Chapter 51

FIFTY-ONE

" A lek." Skylar tosses me something, and I catch it in the dark as red lights flicker on in the station. I grab Alice and start to back her to the front door, but something crashes there, so I turn, and we back toward the rear of the station, where the officers went.

"Anyone see him?" I hiss, keeping Lally and Alice behind me, but Lally darts away, using her phone's flashlight as she grabs a phone from a desk and holds it like a weapon, winking at Alice.

"I've got you."

Ignoring her for now, I strain my eyes, searching the darkness as his laughter comes again. "She's mine, not yours, never yours. While we have our fun here, she will be having hers. There will be nothing left of your precious Evan when she's through with him."

Gritting my teeth against my panic, I move us closer toward the door, counting each step. His voice echoes around in front of us, like he's trying to scare us. Alice whimpers, letting me know it's working, but I refuse to give in. Evan is tough, one of the strongest people I know, so he'll be okay.

He has to be okay. Right now, I need to focus on getting us out of here alive so I can rescue my boy.

"Ten steps," Bones whispers, letting me know how far we are from the door since I can't look back. Nodding in understanding, I startle when there's another loud bang in front of us.

"You won't survive this night. You know that, don't you? I can't let you. I can't lose everything for nothing. Before dawn, Alice will be mine, and you will all be a tragic story—nothing more, nothing less. For some of you, I'm doing the world a favor by getting rid of you. You're nothing," he sneers, his voice slightly manic.

Whatever Clarissa did to him, it royally fucked him up. Either he was crazy before her or she made him that way. Regardless, it doesn't matter. It's clear he's willing to do whatever it takes.

I can't afford to be weak or I'll lose someone else I care for.

"Five steps," Bones whispers. "Three."

"She is mine!" he yells.

Just as my hand touches the doorknob, two flashlight beams rush through the front of the station. "Hold your hands up!"

Police.

I hold mine up, but their lights fall on someone else—him. For one moment, he's framed in the flashlights, still wearing the same clothes but his mask gone.

"What the fuck?" one of the officers whispers. They hesitate, and it gives him the opening he needs. He ducks under their lights, then I hear grunts as their flashlights swing wildly, trying to track him, their guns raised.

It's the opening we need. Maybe it's cowardly, but I need to find Evan and keep Alice safe.

Still, I hesitate, watching the light beams and ignoring the others' urgings. If he dies here, I need to see it, to be sure. I duck when one of the officers fires, covering those behind me, but he simply laughs, and then there's a blood-curdling scream. One of the flashlights drops to the floor. I watch it roll until it turns to illuminate a horrific sight. One of the officers is hanging from the lighting above, a phone wire wrapped around his neck. He kicks and fights, his face turning purple.

I begin to step toward him to help, but Alice drags me back as the other officer backs toward him, lifting his legs to help him breathe, all while aiming his gun.

Gun . . . Where is the other officer's gun?

Just as I think that, there is a distinctive bang that has me crouching lower still. The officer holding up his partner jerks from the impact, a bloody hole appearing in his shoulder, and then there is another bang, this time hitting the officer in his side.

Ford's laughter fills the air, indicating he's taunting them.

He's killing police officers for fun.

They are going to lose.

Turning, I rip open the door and push Alice inside. "Go!" I roar as Lally follows, then I grab Bones and Skylar and throw them in. I turn to shut it just as a body hits the floor where I was just standing. Gulping, I stare down at the bleeding police officer, his eyes wide and blinking. He reaches for a gun that's no longer there.

Fuck! He's armed with two weapons now.

Reaching down despite my worry, I grab the officer and haul him in with us, kicking the metal, bulletproof door shut just as bullets rain across it.

Dragging the officer farther in, I lay him down then rush to the door, putting my ear against it. It's silent on the other side, which is concerning. "I don't think he can get in here," I mutter as I turn to the others.

"Jesus fucking Christ," Skylar growls. "This is some fucked-up shit. He's killing police officers now? He really won't stop, will he?"

"No, he won't," I answer, my eyes on Alice. "We need to get out of here. I don't know when more will come, but we can't depend on the police anymore."

"Five, six—" The officer on the floor coughs.

Hurrying over, I kneel at his side as he grabs my hand, and I see another hole in his chest. He's dying, and he knows it. The guys' flashlights land on us, letting me see the terror in his eyes.

"What did you say?" I ask.

