Aubrey (Axis Rising)

038:

         

*****038:

Rafe

White hot blinding rage had filled my brain and clouded my thoughts. The only thing that mattered was getting rid of this problem.

"Are you freaking kidding me?" I ran the few steps toward Jack and his cronies leaning against their stupid expensive SUV. There were three, Mr. Business Thug not in attendance, but had obviously relayed my response. I saw Aidan come running out of the corner of my eye, but my fists were already clenched, my heart was already pounding, my senses were on high alert, and I was furious--- more than I have ever been in my life!

He wasn't fast enough. Jack did not expect me to deck him.

I round-housed him, knocked him to the ground and street kicked him in the gut, I saw number two pull a knife and I deflected, disarmed and twisted his arm to break it if necessary as Jack rolled to his feet.

"Look, dude, you don't need this." Jack slurred as he pushed himself up, his knife out, and I saw the gun tucked into his waistband.

Visions of other guns in recent history-- that moment of surprise to find out that guns carried in this way were even real. For some reason, I'd had the wrong impression that they were only in movies. It didn't matter, fury that they were still accosting me in my own space washed through me like lava.

"No, buddy, I told you to stay away from me and my family. You obviously didn't get my message, so now I'm making it loud and clear. I will make your life hell. I will not stop till you have gone back to the pit you climbed out of." I twisted his buddy's arm, slamming his face into the pavement.

Aidan was there, with his gun out, covering the other two. "Rafe, let him go."

I dropped the guy's hand like a hot cake and wiped my own palms on my jeans. The heat was stifling, the noises around me had all fallen away. I was caught in a semi-recollection of another even worse day, that day at the pyramids, when the cartel and the military had had a war and we'd all lost.

"The card, man." Jack panted, hearing sirens in the distance. "I let you off easy, man, this means all out."

"Bullshit. Come and get some more if you want it. You and me, let's go. You and me." I gave him the cupped finger wave. "Let's get it on."

"This ain't my war, dude, I'm just the messenger." He backed away, helping his other friend to his feet, watching Aidan, who hadn't flinched, whose stance was more threatening than all of us. The guy at my feet scrambled away, clutching his wrist, and giving me the finger, as he scattered.

They busted ass to their vehicle and literally dove inside.

I had no illusions that they ditched the scene because of me.

The sirens, the gun, Aidan's cold eyes, and the fact that they were simply paid employees, and even though they'd die for their leaders, the Sonora Cartel was just an affiliate. They weren't being paid to get dead.

When they peeled out I turned back to the office doors. "Where's Angie? Did Aubrey make it back inside?"

Keeva, who had been covering Aidan and Kodey from another angle holstered her weapon, as the police car pulled up, and another right after it. I saluted the men in blue and then raced back inside to find Aubrey still blacked out on the couch in the lobby.

*****