CRYPTO: Infidelity (Book 1)

CHAPTER 89: JOYRIDE

Birdie told me to be safe, so when I got to my apartment, I grabbed my gun and holster. If Rockie had bad intentions, he wouldn't like me bringing a gun but I would know right away what he was planning if he told me not to bring my gun. I wasn't going to go anywhere with him without protection.

I walked outside just as his convertible pulled up.

"Let's go!" Rockie said. "You can have shotgun!"

I walked up to the car. Jordan and Cam sat in the back.

"I see you came prepared," Rockie said. "So did I." He lifted his pistol into the air.

"Duke didn't want to come?" I asked.

"Nah. He's still upset that you became an Honored member and he didn't."

"We don't want him bringing down the mood anyway," Jordan said.

I climbed into the passenger seat.

"Time for some fun," Rockie said. He pressed the gas pedal and we sped out of the parking lot.

"Woah!" I said as I quickly buckled my seatbelt. "Careful, Rockie. There could be pedestrians."

"Calm down. This ain't my first rodeo," he replied. When we got onto the main road, he slammed on the gas.

I watched as the speedometer went from 20 mph to 150 mph in seconds. We sped by multiple cars. I knew if we hit any one of them, we would all be dead.

"Okay, Rockie," I said. "You can slow down!"

"Speed up?" he asked over the roar of the engine.

"No!" I shouted.

"Yeah!" Jordan and Cam cheered.

Rockie sped up to 180 mph and turned on the radio to blast some music.

"ROCKIE!" I yelled as we came upon a red light. I closed my eyes as we blasted through the intersection, just barely missing another car.

I turned the music off.

"Hey," Rockie complained.

"Are you trying to get us killed?!" I yelled at him.

"Chill out," he said.

"Yeah. Don't be such a buzzkill," Cam said.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize I would be riding with a bunch of reckless children!" I said.

Sirens came on and I looked back to see the flashing blue and red lights.

"Oh, great," I said. "See what happens when you break the law out in the open?"

"I think I can lose him," Rockie said.

"Don't you dare!" I told him. "Car chases never turn out well for the criminal."

"Fine," he said. He slowed the car down and pulled over. "Hide your guns."

The police officer walked up to Rockie's car. "Hello. You can probably guess why I pulled you over."

"My friends and I were just having a joyride, officer," Rockie said.

"Unfortunately, it's still illegal," the officer said. He looked at me. "Hey, aren't you Officer Federici?"

"Uh... Yeah," I said. "This is embarrassing."

"It's okay. You weren't the one driving," he said. "Can I see your license and registration?" he asked Rockie.

"Sure thing, officer," Rockie said. He reached into the crack between the seat where his pistol was hidden.

I grabbed his paw. "Rockie, what are you doing?"

"I'm getting my license and registration, Crypto," he said, glaring at me. "Let. Go."

"It's not worth it, Rockie." I held onto his paw. I knew what would happen if I let go, but I also knew what would happen if I didn't let go. I had to choose between this officer's life and my own.

I looked up at the officer and read his name tag. Laurier. I didn't know him that well.

"Is there a problem, gentlemen?" he asked.

Rockie continued to glare at me. He wasn't going to back down.

I slowly moved my paw down and turned the safety lock on as I held eye contact with Rockie, and then removed my paw.

Rockie smiled. "Yes, officer. There is a problem." He pulled the gun out. "A problem with your face!"

I ducked, ready for the officer to shoot as Rockie tried to squeeze the trigger, but was unable to fire.

There were multiple gunshots after that, but when I looked over, the cop fell down, bleeding in multiple places. Cam and Jordan had shot him.

Rockie switched his safety off and shot the cop's head, killing him.

"That was a close one," Jordan said.

"Let's get outta here now," Cam said.

Rockie started up his car and sped away, leaving the police car behind, its lights still flashing.

"Why did you kill him?" I asked Rockie.

"Why did you intervene?" he asked me. "My safety lock was off before you messed with my gun."

"I didn't touch your safety lock. I was just trying to prevent you from pulling out your gun in front of an armed cop so you wouldn't get shot," I lied.

"I know what I'm doing, Crypto. I don't need an eighteen year old looking out for me."

"I'm nineteen."

"Whatever. You're still a kid."

"If it weren't for us, you'd be dead right now."

"If you hadn't messed with my gun-"

"I didn't mess with your gun! Don't blame me for your mistake!"

"I know for a fact the safety was off."

"You don't think shoving it between the seats could have possibly messed it up?"

"Next time, don't get involved."

"There won't be a next time. Take me back to my apartment."

"What's wrong, Crypto?" Cam asked. "Can't handle a little homicide?"

"I thought you enjoyed killing," Jordan said.

"I would like to go home now," I said with a low growl.

"Okay! Geez," Rockie said. "What's got you in a mood? We just wanted to have some fun. I thought you would enjoy this."

"I don't enjoy my life being put on the line like that," I told him.

"Well, you sure picked the wrong career," Rockie said. "Both times."