72. Highway To Hell

~ Audrey ~

“She belongs to me! You hear me?” Anthony’s voice was heard again.

“No, she ain’t!” Caspian couldn’t help himself and shouted back.

“So she’s really here,” Anthony laughed sinisterly.

Killian shot Caspian a glare. Caspian ignored him, he just lifted the gun’s mouth to the door.

“Listen, if you give her back, I promise none of you will get hurt, but if you don’t…” Anthony paused for a second and chuckled, “Well, you don’t wanna know,”

Inside the house, everyone fell silent and tense. Killian was thinking of an exit strategy and Caspian was ready to fight. Meanwhile, Audrey and her friends were shaking in their boots. Audrey felt a deep pit building in her stomach. This couldn’t be good.

“Guys, what are we gonna do?” Mikey asked.

“Maybe we should call the police?” Olivia suggested.

Killian shook his head. “If he got the Russians with him, he probably got the police too,”

Audrey swallowed hard. She didn’t see any other way out. If she didn’t come out, Anthony would break in. She didn’t want a bloodbath to happen. Her hand went to her stomach as if to protect her baby.

“Maybe I should just go and talk to him,” Audrey suggested. “Maybe he’ll calm down…”

“No!” the brothers said in unison.

“Ain’t no way in hell we’ll let that happen,” Caspian scoffed.

“There’s gotta be another way,” Killian hissed.

They all exchanged a worried look and Killian’s eyes went to the backyard. There was a car parked in the garage. Maybe they could escape through the back?

“Guys, I think I have something,” he said.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

~ Anthony ~

“Anthony,”

Suddenly, Audrey’s voice was heard. Anthony’s eyes shot up instantly.

“Audrey?” he asked.

“It’s me, please don’t do anything stupid,” her voice spoke again. “I’ll come out. Just give me five minutes,”

Anthony’s lips curved up a smile.

“You have exactly one minute!”

Anthony didn’t hear a response back. He stared at his watch and waited for the hand to turn a minute. He knew there was no way out for them. All their bodyguards were captured and tied up. They got the house surrounded and he even got the local police under his control. No one was going to come and help them.

“Time’s up!” Anthony shouted as soon as the minute ended. “Come out or I’ll break down the door!”

“…I’m coming,” he heard a voice.

Slowly, the door cracked open and Anthony could make out the figure of a girl. She was wearing a hat and sunglasses. Anthony thought it was odd, but he stepped forward anyway.

The girl stood before him and she was looking down. Anthony smiled as he received her with open arms. But as he hugged her, he felt something was different. Anthony pulled the hat and sunglasses away. And instead of seeing Audrey, he saw Olivia cowering before him.

“What the fúck?”

Olivia only shrunk back, not saying a word. Anthony’s eyes burned with anger. He pushed her away and kicked the door open. The door was slammed to the wall with a loud sound. Anthony stepped inside and pulled out his gun. His men were quick to follow him. They were ready for a full-on war, but all he saw inside the house was Mikey with his hands up.

“Where is she?” Anthony growled.

“I… I don’t know!” Mikey stammered.

Anthony grabbed Olivia who had fallen to the floor. He pulled her by her hair as she cried in pain.

“Tell me where she went or I’ll blow her fúcking brains out!” Anthony pointed the gun to Olivia’s head. She flinched in fear and closed her eyes shut.

Mikey shook his head and pleaded. “She just left… They all did… Please, we don’t know anything!”

And then Anthony heard the sound of a car screeching away. His eyes quickly went to the backyard.

“Fúck!” he roared.

He pushed Olivia angrily to the floor. Mikey quickly bent down and covered for her. Mikey thought he was going to shoot her. But Anthony didn’t care about these two now.

