cocked. If you do, Izzy’s life will be in danger.

Let us do our jobs and we’ll get her out safely.

I’d tell you to stay out here, but I know you won’t listen.

Stay behind us and bring up the rear, watch my six. It’s showtime, brother."

“Got it." My hands are shaking, sweat is breaking out on my forehead, and my heart is beating fast in my chest. Adrenaline is flowing through my veins as we approach the side of the house.

Nolan is the first to step onto the fallen down porch, Iverson following him.

Neither of them is making a sound and I follow in their footsteps.

One wrong step and it could alert whoever’s on the other side of our presence.

Yeah, I’ve watched enough action-packed movies to know that.

Great, I’m freaked out and rambling to myself.

I think of the last time I talked to Izzy.

Her beautiful gaze pierces mine as she tells me off.

I think of the last time we were together in the back of my pickup.

Her sweet ass giving me an eyeful as she rode me like there was no end.

When I promised her forever at the hospital, I meant it.

She’s my forever, my checkered flag, and my winner’s circle.

Nothing or nobody will ever take her place.

Nolan snaps a finger in my face, bringing my attention back into focus.

We’re crouched down by the front door. Nolan and Iverson have their guns drawn, pointed up in the air.

He points his first two fingers on his left hand towards his eyes, then he points at me, then the house.

Oh! He wants me to watch the house. I give him the same signal and a nod back.

He taps his mic and his whisper fills my head. “Everyone all set back there?"

One man, I’m not sure who whispers through the earpiece. “All set boss.”

“On the count of three,” Nolan whispers in my ear. He stands up against the side of the house, gun pointed towards the door, finger on the trigger. His feet are shoulder-width apart, hands steady as he signals to Iverson.

Iverson stands up and silently approaches the door. He has one foot in front of the other, preparing to kick it in. His gun is steady, pointing at the door as Nolan counts down.

“One,” Nolan whispers.

My heart is hammering, and I wipe my sweaty hands on my jeans.

“Two,” Nolan whispers.

Before he can get to three, I hear a loud slap and a muffled cry of pain. A female voice floats through the quiet night penetrating my ears.

“Die, bitch!”

“Three! Go, go, go!" Nolan shouts in the earpiece.

It all happens too quickly. Iverson kicks the door in, and Nolan enters first, low, and fast. Iverson following him, leaving me crouched by the door, still stunned.

Gunshots from inside ring the night air as I duck into the doorway.

I stop dead in my tracks when I see what’s waiting on the other side.

Marie is holding onto Izzy, using her as a human shield.

She has a gun in her right hand, pointed to the right side of Izzy’s head and her left hand is around her neck, her fingers digging into Izzy’s throat.

Her back is against the wall in the living room.

Izzy’s eyes are frightened, and she has a bruise on the left side of her face.

Rage fills my bones when I see that bruise.

My muscles are tense and I’m doing all I can to not flip the switch and let my demons out.

I don’t break eye contact with Izzy. Tears are welling in her passionate gaze and my heart breaks.

I can’t get to her, protect her, like I promised.

All I want to do is kill this fucking bitch who has been terrorizing us.

My mind flashes back to the night Marie drugged me and ruined everything for us. Nolan’s standing next to me and rests a hand on my shoulder, calming me down. Marie’s voice floats through my ears, like nails down a chalkboard.

“Xavier, my love. How thoughtful of you to join me. It’s been a while, but you’re still sexy as ever. I want to lick my way down your body again."

I take in Marie’s appearance from behind Izzy. Her dark hair is greasy and snarled, her cheekbones sunken into her skin, her lips chapped, and she’s lost a lot of weight. Nolan speaks before I do.

“Marie,” he says. Her black, cold, and deadly eyes snap to him. “Let Izzy go. You have nowhere left to go, and you’re surrounded. Let’s end this the right way and no one else gets hurt." His voice is kind and soft.

I glance around the room and see all five men have their guns drawn and pointed in Izzy and Marie’s direction. There is a pool of blood next to a turned over chair. I follow the pool of blood with my eyes and find a skinny man with brown hair, face down in it. It’s Craig and he isn’t moving.