Chapter 17 Right There
Serena's POV
Time seemed to stand still for a second. I slowly turned back around and melted into the seat. This wasn't the experience I expected today.
Nico's eyes flicked up to the rearview mirror and he cursed again, louder this time around. The SUV swerved to the right forcefully as a bullet scratched the edge of the side mirror.
Nico turned the steering wheel with all he had, pushing the brakes right in time to dodge another shot that flashed past the side right after the other.
"Keep your heads down!" He yelled, weaving the car left and right like a madman. By now, the rest of the road users had gotten the message and started fleeing for their lives.
Nico now had to avoid being hit while also trying not to run down anybody or crash into anything. Bullets soon rained over the road from behind us as the men fired with full force. The bullet proof glass did its fair bit in shielding us, but I feared the worse.
I ducked low as I heard a bullet crash into the glass right behind my head. My heart slammed against my chest as fear gripped me. Valentina leaned forward too, looking completely different from the woman that sent chills down my spine earlier.
The attackers, the two black sedans now stayed glued to our tail, keeping their pace while still firing at us with no breather.
Nico handled the wheel with one hand, then yanked a pistol from his jacket with the other. He twisted, looking out through the now open glass and firing back at our attackers carefully. One shot hit the body of the nearest attacking car, it swiveled around a bit but recovered quickly.
"Let me help!" I leaned over, tapping his shoulder and shouted over the whole noise.
"No, stay down!" He barked, swerving to the right again. A bullet smacked the trunk.
"But I can—"
"If anything happens to you, Dante won't let me breathe!" He yelled, firing again. He managed to hit the side mirror of one of the cars, but they moved quickly too. They just kept coming.
More shots rained from both sides. Our rear window had now been dotted with cracks all over it. It was barely holding for now, but from the looks of things, it may not hold for too long.
"Fuck this," Nico cursed again for like the hundredth time. He floored the gear, pushing the car forward at a pace I didn't know it had. I looked back and annoyingly, they matched us. Another round of bullets came and broke through the taillight as we heard it shatter.
I closed my eyes, already fearing the worst when louder fires came from behind us. It couldn't just be them again.
I feared they had increased, only to turn and find three more black cars closing in from behind the other two. Relief washed over me when I noticed them firing at our pursuers.
The tires of one of them exploded and it spun out, crashing into a guardrail.
Nico glanced back. "Cavalry's here," he muttered.
He pushed the SUV harder, dodging cars and people still left on the road. Suddenly, up ahead—five cars blocked the road, parked sideways like a trap. They had guns poking out from behind them.
Shit. It was a set-up. They were luring us in.
"Duck!" Nico roared, turning the wheel right with all he had as the men behind the cars released fire on us. We skidded off the pavement, into a ditch, bouncing hard as the SUV crashed into a nearby clearing.
Valentina and I screamed, folding ourselves as low as we could go. The bullets kept hammering on the SUV as the men didn't seize fire. The glass shattered and rained pieces of glass over the whole place.
Nico kept maneuvering the car as I felt it jerking from side to side. The shots didn't seize for a second, pounding into the door. I snuck a peep up and realized that Nico somehow got us around the blockade as he slammed through the pavement.
The firing ceased as we reached a distance. He brought the car to a stop in a deserted area. The SUV kept smoking. Everything went still, only our heavy breathing and the sound of the burning metal.
Nico sat up slowly. "You two okay?" He asked, then tapped my knee when I didn't respond immediately. "Serena?"
I blinked, as the world kept spinning. Everything blurred, even his voice was distant. "I'm... fine," I managed to say.
"You sure?" He asked.
"Yeah." I replied, putting my focus on him. His face had been scratched from glass and blood kept seeping through his shoulder. "You're shot!" I yelled.
"Don't worry," he muttered, rocking his shoulder with slight discomfort. "It's just a flesh wound. I'll live." He turned to Valentina. "You good?"
Valentina clutched her arm tightly and winced, but still nodded. "I'm fine."
Seconds later, cars pulled up around us. Our backup had arrived. Dante's men piled out with their guns ready. Dante himself burst from the main car, sprinting towards us.
He yanked my door open. "Serena!"
"I'm okay," I immediately responded, but he was already pulling me out. His hands went everywhere, checking arms, legs and face.
"You hurt? Tell me."
"No, really—"
He cupped my cheeks, checking for any bruise. "Fuck, if anything had happened to you—"
I grabbed his wrists. "I'm fine, Dante."
He paused and smiled, then pulled me against him, slamming his lips into mine. I kissed back, fisting his shirt with my hands.
He broke away after a second and leaned his forehead on mine. "Hang tight. I'll be back."
He turned and quickly vanished into the fray, pulling out his gun immediately.
I caught Nico watching from the front seat, his face was twisted in some sort of way, not just from the wound. Could it be jealousy? Hurt?
Anyone, but he masked it quickly and pushed himself out. "I'll be back, let me handle this. Stay put."
He stepped out, joining the fight.
From inside, I watched it all unfold. Dante's men spanned out, taking cover behind cars. The attackers regrouped down the road, firing back.
Bullets rained on all sides, hitting metal. One of Dante's guys dropped, clutching his leg while another dragged him back.
Dante moved quickly, crouching low on one side, flanked by two men to his sides. They advanced, firing shots. A few of the attackers screamed, going down while clutching their chest.
Nico flanked the other side. He nailed one guy in the knee with a bullet. Nico finished him with a headshot, turning his attention to the rest.
Dante wiped blood from his hands, barking orders at his men as they seemed to enter into formation. But the attackers didn't seem to be giving up anytime soon, even the cops must have been scared to come as they would have been there by now.
I pressed against the seat, shaking, then heard Valentina whispering my name.
I ignored it, keeping my eyes glued on them.
"Serena," she hissed again.
I didn't respond, still watching as Dante directed them.
"Serena!" She whispered a bit louder.
I turned, and immediately froze, gulping hard. Sweat beaded on my forehead instantly.