“Get the car!” Anthony ordered his men. He put his gun away as the guys raced outside. “They shouldn’t be too far,”

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~ Audrey ~

Audrey’s heart was racing so fast, she thought her chest might explode. The three of them drove away using Maxwell’s antique sports car that was parked inside the garage. The streets were dark and empty. Light rain was falling from the sky. Killian was at the wheel and Caspian sat shotgun. Audrey was sitting in the back, clutching onto her stomach for dear life.

“Incoming,” Caspian said as he glanced at the rearview mirror.

Several dark-colored cars with blinding headlights were running close behind them. They knew Anthony would found out eventually and he’d come chasing. Audrey didn’t expect it was going to be so soon. Her nails dug deep into the leather seat.

“I count five,” Killian said.

“Just get me a clear shot,” Caspian replied, cócking his gun.

Killian picked up his speed and swerved the car to the right. The first few cars that were right behind him couldn’t turn fast enough. Only the two cars that were behind could follow them now. Caspian took the opportunity and shot his gun at one of the cars. He hit the driver in the head and he busted their two front wheels. The car swerved and stopped moving, and Killian drove faster.

“Nice shot,” Killian laughed.

“Watch out!” Caspian pulled his brother’s head down.

The other car was coming up next to them. Caspian just took down their fellow men. They were angry, shooting their guns at Killian and Caspian’s heads.

“Motherfúcker!” Caspian shouted back and took his shot while continuing to bend down. Audrey was screaming in fear and crouching down under the seat. Bullets were flying everywhere. Killian was driving while shooting as well.

* BANG! * BANG! * BANG! *

Caspian managed to hit the driver in the head and the car swerved away. The car tumbled and crashed into a tree on the side of the road. The rain of bullets stopped and they all sighed in relief. Killian picked up the pace and the car drove faster, leaving the mess behind.

“Two down, three to go,” Caspian smirked eagerly.

Audrey was shaking in terror, but Killian only looked calm and Caspian even looked excited. He was laughing like a psychopath as he refilled his bullets.

This is crazy. They’re crazy!

“They’re coming,” Caspian announced.

In the rearview mirror, they spotted the rest of the cars that were left behind. There were three of them. Anthony was in the middle. The two cars next to him picked up the pace and drove closer to Audrey’s car. They were two large SUVs and their sports car looked minuscule in comparison.

They’re gonna crush us!

Audrey scrunched her eyes shut as the two large cars were gaining on their sides. Killian held the wheel tightly and floored the gas pedal. Caspian once again cócked his gun ready.

“I got this,” Killian said.

And as the two cars were about to crash into them, Killian suddenly hit the brakes. The two cars crashed into each other so hard, the people inside were probably killed on impact. Glass and metal pieces exploded like confetti. And the next thing they knew, the two cars exploded into a fiery mess.

“Fúck, yes!” Caspian laughed as the blast filled his eyes.

Killian quickly changed his gear and turned the car around. He swerved past Anthony’s car and they could see the anger in his eyes. He just lost all his men. And now Audrey was getting away. Killian floored the gas pedal like never before. He was leaving a trail of dust behind for Anthony.

Killian smiled in satisfaction as they drove further and further away from Anthony. He had bought them enough time. Mikey and Olivia had called the FBI and they should be here within minutes. And their personal backup should also be nearby. They were going to win this war tonight, once and for all.

“You alright, back there?” Caspian asked. He was looking at Audrey through the rearview mirror.

“Y…yeah,” she stammered. She knew the worst part was over, but she was still shaken up.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be okay,” Caspian turned his head around and smiled. His hand reached for her knee, squeezing it gently.

Audrey nodded meekly and let out a smile. She knew he meant it. This would all be over tonight. They would be all right.

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~ Anthony ~

“Fúck, fúck, fúck!!!”

Anthony yelled and groaned in frustration. His fists kept hitting the steering wheel. The two Russian men that were in his car looked at him with fear in their eyes. Audrey’s car was already so far ahead, they couldn’t almost see them. And from a distance, they could hear the sound of sirens and a helicopter approaching.

“Boss, it’s the FBI!” One of the men said.

