Page 52 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set

I return my gaze to Izzy and Marie. Izzy’s had her right hand behind her back and her eyes are closed.

Her left hand is on Marie’s fingers digging into her throat.

My eyes focus on Izzy’s ring finger. My ring is missing from her left hand.

I follow her hand up to Marie’s and spot my ring on her finger.

Marie’s watching me, trying to see what I’m looking at.

A smile forms on her lips, revealing yellow-stained teeth.

“Oh, Xavier don’t you like it? It fits my finger so much better.

Marrying you will be the best time.” Marie sneers from behind Izzy.

Her left hand tightening on Izzy’s throat.

Her black eyes are darting around the room before she speaks to Nolan.

“Fuck you, Nolan. She took Xavier away from me, now she took Craig away from me. She needs to die."

Rage consumes me as Marie squeezes Izzy’s throat, cutting off her oxygen.

“What do you want Marie?" I grit through my teeth. Marie smiles again before answering and it makes me want to vomit.

“You Xavier. All I want is you.” Marie says.

“Well, here I am. Let Izzy go, and you can have me.” I plead with her. A glint of something I can’t quite put my finger on forms in Marie’s cold, black eyes. “I’m right here Marie. Let her go and I’ll take her place.” I step closer to them. Izzy shakes her head.

“No, X. Stay back." Marie’s hand tightens on Izzy’s throat, choking her words.

“Shut up bitch," she snarls, looking at me. “You mean it?"

I nod my head while swallowing hard. “Yes, Marie.” I clear my throat, trying not to get sick, and step even closer to them.

Her body odor and sweat penetrate my nose, but I hold the vomit back.

“I’m right here let her go and these guys will take her out of here. I’ll willingly trade myself for her."

Marie wavers a little and lets her hand loosen on Izzy’s throat.

Izzy gasps for breath. I need to sell this to Marie, so one guy can take her out.

Izzy is silently crying, tears are streaming down her face, but I can’t focus on that now.

I need to keep my attention on Marie. I hold my hands up above my head, and my is gun pointed away from them.

I need to make Marie trust me so she lets Izzy go.

“Marie, that ring is right where it needs to be. Izzy was just a means to an end. Old times to tie up and get out of my system so you can have my complete attention.” I choke out.

God this is disgusting. The last thing I want to do is try to sweet talk this wretched bitch.

I hope Izzy knows I mean none of it. I take a chance and glance at Izzy.

Her bloodshot gaze is watching me and she gives me a slight nod of her head.

The bruise on the left side of her face is getting darker and it angers me, but I keep the anger shoved deep down.

Izzy knows what I’m doing. It’s like we’re constantly in sync with each other.

How couples meant to be together, should be.

Izzy speaks up selling it even more. “He’s right Marie.

I was just a means to an end. You deserve each other.

He ripped my heart out years ago and I was just using him this past couple of months to say goodbye.

It’s always been you who won. You don’t have to kill me, I’ll walk away and leave you two alone.

" Marie’s hand holding the gun wavers a little and I catch it.

It’s working, Izzy is changing her mind.

“See Marie, I’m telling the truth,” I hiss.

“Tell them to leave and I’ll let her go,” Marie demands.

“Please, leave. She isn’t going to hurt me. She just wants to be loved." I choke out. Nolan looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, but I give him a wink. He lowers his gun down and points it at the ground. He speaks to the other four men in the room.

“You heard them, fall back." They all give Nolan a questioning look but do what they’re told. “I’ll be right outside. I hope you know what you’re doing. This has never happened before.” Nolan says shaking his head.

“Trust me, as I trust you,” I tell him.

I have no clue what I’m doing. I’m flying by the seat of my pants here, but I’m the only one who can get through to Marie. The rest of these guys send her into a fit of rage and I can’t let her hurt Izzy any more than she already has.

Nolan and the other four make their way out the back door and it’s just Izzy, Marie and I. Rapid breathing fills the silence from the three of us.

“OK Marie, they’re gone, it’s just the three of us. Let her go and we can be together.” I speak. Marie hesitates for a second.

The gun pointing at Izzy’s head waivers again.

Izzy takes advantage of Marie’s hesitancy and before I know it, Izzy has broken free of Marie’s hold and has her gun pointed at Marie’s head, cocking the hammer back, ready to fire.

I move next to Izzy, my gun pointed at Marie.

I place my hand on the small of Izzy’s back, giving her a reassuring touch. Izzy’s stance is strong and in control.

“Drop it, bitch.” Izzy spits out.

Marie’s eyes turn cold and deadly again when she sees us stand side by side.

She’s not going down without a fight. Marie still has her gun aimed at Izzy, and her pointer finger tightens on the trigger.

I watch, in rapid succession, as Marie’s eyes dart to mine, then go back to Izzy.

She pulls the trigger and I shove Izzy out of the way.

White-hot pain laces my body and I fall to the ground.

I hear more gunshots fire, but the noise is muffled by the ringing in my ears.

Warm hands are on my body, but I’m drifting away slowly.

The last thing I see is Izzy standing over me, her warm hands running down my face.

Coldness settles in and I close my eyes.

I can’t feel, see, or hear anything anymore as I succumb to the darkness surrounding me.