"Five, six—" He coughs, his body shuddering. "Five, six, seven, eight. It's the code for the back door. Go out, your car is there, so are squad cars. My radio is gone. Use theirs to call for help." Blood bubbles on his lips as he coughs. "We are spread too thin. You need to go . . ." His words trail off as his body shudders with a rattling cough, and as I watch, the light extinguishes in his eyes and the hand holding mine turns limp.

Letting it go, I lean down and close his eyes. "Thank you," I whisper, knowing he just saved our lives. He died for his job, and I can't let that be in vain.

"Let's go," I order as I jump to my feet just as a door deeper into the station bursts open. The two officers, Winchester and his partner, hurry over wearing bulletproof vests, one holding a shotgun and the other with a pistol.

"What the fuck is happening?" Winchester asks. "We tried to put the system back on, but it's fried—shit, Henderson." He gapes down at the dead officer.

"Ford got out. He killed two of your officers," I tell him, worried they will think we are involved, but their faces cloud with anger as they glance at the door beyond. "He was in there. I don't know if he still is."

"We managed to reboot the doors and locked down the front, so he has to be," Winchester murmurs as he looks back at Henderson.

"He told us the back door code to get out," I say. "Will it work?"

They share a look before running their eyes over us, no doubt seeing a number of terrified but determined faces splattered with blood and dirt before coming to a decision.

"He's right. The back door works on a separate circuit in case of an emergency. Go, we called this in. We'll stop him, but you need to get out of here. Head to the hospital or the fire scene and stay there with the other officers," he orders as he stomps past us, both of them moving to each side of the door before looking at us.

"Go now!" Winchester commands.

I hesitate while the others hurry to the back door, and the officer nods at me. "Go, save your family. We'll stop him here and give you a chance."

Backing away, I nod my thanks before turning and following my friends and family. The back door is already open, the finger pad smeared with blood, and they are waiting outside, looking back at me. My car is parked behind some police cars, and I spy the keys inside as I hurry over before hesitating.

"Are we really going to hide at the other scene?"

I look over at Skylar. "What do you think?" I retort, one eyebrow arched.

He groans, sharing a look with Bones. "I think you're going to do something crazy and find Evan and stop a crazy serial killer."

"Then you're right." I open my door, nodding at Alice. "Get her to safety?—"

"No, I'm going with you," she argues.

"Alice," I start, just as Skylar rolls his shoulders back.

"She's right. We are going with you," he states. "You aren't in this alone. Evan is our friend too. We won't let anyone else die tonight. Tell us your plan."

Just then, there's gunfire inside, and we all turn to look before sharing a worried expression. "I have a feeling they won't stop him," I admit. When I looked into their eyes, I saw that they knew it as well. They knew they were going to die, but they did it anyway. "Which means he will follow us. We need to find Evan." I rub my head, worried and stressed.

"He couldn't have gone far with her," Bones reasons. "The whole city is in lockdown. She would need to lie low until it lifts. The school. It has to be. It's close, and it's the last place they would think to look." He opens up his phone and snarls. "I knew it. She's in Rose Manor. We have an entry camera. It clocked her just twenty minutes ago. She must have stalked either Evan or Ford there before. She's using the Silent Rose hideaway as her own, and nobody would have a clue since it's a secret."

I nod. "So we go there."

"And him?" Sky gestures at the police station when there's more gunfire and screams from inside.

"We show him who he messed with. No one touches my family and gets away with it." I glance at Alice. "Are you sure about this? "

"Evan is my friend, and this is because of me. I won't run and hide. We are in this together."

I hate it, but looking into her eyes, I know I can't talk her out of it. She's just as stubborn as I am, and honestly, the best place for her right now is probably at my side. I can't keep her locked away forever. This is her life, her friends' lives. She deserves to be part of it. I won't take away her freedom.

I can't. There is a difference between love and control, and I never want to control her.

"Then I have a plan," I say as it becomes quiet inside. I know he killed them and will be coming after us. We don't have a lot of time, so I explain it quickly as they stare at me.

"It's totally batshit," Bones grumbles.

"I've always wanted to race in a cop car." Sky grins at me. "Let's show Ford how fast we really are."

Grinning, I nod at him. "Let's do this. We'll end this where we started, on the streets."

This has to work. It has to.

Bones is in the back, lying across the seat to hide, and Lally is in the back seat of the police car Skylar . . . borrowed and seemed far too happy about. We are parked next to each other, with Alice in my passenger seat.

