“Shit, shit, shit!” Slightly disoriented, she knew she had to get them out of there. Too bad the smoke from the engine would probably prevent that. As everything quieted down, she realized it was too still. As in there were no whimpers from Jax or moaning from Casey.
Running her hand up to Casey’s neck, all she felt was slick blood everywhere. The smell was pungent, coppery, like she’d been chewing on a penny. It overwhelmed her senses. As she searched his neck for a pulse, she reached out her other hand for Jaxson.
“Come here, sweetie,” she mumbled, head pounding with every word.
“I dizzy, and my head hurt,” he uttered weakly.
Finally finding Casey’s pulse—weak but there—she reached down for Jax hoping he’d come to her. When she realized he wasn’t even looking at her, she knew she was going to have to go to him.
A door slamming told her she had seconds to get him out and run. Run where? You’re in the middle of bum-fuck Maryland. Fuck, fuck, fuck! One step at a time, Dee. Get Jax first. Grabbing his arms, she pulled as hard as she could without hurting him. Stumbling from the truck, she froze as she saw four huge men pointing large rifles at them.
Turning so Jax was protected, she lost her breath as she heard the rapid fire of gunshots while Jax screeched loudly in her ear.
Please don’t hit him. She prayed for the first time in years waiting for the bullets to assault her body.
*****
Dom watched in horror as four large, burly men exited the SUV at the same time he saw Deedee reaching over to the side, presumably for Jax or Case since he didn’t know what the fuck was going on. Watching as the men shot out the tires of Case’s truck had his adrenaline racing faster than any drug ever could.
As the two back tires blew, he’d watched Dee struggle with the wheel and finally lose control just as it hit a small post in the ditch. The way her head had bounced off the steering wheel like a basketball had his stomach knotting.
Stopping his own truck not far from the black SUV, he quietly crept out needing to surprise them, or he’d never have the upper hand. Sirens sounded in the distance just as Dee stumbled from the truck with a shaken up Jax in her arms. “Run!” he silently screamed.
When the men raised their automatic rifles toward his entire life, intending to snuff them out, he didn’t hesitate pulling the trigger on his own. Hitting two of the goons in the back of the head before the others were any the wiser.
“Fucking run, Deidre!” he roared out as she lay frozen on the ground protecting his son.
Just as a bullet flew towards him, he was able to duck behind the vehicle as he watched Dee and Jax hide in front of theirs. Knowing they were safe for the moment, he was able to easily take out one more of the men. Followed quickly by shooting the other in the shoulder and knee. They needed answers, and the best way was to keep at least one alive.
Coming out of hiding, he called out, “Deidre!”
She took a look around the hood of the truck before darting towards him with a crying Jaxson in her arms. “Dominic!” she wailed as he caught them both.
“I got you.”
“I am so sorry!” She cried, confusing him.
“What the hell for?”
“This is all my fault. I’m so stupid. I just wanted to get out of the house and now this...and Jaxson’s hurt...and Casey might die. I’m so sorry!” Her hysterical cries worried him, but no more so than what she’d said.
“Ambulance is on the way, Princess. Take a few breaths,” he instructed her. Looking down to his son, he saw a glassy-eyed looked in his gaze that had him worried. “How you doin’, bud?”
He laid his head down on Deedee’s shoulder quietly and didn’t answer. “His head hit the glove box as we crashed.”
“Shit. And Case?” His voice betrayed his worry for his friend. When she shook her head, he ran to the truck in the hopes that Case would be alright.
“Case, man,” he called opening the door. His friend was slumped over with blood pooling on the floor in a steady drip. The slow rise and fall of his chest eased some of the worry.
As the ambulance and sheriff’s cruiser pulled up on scene, Case began to cough and moan. “Fuck, that shit hurts.”
A bark of laughter left Dom at his words. Only Case would try to make a joke out of being shot. “Usually does, man.” Helping him sit up in time for the paramedics to come over, Case asked as he was about to back off, “Double D and short stack okay?”
“They will be,” he assured the other man. “Take care of him,” he told the medics, walking away to where the asshole he’d let live was bitching about being arrested. Searching out Dee, he saw that she was with Jax at another ambulance being guarded by the sheriff.
Satisfied, he kept moving towards the bitching goon. Stepping on his leg before he could be helped to his feet, he snarled, “Who the fuck are you working for?”
“Fuck you,” he spat out. Wrong answer.