“SHIT!” Rowan hollered as the kids’ car was hit head-on by another Tahoe. He swerved the car to left, the tires locking and rubber burning against the road.
“DOWN!” I yelled as men poured out from the car, rifles ready as they shot not only at us but at the kids. Bullets hit metal, sparking off the bulletproof glass.
Melody reached under the seat, pulling out a gun just as I did. She glanced up at me and I could only wink. For the first time in twenty-four hours, she truly smiled at me, shaking her head.
“After you, wife.”
“With pleasure.” She reached behind and opened the car door, as did I, the rain soaking us both when we stepped out. I could feel every drop beat against my face, drenching my suit and even my socks. The only thing between them and us were our doors. It wasn’t just Mel and me; all of our men in the cars behind us stepped out, marching up the line and shooting.
“Move back!” one of them yelled, trying to make it to their car, but Melody shot the tires out.
“FUCK THIS! TAKE THIS BITCH!” another yelled, but instead of aiming at her, they shot at the kids’ car, now on its side in a ditch next to a tree.
“Kill them all!” I shouted, watching as one by one they fell like flies.
“STOP!” Melody yelled once the last one fell to his knees and crawled behind his Tahoe, blood pouring from his leg onto the street only to be washed away by the rain.
“You’re outnumbered!” Melody yelled at him.
“DIE! FUCK YOU!” He poked his gun around to shoot but she shot at his thumb. His screams meant nothing to her as she walked toward him; taking off her hat, the rain dripped off her chin.
“Back her up,” I told Lucian before rushing toward the children, smoke now coming out of the engine of the car. “Declan?”
“Ugh…” he groaned, kicking open the door. His legs hung out as he pulled up his shirt as if he were Superman, exposing his bulletproof vest where three rounds were embedded. “Next time you guys play fucking decoy car, I vote to not be in it.”
“Stop your bitching and move.” I pulled him aside and saw the kids behind him. They weren’t ours, but orphans, all of whom were holding on tightly to each other and trying their best not to scream, though the girl was crying.
“Did we do okay?” the eldest, who was supposed to be Ethan, asked, swallowing the lump in his throat.
“Yes, you did…so I’m going to keep my promise. Now get out, this thing is going to blow,” I told them as Declan helped me get them one by one.
He told them to head to the other car before looking over to Mel, who stood above a broken man leaning against the car tire. “Is she all right?”
“She will be,” I replied, moving to her. We knew Emilio wouldn’t wait. The moment he’d sent Fedel’s body, he was calling for battle. The best chance for that was to get to the kids. I had sent them out while they were still sleeping. No one knew where they were except my mother and Neal. Cora and Mina had taken the rest of the kids and gone elsewhere. The only ones left in Chicago were Melody, Declan, and me. This was going to come to an end one way or another. If Emilio thought to be the mayor and to have a few families on his side meant he’d won, he was dead fucking wrong.
“I’m not going to ask you again. Where is he?” She stepped into the wound on his leg, grinding her heel into his skin.
He grinned. “He was right…he’s always right…one step ahead. He…knew this was too easy.”
“SHE ASKED YOU A QUESTION!” I snapped at him.
“And I’ll ask one too.” He laughed before biting down on his on lip. “What’s the weather like in Boston?”
“Liam.” Melody’s eyes widened, our hearts dropping into our stomachs…I was already dialing.
RING.
RING.
RING.
COME ON!
“Liam?—”
“NEAL GET MY KIDS OUT OF THERE NOW!”
“Wh—”