The Ride Of My Life: Chicago

Chapter 28

"Oh god... Tristan! Tristan!" I remember him saying he had to go back to check something at the garage because something set off the alarm on his phone when we got to that Fancy store. When I call out he didn't answer nor Gizmo. I hope they're alright.
not knowing what to do as one of them calls for help, I look over to see Mateo sitting down on the ground in the distance watching his gather's garage crumble. I walk over to him and sit down beside him.
"Mateo, I... I don't know what to say." I said, looking at him with sad eyes and heartaches for the loss he's experiencing right now. Mateo stares into the flames, watching as everything his family worked for... everything his father worked for, goes up in smoke.
Out of nowhere I hear Mateo says, "I'm going to kill them." and I can feel his anger for revenge by sitting here. I know he wanted to get revenge, but he needs to take a moment before jumping back into action before going out on a killing spring for revenge. And we don't want that because he'll face big time in time for it.
"Mateo." I said , in a calming voice and putting my hand on his. He lets me, but his other hand clenches into a fist, causing his knuckled to turn white.
"I'm going to hunt them down one by one. I'm going to destroy them the way they destroyed everything I cared about." he still looking out to the garage as piece of charred wood falls from the garage. "I'm going to burn them all to the ground."
"Mateo... that's not what your dad died for. Your dad sacrificed himself to get you out. Not so you'd spiral into a life of vengeance." Mateo looks down, away from the flames, away from me. Because he knows I'm right, Saul wouldn't want him going out for revenge, knowing that he sacrificed himself to get everyone out, especially Mateo. He want him to go on with his life and not make the same mistake he did.
"You don't understand." he said, with rage in him.
"No, I don't. i have no idea what you're going through, but I do know one thing." I took a moment before talking again. "Your dad wanted you to have more than he ever did, to be more than he ever was. If you let your need for revenge consume you then he died for nothing."
"O just... I can't believe he's gone." Mateo anger went away and turned into sadness. He release his one hand, that was in a fist.
"I'm so, so sorry, Mateo. I'm really am."
"My whole life, he was this invincible force. Relentless, intractable..."
"Unyielding."
"Exactly. He never showed any weakness, not to anyone."
"Mateo, look where that got him."
"Hey-" he got mad, which I didn't mean to. But he needs to understand what I'm trying to say to him.
"I'm just saying his life, and yours, would've been so much better if he'd shown you how much he cared. Now it's too late." I put a comforting hand on his arm , letting him know I cared about him too. "I don't want the same thing to happen to you."
Mateo swallows hard. I can see him struggling with his emotions in the firelight as he searches my eyes.
"Things could've been, so different." I moved little close to him and wrap my arms around him. He all but collapses into my embrace.
"Estelle..."
"I'm here, Mateo. I'm here." his arms tighten around me as the tears start to fall. I'm not sure if they're mine or his, and they mingle together as they hit the ground. Everyone going to remember this day for the rest of their lives. They going to remember the man who once they trusted, then betrayed them and then trust again for saving them by sacrificing life. I'm sure going remember him for all the bad and good things he did.
We stay like that for a long time, offering him the simple comfort of my embrace.
"What am I going to do without him?" he asked after a while, and sitting up a little. His eyes are little bloodshot from the tear, and his are a little puffy too.
I look over to him and try to give the best advice I can give him to go by. "You're going to live." even if hurt to move on after losing someone you cared so much. "Now, cone on. The Night Skull might still be here." I take his hand and lead him away from his father's garage. As we go, the sign above the bay doors snaps and collapses into the inferno.
Walking Mateo's bike, the two of us wonder down the road as the sirens of fire engines approach the garage.
"I hope Tristan and Gizmo made it out safe." I said, but Mateo is out of it to listen.
"We did." Tristan said, popping out from a tree, terrifying me.
"Tristan! I almost punched you in the face!" I yelled at him.
