One Step Forward

Chapter 18. For Us

Mya's POV

Linc dragged Tyler outside and threw him up against another building. We stood in the dark alleyway, just the three of us. 

"Stop it, Linc," I begged. I jumped in between them once again to try to stop. "What did you do, Tyler?" I spat.

My words caught Linc off guard, so he stopped, stared at Tyler, waiting for his answer.

"I didn't do anything," he said and scoffed.

"You knew it was a van that hit us," I said. "That information was never released. The cops told us never to bring that part up because it would screw the investigation up."

Linc stiffened. "You..." he trailed off.

Tyler swallowed hard, and his eyes widened. "I-I—"

"You piece of shit," Linc spat and then moved me out of his way to get at Tyler. 

The door swung open. Loud music and the smell of alcohol flowed out of the bar as Bryant and Jarrod came out to see what was going on. Linc pinned Tyler to the wall of the other bar across the alley. He balled his fist up and punched Tyler in the jaw.

Bryant and Jarrod dashed past me and grabbed Linc. They struggled to hold a very angry Linc back. Linc managed to jump up even with them holding his arms, and kicked Tyler in the face. Tyler sank to the ground as Bryant and Jarrod pulled Linc further back. 

"He killed my son!" Linc screamed.

I jumped in front of Linc and put my hands on his face. "This isn't how to deal with this. We'll talk to the cops tomorrow," I said. "If he did, our son deserves justice. Don't handle it like this."

Linc's entire body shook with rage. "I'm going to kill him," he sneered, staring past me.

"Lincoln," I snapped. "Stop. Let's go home." Tears built up in my eyes.

Linc finally gave in and looked at me. The pain in my eyes mirrored the pain in his. 

"Take me home," I whispered. 

Bryant and Jarrod let Linc go. Linc wrapped his arms around me and pulled me down the dark alley. Neither Bryant nor Jarrod said a word. What could they say? We just found out that Tyler was involved in our hit-and-run. At least, we were pretty sure. Tyler gave it away by the look on his face.

Linc helped me into the car and shut the door behind me. He climbed into the driver's side and started the car. Neither of us spoke as he drove away from the club. 

My eyes flickered to Linc, and his expression became concerned. 

"What is it?"

"Um...nothing," he said and straightened up. He looked closer at the speedometer.

I glanced out the windshield. Droplets of water smacked the glass. The clouds above us darkened. A stoplight turned red. There were two cars ahead of us slowing down, but Linc wasn't. "Babe," I started. I didn't want to be a backseat driver. "Slow down."

He grimaced. "I can't."

"What?" I asked, confused. "Linc, what are you—"

"We don't have brakes," he said. He moved into a turning lane, which was empty, and sped up.

"Oh my god, what?" I gasped and gripped the dashboard. My body tensed up as I prepared myself for the impact of oncoming traffic. 

A scream of horror escaped me as I saw a flash of headlights coming from Linc's side. He made it through the first red light, but there were more cars in front of us and no way around them. My heart raced faster than the car.