The helicopter was flying closer to them. The lights were blinding and focused on their car. The Vanderbilts must have called for backup.

“Shit!” Anthony growled.

The sirens were getting louder. The cops would find them in no time. This was not supposed to happen. They got the house surrounded and they outnumbered the Vanderbilt brothers 20 to 2. It couldn’t possibly end like this.

Anthony’s chest was burning with rage and fury. He never lost a battle in his life before. And he won’t start now. His eyes glanced to the woods surrounding them and he threw the steering wheel abruptly. The car swerved into the woods and he floored the gas pedal.

“Boss!”

His men shrunk in fear as the car was going into a dangerous zone. They could hit a tree at any moment. Or worse, they might go straight for the cliff and die a horrifying death.

Anthony ignored his men's warning. He was seeing nothing but red. He was yelling at the top of his lungs and driving straight across the woods. He saw Audrey’s car on the other side and he kicked the car into its highest gear.

If I can’t have her, no one can.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

~ Audrey ~

“The FBI’s here, I see them!”

Audrey let out a sigh of relief when Killian said it. Their car was slowing down. She looked up from the window and saw a helicopter flying nearby. Audrey felt like a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

Soon, the FBI would take Anthony and the Russians away. The three of them would be okay. Nothing could ever separate them again. She would be free. Her baby would be safe. Everything would be right with the world—

“Wait, where’d he go?” Killian muttered suddenly.

They all turned their heads to look for signs of Anthony, but there was no car behind them. A silence fell into the air. Audrey then turned her head to the side, and she saw white blinding lights coming straight at them from the woods.

“Guys—look out!”

Killian and Caspian turned their heads. They saw Anthony’s car flying right at them. The car was roaring loudly and Anthony was yelling at the top of his lungs.

No!

Everything was happening in slow motion. Audrey was hit with such a shock, her entire body froze. Her eyes were wide open and she was seeing everything. Anthony’s car was about to collide with theirs. Killian was doing everything he could to swerve the car away, but it was too late. Caspian yanked his seatbelt off and he lunged to the backseat for Audrey.

“Ahhh!” Audrey let out a scream.

Her eyes scrunched shut and it felt like an earthquake was happening. Everything was moving and a blur. The sounds were all mumbled into one. And all she thought about was how this would be the end. This was how she was going to die.

* CRASH!!! *

And suddenly, everything came to a stop. Audrey felt like her body was floating on air. She couldn’t feel anything but numbness. And when she finally realized what was happening, her eyes fluttered open and all she saw was the dark night sky. The thunders were rolling and the rain fell harder. Everything was a blur, but she could hear the voices. There were sirens. There was a helicopter. There were people.

Audrey tried to move her head, but it was so heavy, she couldn’t move an inch. She tasted blood on her lips and her entire body was frozen stiff. And from her blurry eyes, she could see shards of glass and metal all around the dirt. The top part of her body was not inside the car anymore. Only her stomach and legs were.

“…Au…drey….”

Audrey could make out Killian’s weak voice. Her eyes glazed in the direction. She saw Killian lying facedown on the dirt. He was crawling out of the broken window of the toppled car. There were broken glass and blood everywhere.

“K...ill…?” she tried her best to speak.

“Audrey…” his voice grew louder. And slowly, he began to lift his head up. It was heavy. It was a struggle.

“Killian…” Audrey sighed in relief.

Killian managed to lift his head high enough so she could see his eyes. Blood was dripping down his beautiful face. Audrey’s eyes were filled with tears.

Killian’s okay…

“…Cas…?”

Audrey tried looking for Caspian. She looked to her sides but he wasn't anywhere around.

“Cas…?” she said again. But there was no response.

Audrey’s eyes slowly glanced down and that was when she saw him. Caspian was lying with his arms around her body in a pool of blood. His face was buried on her stomach. And a large metal shard was sticking from his back.

“Oh my God…”

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- - - - - To Be Continued - - - - -