I gave him an affectionate pat on the shoulder, then relaxed against the back of the seat. My eyes drifted out of the window as we wove through the sleeping streets in the early hours of the morning, heading for home.
“Hey,” Roxiee whispered. I rolled my head her way. “Thanks, babe, I needed that.”
I snorted. “You needed to almost get arrested?”
Her mouth twitched. “To live a little.”
My hand found hers and gave a reassuring squeeze. I knew she tried to show that she had it all together—just as I did—but deep down we were both just wading our way through life, trying to not let it become completely overwhelming.
“Anytime, hon. Although, next time I’m down for Jethro’s suggestion.”
Roxiee giggled. “Yeah, I’m down with that too.”
Then it hit me. “Oh my God! Rafael!”
“He would have found a way out. Guys like him always do,” she assured me.
I wasn’t so sure. Yes, he was merely a stranger, but also a client. It was in my best interests to be concerned about his whereabouts—it was, after all, my responsibility to make sure his public image stayed positive. An arrest wouldn’t be a great start to the campaign.
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am,” she sung. “Besides, are you his mom?”
Roxiee made a flippant hand gesture when I snorted. “Exactly! Not your problem right now. And if it becomes your problem in the morning, then you’ll deal with it.”
I gave her hand another squeeze and repeated our mantra. “Not our problem.”
I just hoped come morning it stayed that way.
Chapter 13
-Raf-
“Fuck!Cops!”
It was the shout that created mass mayhem, and the heads-up that no street racer wanted to hear. Pandemonium broke out as people sprinted in all directions, scattering like ants, finding an escape route any way they could.
It played out before my eyes; cop cars simultaneously blocking off exit routes with seamless precision that must have had hours of prior planning behind the scenes.
I grabbed Linetti by the arm. “C’mon, man, we gotta bounce.”
I ignored his protests, instead dragged him along behind me as I searched for Shades. Relief washed through me when I saw him sprinting toward me at a pace faster than I ever thought possible for his fat ass.
“My car’s blocked in. Fucking run, brother!” he yelled, without slowing.
I turned on the ball of one foot and took off. Linetti easily matched me stride-for-stride as we sprinted toward the alleyway I hoped would give us a shot at escaping through.
Instinct told me to break off—every man for themselves—but I wouldn’t do that to Shades, and fuck me, I owed it to Colton to keep Arlo’s ass clean.
Our hurried footfalls and hard breathing echoed off the close walls as we fled down the dark, damp alleyway, hoping the end would stay clear long enough for us to get away.
Mere seconds after Shades and I tossed our guns, loud footsteps exploded behind us; the sound of officers in pursuit, and one I never welcomed.
Almost as expected, a single cop car coasted across the far entrance and another two officers stepped out, handguns immediately coming into aim.
I shoved Arlo behind me, hissing at him to let me and Shades go first.
“LAPD, don’t shoot!” Shades yelled at the top of his lungs.