"Sorry, I saw the Night Skull coming and snuck out with Gizmo through the back before they started the fire. So many good cars lost in there." he said, looking back toward the garage.
"We've lost more than that." I said, not sure how to tell him this. But like everyone say ripe the band aid off quickly, or no sugarcoated it either. But when Tristan notice the look my face then Mateo his expression.
"Where's Saul?" he asked, started to get worried. I told him what happened since Mateo can't since his mind is somewhere else to kind of think clearly.

After explaining what happened, we met up with the rest of the crew a few blocks away, catching Tristan up on the truth about Night Skull.
"I can't believe it..." he said, stopping there to take moment to wrapped that information around his head.
"Saul sacrificed himself for all of us back there. It was brave." Rylee said, looking up to the night sky as if she could see him there. But then snap out of it when she heard Nyla talk.
"It was selfish. He lied about who the Night Skull was so we'd stay and help him!" Nyla said , getting mad, you can see the anger in her eyes. "The Night Skull are the police! That's kind of an important detail."
Tyler runs a hand through his hair, a pained look on his face. "Those last things I said to him, back in the alley... I wish I could back them back." he said looking guilty and probably feel it too along with blaming himself for it.
"Yeah, well, you can't there's only one thing any of us can do." Nyla said, looking at everyone. Waiting for someone to catch her drift on what she saying.
"We run." Jordan said, sounding a little sad and have that look on her face like it pain her to say it.
"That was always the rule. When the heat gets too close, we go our separate ways and never look back. Jack's already taken off."
"Nyla's right. The Night Skull will be out for blood now." Kaden said with his arms cross over his chest. And he sound a little sad too, like he don't want to go that route but have no other choice.
Nyla moves toward her car.
"So this is it? This is goodbye?" I said, looking at everyone like they given up and running away. I thought they would stay try to find another way fight back without getting caught and all. And even if they given up I don't want them to go, I want them to stay even if I'm being selfish.
"Don't get touchy-feely. Your damn heart is what caused all of this. You blew Mateo's plan because you think we're something we're not." she said in a calm way and not with anger or anything. "You wanted freedom? The fast cars, the bad boy? That whole life? This is it. And it's not for you. Go home, for everyone's sake."
I don't know if i should defend myself or agree with her. Because what she saying is kind of true about everything, well, some it, if I so. But it made me feel bad for causing problem for them when I should of listen to Tyler in the first place and then I won't caused trouble for anyone.
"Maybe you're right. I kept saying it was you all who were going too far... but it was me. I never wanted anyone to get hurt." I truly didn't want anyone getting anyone hurt, all I wanted to do is be free from everything and also help them get out of this mess they're in.
"I know. And now it doesn't matter." Nyla gets into her car and drives away without a backward glance.
"Well... I 'll see you when I see you." Jordan said, looking sad, as she walking to her car.
"Catch you in the next life." Rylee said, getting into her car as well.
"Bye, guys." the twins said, getting into the bronc, driving away. And then Mateo gets back on his motorcycle. Then there were three left, well four if you count the dog. But soon to be three when Mateo leave.
"Where are you gonna go?" Tyler asked, after a few seconds later.
"Dunno. But you won't have to stay out of Chicago for long. The Night Skull will be dead soon." Mateo said, showing no expression nor emotion.
"Or you will." Mateo nods with cold certainly, then zooms off into the night. Tyler and I and Gizmo are left alone on the quiet street.
I stared off into the distance as I watched everyone leaving and never coming back. This has been the worst night ever for everyone. I can't believe they're gone I'm gonna miss them even if I'm still a little mad about the whole using me for their plan to get closed on information on what going on them and Night Skull.
"That's it then." I said, feeling sad now, with everyone gone.
"Yeah. That's it. Come on, Estelle. I'll get you back to your friend's place." Tyler isn't showing no emotion or expression for I can tell what's going on him or how he's doing with everyone leaving, just putting on a brave face.
