Tear It Down

Chapter Twelve

Adrien rubbed her hands on a cloth, smiling to herself. The bastards increased their security tenfold, providing a welcome challenge for her. The other times were far too easy, even when she ran into that guard. He was a large man, towering over her with an extra hundred pounds on her, but she was quick and that came to her advantage. She had no idea if the poor bloke was still alive. He was a mere obstacle she removed. Had he wanted to keep his life he had no business joining the Shelby's. But then again...

At the sound of footfalls Adrien stopped in her tracks, lifting her head to see something that caught her utterly off guard. The second youngest Shelby standing before her with his hands in his coat pockets and grinding his teeth on a toothpick.

She had to keep her expression neutral, a smile threatening to spread across her lips. "Of anyone, it was you John." Going to take a step forward he spoke, his gaze burning into her with hatred. She stood still.

"I've found you, you bastard." He spat.

" Yes, it seems you have. The only shame is how long it took you" Adrien laughed with a shake of her head. "And to think, I'd be caught by the youngest of you Shelby's." John began forward, pulling his gun out when she spread her arms out wide. "The cowards way as always, isn't that right, John?"

John stopped dead in his tracks at the mention of his name. How could he know my name?

* * *
The race had been going along smoothly with no hint of trouble in sight as Tommy stood next to Penny, both pair of eyes scanning for anything that could hint at something going wrong.

When Arthur came to Tommy's side he looked to his brother and asked, "Still no sign of John?"

"It's like he simply got up and left. Aunt Pol has no idea where he might be either."

Tommy ground his teeth together. This was no time to let petty arguments get in the way of what they were doing. "He better have a damn good excuse."

"Maybe that'll be enough for you, but when I get my hands on him-" but Arthur's words fell silent as he looked out to the horses, color rising across his face. Tommy looked back and saw a horse go down, but was astonished when another followed suit, and another.

Tommy felt anger rise in him as both Penny and Arthur cursed, Tommy doing nothing to stop Penny from going over the rail to run to the horses she cared for.

The bastard had gotten in again, but it was much worse this time. Not one horse was taken down, but three. The crowd shrieked and screamed, anger and horror in their voices at what they saw.

This time it wasn't to win a bet, it wasn't to help those who gambled. No. This was a show of power.
* * *
Adrien smiled at how John had stepped back in surprise. "It's no secret who you are John. You're a Shelby, you'll never be a secret again."

"I'm not an idiot you piece of shit." He spat, cocking his gun. "I know what it means to have the Shelby name."

Adrien smirked as she looked to his gun. "To bad your children can't see this." At the look on his face she lowered her arms. "Their daddy hiding behind a gu-" but her words were cut short as John strode forward, his fist silencing her.