Page 98 of Racing Dirty Trilogy Box Set

“One,” everyone breaks off onto either side of the door.

“Two,” I whisper again. We all get on the balls of our feet, ready to bounce.

“Three,” Ashton pulls the door open and I enter first. Sweeping the room, I wait with my gun drawn, at the next door leading onto the catwalk for everyone else to get here.

“Again,” I whisper.

Everyone sets up like last time in the small space and I countdown.

“One,” guns are drawn, fingers on the trigger.

“Two,” I brace myself, ready for anything.

“Three,” Ashton opens the door and I walk out onto the catwalk and turn right, keeping my back flush against the wall.

Ashley, Ashton. and Xavier follow me. Harris, Marks, Christian, and Ramirez turn in the opposite direction.

Signaling with my hands, I direct the four to take that side and clear the rooms. I set up next to the first door with Xavier next to me, Ashley passes me and sets up at the next door, and Ashton goes to the door after hers.

I try the knob and it’s unlocked. Sweeping the room quickly, not making a sound, Xavier follows me in.

There’s nothing in here but dust, dirt, and a metal desk.

“Clear room one,” I whisper into my mic. Turning toward Xavier I turn off my mic and whisper, “Look I know you’re itching to go, but you need to stay with me. Don’t leave my sight.”

“I’m in way over my head like last time,” Xavier confesses. “You won’t get any arguments from me. If push comes to shove, I want you to trust me, please.”

“Deal. We need to finish sweeping these rooms. Come on, let’s go.” I turn my mic back on.

“Clear room two,” Ashley whispers in my ear.

“Clear room three,” Ashton says next.

After we sweep and clear each room, we meet in the middle of the catwalk and regroup.

I point to Marks to set up at the south end of the catwalk.

He disappears into the shadows. Then I point to Ramirez to set up on the east side and he too disappears.

Pointing to Harris, he also hides in the shadows to set up on the west side.

That leaves, Ashton, Ashley, Christian, Xavier, and I at the top of the metal stairs.

I point two fingers to my eyes and back at each.

They all nod and we descend the stairs quietly.

This part has me on edge as we reach the bottom.

We’re wide open and anyone watching can pick us off one by one.

We split apart at the bottom of the stairs.

Xavier and Ashley follow me and Ashton and Christian go in the opposite direction.

We hide in the shadows and quickly make our way across the warehouse. I spot Izzy curled up in the corner.

“Target located south end corner. Appears to be alone.” I relay this to my team.

We quietly make our approach toward Izzy.

Xavier tries to pass me and get to her, but Ashley stops him.

She shakes her head and he glares at her, not understanding why we’re waiting.

A shadow moves behind Xavier and Ashley pushes him against the wall, watching to see where the figure goes.

It’s heading our way, right down the middle of the warehouse.

“Hostile at your six. He’s locked and loaded,” Harris chirps in my ear.

I push my body against the wall and wait for them to pass.

Ashley has a palm on Xavier’s chest and they’re both against the wall, out of whoever’s coming down sight.

He passes us and walks toward Ashton and Christian.

I can’t see them, but I know they’re there.

Once his back is toward me, I sneak up behind him, channeling my rage and hate, letting the demon come out to play.

I grab the guy’s neck and squeeze hard, dropping him to the ground and dragging him back to the shadows.

I could have killed him instantly, but instead, I knocked his ass out cold and have him disarmed, hogtied, and gagged behind a crate.

“Hostile clear,” I say into the mic, steadying my breathing and racing heart. Now’s not the time to lose my head.

“Two more heading your way,” Marks whispers.

I blend back into the shadows and watch as two more men strapped with AK-47s come into view.

They split off in opposite directions. One turns toward Christian and Ashton and the other heads right for Izzy in my direction.

I wait until he’s right next to me and grab his neck.

I squeeze with everything I have and he goes down silently.

I drag him behind another crate, disarm, hogtie, and gag him.

“Hostile two clear,” Ashton says into the mic.

“Hostile three down,” I return.

“All clear on our end,” Ramirez responds.

“Let’s get our package,” I whisper.

I nod to Xavier and he quickly reaches Izzy.

He gently shakes her and her eyes flutter open.

Surprise is etched on her face when she sees him and tears form in her eyes.

He lifts her off the floor and cradles her into his chest. Her hands and feet are secured with a thick rope.

Izzy sniffles and her eyes collide with mine.