He lead us back to his car, putting Gizmo is in the back exhausted with everything going on. I got int the passenger seat and waited for Tyler to get in the driver seat and then we're on the road. I gave him direction to Mack's house.
I lean my head against the window of his car, feeling the vibrations through the glass and watching the quiet city drift by. I wanted to ask him what's he going to do now since everyone left, but I'm afraid to ask to know his answer will be. But I went for it anyway to get it out of the way.
"Where will you go?" I asked, looking over to him as he focus on the road ahead of him.
"We'll see. I've got some friends back home in Detroit. Might try to lay low there for a while." he say, I can hear a little sadness in his voice as he try not to show. "I'm more worried about you. What happens when this Skye girl comes after?"
"Do you think she will?" I hoped not, but after night who knows what's she capable of doing. Which I'm started to feel a little fear toward her now.
"She's dangerous. And you know her secret. You being alive outs her whole life in danger." Tyler mood shift from being worried for me to being angry. "And I just hate the idea of leaving you behind, all alone."
"So what do I do?" Tyler took a moment to think, then pulls off the road. He put the car in park. I can see little of him with the moonlight shining bright tonight.
"I have an Idea." he said, with amusement in them. Tyler gets of the car, and I'm confused as to what he doing. He then open my door holding his hand out to me, which I take.
He took us a few feet away from the car where we still have some light. Lucky there's no cars driving by at the moment to know what's going on. Tyler turn around facing me, put leaving a few inches of space between us.
"Alright, Estelle... punch me." Tyler said, standing up straight with a small smile on his face.
"Excuse me?" I asked, confused as to what he saying. Clearly I must of heard him wrong and he meant something else. But if not, he's out of his mind, if he think I'm gonna punch him for no reason. And I'll punch him if I have a reason to, like for lying to me when we met.
"Go on. Hit me, like I'm one of the Night Skull. Hard as you can." Okay, then I didn't hear him wrong.
Annoyed, I clench a fist and punch Tyler in the shoulder. He barely react to it. Must of not felt it, but I thought I hit pretty hard, guess not.
"Okay, good job." he said, probably trying to make me feel great about it, but I kind of don't.
"No, it wasn't. what is this?" I said, getting a little frustrated and getting a little tired too.. it's been a very long night.
"Me and the crew can't be around to protect you anymore... so, before I leave... I want to teach you some self-defense. You should learn a thing or two to help you if Skye comes after... and, hey you can hit me as much as you want." he's right I do need to learn self-defense if I'm gonna be on my own now, since everyone leaving me to get away from Night Skull.
I lift my hand that's in a fist and pull back as far as I can before punching Tyler's shoulder again, a bit harder this time. And boy, as I hit him, it felt like my was about to break from that impact.
"There we go." he said, with proud smile on his face.
"Alright, let's do this." I said getting a little excited about this.
"First thing is making sure you don't break your own fingers from punching like that. Gotta make a fist the right way." oh, now he tells me before giving a few pointer, would of been great to know before a few seconds ago.
He takes my hand gently, folding my fingers in a fist.
"This set of knuckles first, then fold the lower ones. Thumb on the outside, crossed over your middle finger. There." he whacks my fist against his temple. "Feeling tougher already."
"Okay, what's next?"
"You don't punch with your fist. You punch with your entire body. Rotate hip, like you're throwing a ball almost, all your momentum behind it."
I did what he show me, swing and punch him in the chest. He's knocked back a step.
"Whoa, hey, I didn't say just yet." he said surprised.
"Oh!Sorry!"
"That's alright. You wanna catch the Night Skull by surprise too."
"Tyler, how did you learn all this stuff?" I asked, curious to know how he knows so much about this whole self-defense moves.
"Back in Detroit, Raymond spent a lot of time at a boxing gym. I'd follow him around a lot. He was cooler and older."
