to lean out.
He fired the first series of shots, hitting the car behind us at least once. It swerved to the left, overcorrecting. Montego issued several additional shots within seconds, smashing the front windshield. Within seconds, a fire erupted from under the hood, the car suddenly veering off to the right. As it slammed into a parked car, the flames were instantaneous, the eruption rocking the SUV.
“One down,” Montego chirped, snarling under his breath.
When the smoke cleared, I could still see the other car advancing at a high rate of speed. The driver was good, swerving back and forth in an effort to avoid the gunshots. I took aim, concentrating on the driver, blinking several times in order to focus. I wanted this shot solid. We needed to get out of the city.
Especially since I had a hostage in tow.
I had no idea what I was going to do with her, but she’d witnessed the assassinations, which meant her life was in danger. By all rights, I should eliminate her, but I fucking couldn’t. Maybe Dartanian had been right. I’d grown too damn soft.
“Keep the SUV steady, and stay down, Savannah,” I instructed, placing my other hand on the barrel and closing one eye. I fired three shots in rapid succession, blowing out the glass, shards flying everywhere. As the bullets entered the second vehicle, I growled. Nothing fucking happened.
When the car suddenly picked up additional speed, careening toward us, Jorge managed to make a sharp turn seconds before the vehicle rammed into us. Instead, it jumped a curb, flying straight into a building. I closed my eyes as the rumble of yet another explosion pulsed through the air.
“Fuck, boss,” Montego said after a few seconds.
I waited, peering out the broken window in an effort to make certain there was no one else following us. When I was certain we were now alone, only then did I lower the weapon, finally able to breathe. What a fucking mess.
Jorge nervously peered into the rearview mirror several times as he finally slowed, obeying traffic laws. While the majority of law enforcement was on our payroll, I didn’t need some rogue policia tailing us, trying to be a hero.
“Where to, boss? The beach house?” Jorge finally asked.
“No. Take me back to the estate. Have the beach house scoured.” I eased my head back against the seat, knowing the war had just escalated. It had been my choice, one that would likely enrage my father, but Dartanian’s call had been unnerving. One of the ships had sunk into the harbor, the other limping back to port, out of commission for some time.
However, the millions of dollars’ worth of product couldn’t be replaced easily or readily. Our suppliers were freaking, back-pedaling as if the wrath and sanctions they would face meant shit to them. Somewhere along the way, we’d lost far too much control.
The assassinations of three important Capos would all but shut down the sex slave operation, significantly hurting the Los Charlines income and their pride. There would be hell to pay and I was looking forward to it.
“What about the girl, boss? I can handle her disposal if you like,” Montego said quietly, although I heard the glitch in his voice. Both my enforcers had heard me call her by name. They were well aware I knew her, especially since they’d followed me the night I’d met her. My father’s aggressive phone call had said it all.
“Don’t lose focus or everything we’ve worked for will be stripped away from us.”
I hadn’t planned on it. Karma just wanted to kick my fucking ass. What I didn’t buy were coincidences. I should have followed my earlier instinct with her. She was some kind of a plant, likely a girlfriend for one of the Los Charlines. Perhaps even close to Alviro. I was going to find out one way or the other, no matter the harsh tactics that I needed to use.
“I’ll handle her. My way. I don’t want to hear a single word of shit about it. Is that clear?” I snarled.
Jorge shifted his gaze toward Montego and as the last lights of the downtown flashed into the cab, I could see the look on his face.
Distrust.
“Sure, boss. We hear you,” Montego answered.
I took a deep breath before yanking Savannah by the arm, forcing her onto the seat. “What the hell were you doing there?”
“Nothing. Shopping. What does it matter? I wasn’t the one killing people,” she retorted.
I kept my temper, easing the weapon into