She cries harder and breaks eye contact with me, burying her face into Xavier’s chest. Ashton and Christian reach us and work on untying the ropes.

Ashley is soothing Izzy hair and telling her everything will be all right.

“Wait,” Izzy’s voice croaks. “Redline is here too, but they separated us. I think he’s in one of the rooms down here.”

“On it,” Ashton says.

“I’ll go with you,” Ashley offers.

Before I can stop her, the three disappear into the darkness. “Let’s get you out of here,” I tell Izzy. She nods her head but won’t make eye contact with me, hiding her face in Xavier’s chest.

“Nolan, we have him.” Ashley’s voice fills my ears.

“Good, let’s move,” I respond. I take the lead and find the exit on the east side. “Rush, Ace, we’re coming out.”

“Clear out here,” Rush responds.

I open the door to Ace and Rush watching and waiting on opposite sides.

“Where’s Ashley?” Rush asks, concerned.

“They’re coming any second behind me,” I answer.

“Coming out,” Ashton grunts into the mic.

“Clear out here,” I respond. The door swings open and Christian walks out first. Ashley and Ashton have Redline propped between them. His head is down, and his feet are dragging behind him.

“He’s had the shit beat out of him,” Ashley growls. “He’s unconscious.” I quickly try to take Redline’s weight off Ashley, but she pushes me away. “I got it,” she snaps.

She’s pissed. I can feel her eyes burn into mine and vengeance thrumming through her body. She’s ready to fuck someone up. We all meet at the cars and together Ashton and her gently lay Redline down in the back seat of Ashton’s car and she climbs in.

“What are you doing?” I ask, catching her arm.

She glares at me like I’ve lost my damn mind and I know I have.

“I’m not leaving him, not now.” She snarls and sits in the back seat.

She has Redline’s head in her lap and is staring straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with anyone.

“We need to move now. Both Izzy and Redline need a fucking doctor. So, whatever your issue is, get over it, and let’s go. ” She tosses me the keys and sits back.

“Fine,” I bark out and walk toward the car she was driving.

Christian follows me. Xavier and Izzy are already at the car and I unlock the doors.

We get in and I squeal the tires, peeling out of the parking spot.

My grip on the wheel is so tight, I’m surprised it doesn’t bend under my hands.

Jealousy floods my body and sets my skin on fire.

“Relax man,” Christian says.

“Relax? How in the fuck can I relax?” I shout. “This is such bullshit.” I slam my hand onto the steering wheel hard.

“Bro,” Xavier speaks up from the backseat. “Someone in her family is hurt bad. How’d you expect her to act?”

“Fuck!” I hit the steering wheel again, ashamed of my actions. Taking a deep breath, I will myself to calm my racing heart down and get control. “You’re right and I acted like a complete asshole. Fuck.”

“She knows you’re a jackass at heart man and she knows you love her. That’s why this is hard on both of you.” Xavier soothes from the backseat.

I peer into the rearview mirror and Ashton is right on my ass.

I can feel his glare burning into me. Yeah, I fucked up going all caveman on Ashley.

I don’t know where my head was back there.

I can barely make out her silhouette in the darkness.

I catch Xavier’s blue eyes in the mirror.

He smirks before dropping his gaze and focusing back on Izzy.

She’s been quiet the whole ride and I’m concerned for her state of mind.

Now that we have her and Redline back, I need to figure out a way to get them up to the hotel room without suspicion. I swallow hard when a thought crosses my mind. “Fuck, the whole damn team knows what an asshole I am.”

“We already know boss,” Marks chirps in my ear, laughing. Fucker. I can hear the others laughing too.

“Fuck off, Marks,” I reply. “Listen we need to get these two up to the room without raising suspicion. Anyone want to chime in without the comments on me being an asshole?”

“There’s a service elevator that housekeeping uses to stay out of the site of hotel guests. We can use that,” Ace responds quickly.

“That’ll work. Do you have someone working there?” I ask.

“Asshole, I have someone everywhere,” Ace snickers.

Of course, he has to throw the asshole part in. “Thanks, fucker.”

“It’s better than being a dick,” Ramirez comments with a laugh.

“Seriously, guys and Ashley if you’re listening, excellent work in there tonight. I mean that. If you all didn’t do your part that could have been a lot worse. I want to thank each of you for stepping up and helping me get Izzy and Redline back. Ace, can you relay my thanks to your guys?”

“Already done,” Ace answers. I can tell he wants to call me an asshole again by the teasing in his voice.