"So you were an annoying little sibling." I smiled trying to picture him following around Raymond like an annoying little sibling would do.
"Extremely annoying. But there, I was serious. I got my ass kicked this one time by some muggers when I was a kid. Raymond chased them off, but I didn't like needing someone's help. Because you can never really count on it." he said, remembering that day. He probably wish he could of done something different back then. After a second he went back to talking about self-defense move. "Next, you wanna watch for vulnerabilities. A past injury, bad footing... the slightest hesitation. Use them to your advantage."
"Vulnerabilities. Got it." I nodded.
"Alright, next is blocking. When the other person's attacking you, that's the perfect time to strike."
"Really?"
"When they least expect it. And you can block and strike at once. Say I'm coming in from your right with a punch. Extend your arm like this to deflect it." with Tyler's other arm, he gently guides me into position.
"Sounds like that would hurt."
"Yeah, it does, but you can't be afraid. Mainly because getting hit in the arm isn't nearly as bad as getting hit in the head. And while you're doing that, use your left hand and strike straight ahead. Let's try it."
"You want me to really hit you this time?" I said, shocked or maybe surprised that he wanted me to hit him for real.
"I'll be fine." he said, trying to reassure me that he'll be fine.
He comes in from the right at half-speed. I block it with my right arm and punch forward with my left, hitting him in the chest again.
"You can't hesitate. Hesitation is death."
"I don't want to hurt you."
"Then think about something you hate. Channel that aggression." he trying to courage me. I took a moment to think what could help me get my anger out. There are a few of them but I don;t know what worst to channel my anger. But then someone name pop up in head as I think of all the things that happened so far that led up too this. At first I thought of Skye but then turn it to myself.
I closed my eyes and think about what I've done, what I've lost. I feel my anger and self-hatred boiling over. I clenches my hand into a tight fist.
"That's it. And now--" before finishing his sentence, Tyler swings at me from the right. I react instantly, blocking his strike and punching forward. I jab Tyler right in the face! He staggers back, as blood spills from his nose.
"Perfect! That was--" Tyler said, in surprised, and pinching his nose to try to stop the bleeding.
But that didn't stop me, I keep punching him over as the anger has taken over. But soon tears welling up, blurring everything as I take my anger out.
"Hey, it's--" I still didn't stop when Tyler try to snap me out of it. I keep punching again and again, howling in rage.
Tyler moves to catch my fist, but hesitates. He also slips slightly on a patch of mud. I kick at his ankle, making him slip and fall down on his back.
"Oof! You're really picking this up quickly." he said, surprised by all this anger and strength that I been holding back for so long that I didn't know I have. But that didn't end there.
I pounce on Tyler, fist cocked back. Before I take the last hit, I said, looking sown to him. "I win." putting my hand down to my side and smiled a little.
"Estelle, I'm not teaching you how to win a fight. I'm teaching you how to survive one." he said, taking a breath and is a little disappointed by how it turns out. "You have to run when you get the chance."
"Like you're running." I said, getting off of him, and sitting next to him.
"Yeah. Like me." he says, not looking at me but the ground.
As we sit here on the side of the road in silence, I got to thinking. This is the last time I'm gonna see him and I want to remember him by doing something. So without thinking about it, I went for it.
I lean over to him, grabbing his shirt pulling him closer to me and then press my lips to his. At first he hesitated before he grab my waist and lifting me onto to lap. He runs his hands over my back, holding me even closer, like it's the last he'll ever get to know my touch.
"Somehow, I like this more than getting punched by you." he said, breaking the kiss. And he got bright smile, but it doesn't seem to reach his eyes. I kiss him again, not daring to let him go.
After sitting on the side of the road for a while, Tyler drove me back to Mack's house. we're sitting in the car in silence once again. We didn't say much on the drive here.
