Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“I love you, baby. Our family is all that matters.”
Chapter 74
Flames and Fears
Kelex
We’re all over at the track at Skittles’s shop. After meeting with Blake, everyone needed to blow off some steam. Skittles, Luke, Deacon, and Tak are all on the track.
I’m sitting with Pit and Ox as we look on. Shawna stayed home today, she and the girls have plans and True is working on some music in the home studio.
“Thanks, Pit. I appreciate what you’ve done.”
“It was nothing. All information just sitting there. I’m glad I could help.”
“You know what doesn’t make sense to me?” Ox says.
“What’s that?” Pit asks.
“If Sofia was his sister, how was he involved in that accident?”
“You know, I’ve been wondering the same thing,” I reply.
“She wasn’t supposed to be in the car,” Pit says. “I remember them saying that. Zoe was meant to be with them, but she was sick and Sofia went instead.”
“You speak to Jeff yet?”
“We texted this morning. He’s still on board with the trip. I don’t think he suspects anything.”
Jeff and I texted for about thirty minutes. It took everything in me not to go off. The entire time he acted as if everything was normal.
“Yeah, but how do you plan to make sure he comes? He’s bailed on us millions of times.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll get him there.”
My phone rings in my pocket. I pull it out and answer, seeing it’s True. I put it to my ear with a smile on my face. He probably has something new he wants me to hear.
“What’s up, True?”
“J,” he whispers. “They shot Helios.”
The smile falls from my face as I stand. “Who shot who?”
“Some guys. I don’t know who they are. I was down in the studio. I cut off the music and heard the shots coming from upstairs.
“When I crept up to the first floor, I found Helios bleeding out and some guys with guns holding Shawna, Miss Zoe, and my sisters hostage,” he whispers again.
I’m already in motion. Ox and Pit are hot on my heels. “Is anyone else hurt? Where are you now?”
“They didn’t see me, so I ran back down to the basement to call you. I think they shot more people. I just didn’t come across them, but Miss Zoe had her guards today,” True rushes out.
“Stay hidden. I’m on my way.”
“Oh, shit,” True says and there’s a little scuffle.
“Hello, is this the Joshua Kylix?”
“Who the fuck is this?” I snarl.
“I’m a friend of a friend. Or at least I was. You can call me Atlas.”
“What do you want?”
“I thought about putting a bullet in that bitch upstairs, but that’s not enough. I want you. You will make them hurt. You’re connected to enough of them to make them pay for all my losses.
“You have twenty minutes.” I cover the phone with my hand and mouth. I need the keys to my car.
Pit nods and takes off for Skittles’s office. I’ve been keeping the car she built for me here.
This asshole Atlas continues as I stand vibrating with rage. “If you’re not here in twenty minutes, I’m going to start shooting people, starting with your pretty wife, then I’ll move on to the cute kids. Twenty minutes,” he snarls and hangs up.
“Give me the keys,” I demand as Pit comes jogging back toward me.
“Bro, I can drive you.”
My house is on the other side of Vander. It’s a forty-five-minute drive. If I want to make it there in under twenty minutes, I need to drive.
“I have twenty minutes. Respectfully, no one here can make that drive faster than me.”
“What’s going on?” Skittles calls as she pulls into the garage and steps out of her car.
I catch the keys as Pit tosses them to me. I can tell he wants to say something, but I’m not in the mood to hear it. Instead, I race to jump in my car.
I start the engine and it growls beneath me. The tailpipes snarl and pop. I grip the steering wheel as I start to sweat. I can smell the smoke and feel the heat of the flames. The seat belt feels so tight across my chest. I tug at it as if that will help.
I’m losing my shit. In my brain, I know I’m not trapped, but I can’t force myself to put the car in drive. The passenger doors open in the front and back.
Pit slides in beside me and Skittles climbs into the back.
“Okay, motherfucker. You may be the fastest driver here, but your ass has to drive and you’re not while the clock is still ticking,” Pit says.
“Pit,” Skittles hisses. “Kelex, honey. This is my family. I’ll get us there. Let me drive.”
“She’s my wife,” I roar. Sweat mixes with tears. I can’t let her down. After all I’ve done for her—for our family—I have to do this. “I promised.”