T-Bone - L. Wilder Page 0,55

close to something like that and didn’t know what to think or do. I was parked at the end of Jack’s driveway when he and Tony came rushing out their front door. As soon as Jack noticed I was still there, he came running towards my car, but before he could reach me, I had completely backed out and was turning the wheel.

“Alyssa! Wait,” he shouted. “What the hell are you doing?”

Ignoring him, I whipped my car out onto the road and raced in the direction that the car had gone. I knew it was an absolutely crazy move and that I was putting myself in danger, but I had to do something. I could hear my phone ringing in my purse, but I ignored it. I knew it was Jack. He had to be worried sick, but I didn’t have time to talk to him. I had to try and get a better look at the men in the car. If I could just get the make of the car or the license plate number, I could tell the police what I’d seen.

As I drove by the house that had been hit, I spotted three men sprawled out on the ground. It was difficult to see their faces, but there was no missing the blood that soaked their clothes. I didn’t even notice the color of the house or the cars in the driveway. My sole focus was on the three bodies that lay sprawled out in the tall grass. There was no mistaking that they were all dead as I watched their family members hover over them, crying hysterically as they pleaded with the heavens to heal their wounded loved ones. It was something that I might’ve seen in the movies, but never would’ve expected to see in real life. I had to do something, anything that might help these people in some way.

I was on the verge of tears as I continued forward, hoping to catch up to the shooters before they disappeared into the night. I never took my eyes off the car as I reached down to the floorboard and grabbed my purse. I needed to get my phone to call the police, but as I dug around, I couldn’t seem to find my phone. I was still fumbling through it when I spotted them just a few blocks ahead of me. Adrenaline kicked in as I immediately slowed down and waited for an opportunity to inch closer.

Not wanting to take a chance on them seeing me, I kept my distance, doing my best to act like I wasn’t actually following them. After they turned down a deserted street, I waited a couple of moments before following behind. I’d just managed to find my phone when I noticed the car slowing down. Thinking they’d arrived at their destination, I turned off my headlights and waited as they came to a complete stop a few yards ahead. I was just starting to dial 9-1-1 when the car doors opened and the men started to get out. My hands were trembling as I pressed the first two numbers, and just as I was about to press the final one, something about the men in front of me caught my attention. I stopped and leaned forward as I tried to get a better look, and that’s when I noticed something oddly familiar about one of them.

I couldn’t figure out what it was about him as the men grabbed a jug of gasoline from the trunk and poured it over the car. It wasn’t until they lit the car on fire and the glow of the blaze revealed their faces that I realized I was looking at my brother—and not only him, but Beckett, Shadow, and Murphy. I dropped the phone in my lap as the realization hit me: they were the ones responsible for killing those men. They’d done it. It wasn’t something I wanted to believe. Both Clay and Beckett meant so much to me, and it made my blood run cold to even think that they could do something so malicious. I tried to convince myself that I was wrong, that I’d made some terrible mistake, but it was impossible. I’d seen it all with my very own eyes.

As soon as the car was engulfed in flames, they rushed over to a different car that was parked directly across the street. Seconds later, they were all inside and hauling down the street. I, on the other