"I've gotta tell Mack everything... in case Skye goes after her too." I said, looking out the passenger window to her house. The lights are off expect for the yard light they have. But Mack does needs to know what's going on her own safety especially her family. I don't want anyone getting hurt because of me. Maybe I should pack everything and go on the run to protect everyone. Because if I stay here then everyone I know will get hurt.
Knowing Tyler, he'll probably be happy about the idea, but will talk me out of it, by saying something that I may regret or that I can't be running from fear like he doing. He won't let me, so I have to suck it up and not let fear get to me.
"Estelle..." Tyler said, in a low voice that I barely hear him say my name. He reaches his hand over to take my into his. I squeeze it tight.
"This is goodbye, isn't it?" I asked, knowing the answer and my voice staring to break.
"For a while, at least." how come I'm having feeling I don't believe him. Who knows when I'll see him again. When if I do how will I find? Or how he going to find me? If I decided not to move back after college. The only things I can do is that I hope he does come back, or that we'll find each other.
I reach over and hold Tyler closer. He gently rubs my back, trying futilely to soothe me, as we hug. And I'm trying to to hold back tear that about to burst any second from now.
"I'm so sorry, Estelle... I'm so sorry." he said as he still hug me. "You know, if I could take it all back, I would."
"I wouldn't" I said, as I reach for the door and open and getting out of the car.
I turn around to see Tyler watching as I go, then after a second he puts his car in gear and drives away.
After standing there for few more seconds I went inside the house but being quiet as I go in without waking anyone up. Walking up to the second floor and going to the kitchen to get something a drink before going to bed. I'll tell Mack everything in the morning.
When I got to the kitchen I see Mack there, she must of stayed up late waiting for me.
"Hey, you're still up." I said, maybe I can tell her since she up. "I really need to tell you--" I stop talking when I see another figure standing up from the kitchen chair.
"Estelle! Look who it is." Mack said, looking back to the person standing behind her now.
"Hello, Estelle. We're been waiting for you." Skye said, faking a smile.
"Skye? What the hell are you doing here?" I said, trying to keep my voice low, for I don't wake anyone up.
"Estelle!" Mack said, in surprised by how I'm talking to Skye. She doesn't know what going on, but soon she will once I get Skye out of here for good, or at least try to.
I cross my arms and glare at Skye, ignoring Mack's reaction. Skye just grins at me.
"It's alright, Mack. Just gave her a little scare, that's all." she said, looking at me with grin on her face. "I figured that since you're been away from home for a while, you might want an update on your dad. Mack and I were talking while we waited for you to get back." I could feel my blood runs cold. Skye's veiled threat doesn't go unnoticed... She knows exactly who I care about. She knows my weaknesses.
"Okay, well, I'll leave you to it... Holler if you need anything." Mack said, leaving the kitchen, thinking we're going to talk about my dad. Which we're not, I know what this is about.
Mack touches my arm lightly as leaves, but I don't even notice. I frozen in my spot, keeping my eyes glued to Skye.
Skye gesture to the empty chair across the table from her, as she sit right back into the chair she was sitting before.
"Why don't you take a seat?" she said, with that wicked grin on her face, that I so badly want to slap off her face. Wordlessly, you do as she says. "Well. This sure is a mess, huh?"now she going to act like she sad or feeling guilty about everything. I'm not going to fall for it. But I do have one question I wanted to ask, and she better answer honesty or else.
"My dad... is he... One of you?" I asked as I barely can get the words out.
"One of us? What? Estelle, come on! Of course not! Your dad's never even jaywalked in his life!" Skye said, laughing a little at the idea of my dad of jaywalking for the first. Which it would hard to believe, because it's true, he never broken a law all of his lives and he not going, since he loved his job, so much. "The guy cares so damn much about the rules,,, It's people like him who make my job a hell of a lot harder. That's pretty funny but, man...he'd be heartbroken to know you thought he could be." suddenly, I feel hollow and drained.
