Drive [h.f-t. & j.l.] (COMPLETED)

Chapter 29 - All We Are

all we are - giant rooks
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josephine's pov

My hands were slightly shaking as I follow the others to walk outside to where my car is parked at the curb. I try to breathe out slowly to calm my heart, but it doesn't work. Hero seems to notice because he takes my hand, pulling me towards him, so I looked up at him.

"You're sure I can't convince you to let me go in your place?" He asks, and I immediately shake my head, making him frown.

"No. It has to be me." I say firmly, and Hero sighs but nods, understanding.

"I know... but a guy can hope. Just... if anything goes wrong, Jo, look out for yourself. Run." He says, and I force myself to give him a small smile and nodding. Hero leans down to capture my lips in his for a few moments, and it almost makes me more nervous. The fear I could never do that again. Out of the corner of my eyes, I notice Jax watching from a distance, arms tensely folded. He just gives me a nod.

"See you on the other side." He says, and I return the nod before getting in the car. I shut the door after me, my hands flexing around the steering wheel in anticipation. The seat feels harder against my shoulder, probably because I was so tense. Closing my eyes for a few moments, I take a deep breath. When I open them again, I reach into my pocket and take out Hero's necklace. I hang Hero's spark plug necklace from the rearview mirror, remembering his words: Always stay in control.

Then I reach over and turn the ignition, my engine stirring from its slumber.

It's the dead of a moonless night. I ride in nervous silence up to the 405 toward Mar Vista. Breathe, Josephine. Stay calm, I tell myself. I press the button, and my window retracts. The wind buffers me, trashing my hair, but somehow it calms me... centers me. I can do this. I can end this.

Just then, something catches my attention in my rearview. Three pairs of headlights coming up fast, side by side. The supercars I remember all too well. I speak into my phone's Bluetooth: "Hero? Jax? We've hooked them. They're coming in fast, in the cars we stole for them off the hauler truck." My heart starts hammering in my chest as I wait for their reply. 

"Already? Fuck, they're quicker than we thought." Hero speaks first, sounding as worried as I felt. But I force myself to push these thoughts and feeling away. Now there's no turning back.

"It's too early! They're gonna catch you before you get to the target! Step on it!" Jax says next, and I don't even think about it before I floor it. The engine of my '69 Ford Mustang bucks and growls underneath me, and I feel myself press backward into my seat as I rocket ahead. My speedometer spikes. 

Even from a distance, I hear the supercars' engines whining at full power to catch up.

"They're almost on me." I speak up, trying to keep Hero and Jax up to date.

"Just hang on. You're only a few miles out. I'll be there as soon as I can!" Hero says, and then I'm alone again. In my mirror, I watch with my heart in my throat as the first two supercars pull up either side of me. In one of them, I could make out the shape of Stephen. I almost jump when my phone starts ringing, and his name pops us on the screen. With shaky hands, I accept the call.

"Turning yourself in? Throwing away everything you worked for? Really, Josephine?" Stephens's voice says over the speaker as soon as I pick up. He sounds calm and confident. Perfect. 

"You'll never win." I simply say, gritting my teeth, and Stephen chuckles as if I just told him a bad joke.

 "Yeah? We'll see about that?" Just then, Stephen and the other detectives weave away to get some room, then swing back toward me! Oh shit. Realizing they're moving to slam into me, I hit the brake, throwing myself forward just as Stephen and the others hit into each other, slowing down and sending debris flying.