People near us whip around to find the source of the roar echoing through the French Market, but I don’t give a fuck. Mount is already halfway to Keira and the baby as the van tears away from the curb with Magnolia inside.
“Get him!” I yell, feeling helpless in my position across the street from where I’ve been keeping watch in the doorway of a souvenir shop. Jules better be in the SUV already, charging toward him, because it wasn’t supposed to fucking happen like this.
I need another vehicle.I gotta get her back. I won’t let that crazy fucker hurt Magnolia again. I heard her cry out in pain. He did something to her.
I stare at the ambulance.Fuck it.I rush to the door and whip it open before jumping in the driver’s seat. The keys are still in the ignition.
Whoever the paramedics came here to help can find another ride to the hospital, because my woman’s life is at stake.
As soon as the engine fires up, a cop runs toward me, waving his arms.
Sorry, motherfucker. I got more important shit than you to worry about.
Instead of backing up, I yank the wheel hard and floor it, not giving a single fuck that I ram the bumper of the cop car parked ahead of me.
He can arrest me when this is all over.
I dodge pedestrians and fumble around, looking for the fucking switch for the sirens so I can light this bitch up and clear the way. As I’m barreling toward Esplanade, the sirens finally wail. Traffic slows and then comes to a complete halt as I maneuver the big bitch through the smallest opening and turn the corner, desperately trying to get a visual on the van.
Where the fuck did he go?I blow through intersection after intersection, my head whipping in either direction as I search for him.
I fly toward another cross street and lay on the horn, nearly T-boning a car as I crank the wheel, turning the ambulance hard to the right to miss it.
That’s when I see it. The van. Straight ahead of me.
“Not today, motherfucker.Not today.”
“You got him?” Trey’s voice in my ear reminds me I’m wearing a comm.How the fuck could I forget that?
Oh yeah, I’m chasing after the love of my fucking life and my entire future.
“Yeah, just turned on—” I scan for a street sign. “Henriette Delille. He’s up ahead.Fuck.He’s gotta be heading for the highway.”
“I’m coming,” another voice says, and it takes me a second to realize it’s Mount. “You get Magnolia. I gethim.” He sounds eerily excited.
“You got the baby. She’s all right?”
“Rory’s good, but he’s as good as dead.”
I can’t help but argue, because my thirst for vigilante justice is just as strong as his. “Then you’d better hurry, because if I get the shot, I’m taking it.”
“On my way.”
Sirens blare in the distance. That cop at the market probably called in the cavalry after I stole the ambulance.
Fuck. This is going to be messy. Then again, it doesn’t fucking matter as long as I get to Magnolia in time.
Reyes must realize the ambulance on his ass isn’t heading to the hospital, because the van whips to the left without slowing down, cutting off traffic.
Oh, fuck no!
A truck slams into the side of the van, sending it spinning out of control. The vehicle wobbles on two wheels.
God, don’t tip. Don’t tip.
But my prayers go unanswered and the van goes over on its side, slamming into the pavement.
Hold on, mama. I’m coming for you.