Everything that's happened, every emotion that I've felt over the last few hours... it all come bubbling to the surface. To my horror, I feel the tears welling in my eyes, but I swallow hard, fighting them back.
"I just don't understand one thing... Why?" Skye hesitates, genuinely thinking it over... Finally, she shrugs.
"Why not?" she asked, like she doesn't care about anything. What about her daughter? Does she know how this could affected to her too, if words get out that her mother a law enforcement is also a criminal running a business.
"Why not? Because, you have a good life. I don't understand. I've been to your house. You have a daughter. Does Lexi know?" I asked.
"Heaven, no. I know how to keep thing separated without anyone knowing and finding out." Skye takes out her badge. She turns it over and over again in her hands, her expression unreadable. "But you'll understand soon, Estelle. You're growing up."
"I'll never understand you." I said, getting upset, and trying to keep my voice down.
"Sure you will. In fact, you've already started to. Look, I loved my daughter, my home. But it's not enough. I need to spread my wings too." she gives me a wry look. And I don't know how feel about that whole speech and I don't know if I believe her too. "Sound familiar?"
It took me a second before realizing what she meant by that words she says. "That's not the same. What happened between me and my dad... it's not the same."
"You found your separate little world with the crew. I found mine with this." she holds up her police badge. "Out there on the street, I can do just about anything. It started small, of course. Bending the law to let someone off I thought should get a second chance. But it's amazing how addictive that kinda freedom can be."
"Skye... There's a big difference between that and this." I say, getting a little anger before calming down. "You're way past the point of no return, no matter what you tell yourself."
"I know you know what I'm talking about. Hell, I basically deputized you. So this badge let you do whatever you wanted too. I was your 'Get Out of Jail Free' card, and you took full advantage."
"No... that's not--"
"It didn't have to turn out like this. You and I... well, I had hoped to spare you some hard truths. I'm not a bad guy, Estelle. The Night Skull only extorts criminals. If you're on the right side of the law, then we don't bother you."
"And what about Hensley? He was one of you, and you killed him like he was nothing." I said, getting anger.
"Hensley was... an unfortunate necessity. He was talking to the F.B.I." Skye get a little anger too. "He would've cost us everything."
"No, he wouldn't have. Mateo tricked you into thinking Hensley betrayed you. Mateo got you to murder your own friend" Skye's expression darkens, as she now knows the truth what was really supposed to happened hours ago, if I haven't ruin everything.
"I don't want to hurt you, Estelle. Or Mack. Or your dad."
"My dad's gonna lock you away for life."
Skye now is all calm for now. But she have a smile on her face, like she riled me up. "Are you really going to tell him? Are you really willing to gamble with his life like that?" I open my mouth to retort... but remain silent. Skye stands up, tucking her badge away. "Here's what we're gonna do. We're going to act like nothing happened." She said putting her hands on the table and leaning down toward as she only a few inches away from face. "You're gonna go to school in the morning. You'll do your homework. You'll take your tests. You'll go to prom. Things will be just like before.
"You can't just--"
Skye cut me off. "I can just. You'll do exactly what we tell you to, and you'll breathe a word of this to no one. Or--"
"Who wants coffee." I turn my head to see Mack coming into the kitchen. Skye hurried to standing up straight, like nothing is going on between us or the conversation we're having.
Mack went over to the coffeemaker to make a new pot of coffee. Skye flashes her a kind smile, and it makes my stomach turn.
"I think I'm all set, Mack, but thank you. You've been the perfect host. Walk me out, Estelle?" Skye said, turning her attention to me. I rise to my feet, feeling like my having an out-of-body-experience.
When we got to the main floor, we both step outside so Mack don't hear us talking.
"So, do we understand each other?" she said, turning to me with that wicked grin again. And I just nodded, that I understand everything she telling what to do, since I feel like I have no choice right now. "Okay, well, then goodnight." she reaches out to pat my shoulder, then walks away. Leaving me standing here watching her go acting like nothing going on.