"Are you sure you can do this?" I ask her, gripping the wheel.

"Trust me, Alek, please, just this once," she begs.

"I do," I admit, looking over at her. "I trust you more than anyone. Don't get hurt, okay?"

"Don't you get hurt either," she orders as she grips the handle.

We wait, and when I see the back door opening, Ford in the doorframe, I turn on my engine, Skylar doing the same, and then we share a look. I had just enough time to fix what was wrong with my car, but I sure as fuck hope it holds out. I wish I had my Skyline, but tonight, I'm racing in this. I rev, getting his attention so he sees Alice in my passenger seat, and then we peel away. As soon as we are around the corner and out of his sight, I slow, and Alice leaps from my car and into Skylar's. Our doors slam as I gun it to the left, and he speeds off to the right.

I hold my breath, hoping it works, and when headlights shine over my trunk as Ford swings out onto the road behind us, chasing me and where he thinks Alice is, I know I have him.

"I got you, you bastard." I smirk as I shift gears and slam my foot to the pedal.

I hit my speaker, and Sky's voice comes through with a whoop. "He bought it."

"Where are we going?" Lally asks through the phone.

"We are going to Evan. She has him, and we can't waste time," I reply.

"Um, and what about the crazy killer chasing us?"

I spin in the middle of the street and gun it as I grip the wheel, my face contorted with anger. "We follow the plan. It will work," I say, hoping I'm right.

I drift around the next corner, watching him try to keep up. "He's a fool." I smirk. "These streets are mine. Let's show him that."

"Outsmarting a serial killer, who would have thought?" Skylar laughs, feeling the high like we always do.

"He's fucking crazy," Bones mutters.

"Aren't we all, my pretty, tattooed boy," he flirts as Bones rolls his eyes and climbs into my passenger seat from the back.

"Anything?" I ask, his phone clutched in his hand.

"They are still inside. I called reinforcements." He grins. "We aren't just a secret society for parties, you know."

Nodding, I glance back to see the creep gaining on us, so I push my car to its limits, the engine revving.

"Let's see if you can keep up, old man," Skylar teases as I hear his sirens.

"Sky." Alice sighs, switching them off. "Drive safely, Alek. I know you race for money, but this is different?—"

I glance down at my phone, even as I spin around the next corner. "You know?"

"Of course I know. I'm not an idiot. You're an adult. So as long as you come home in one piece, that's all that matters."

"You little brat," I snap.

"Not the time for this discussion," Skylar reminds us.

"Right. Serial killer. We'll finish this later," I mutter as I take the next corner faster than I should. Bones swears and grabs the handle, but he doesn't look away from the camera on his phone, keeping an eye on my man for me.

"Three streets out," Sky offers as I hear him gunning it.

"Five," I reply as I speed over a hump. We get some air and then land with a crash, racing forward. "He's still behind me."

"This better work," Bones mutters. "What about his gun?"

I don't have anything to say to that, and he groans as the road signs pass us.

"One street."

"I'm there," Sky warns.

I turn onto the flat, quiet road. It's a long stretch with a hill to the right and a cliff to the left, which is exactly what I need, and it's our usual racing strip, one we know better than our own hands.

I shoot forward before hitting the brakes and spinning the wheel. We turn, and he has no choice but to brake as I slide to a stop sideways across the road, blocking him.

Getting out, I pull the gun I stole from my waistband and aim it through the windshield. I fire once in warning, and he tries to back away, but Sky shoots out, blocking the road behind him.

He's trapped as they get out, and we surround the car.

Ford is armed, but it's now or never.

"Get out," I order, pointing the gun at the driver's side.

He gets out slowly, his own gun aimed at me. "You think you can shoot before me?" He grins. "Even if you do, I'll hit you too, and we'll both die tonight."

"It's a risk I'll take," I reply .

Alice steps in front of me, her arms spread wide. "If you shoot, you'll shoot me."

"Alice," I hiss.

She glances back at me briefly. "He won't do it, trust me." She meets his eyes. "Drop the gun or shoot me. You pick."

He snarls, his eyes hardening as he glares at Alice. "Move."

"No." She tilts her chin up defiantly, ignoring my urgings. "Shoot or drop it. Now!"

His chest heaves, his hand wavering on the gun, and it's the opening we need. Sky leaps over the roof and lands on him while I grab Alice and turn us. A gun goes off, and I look back. No one appears to be hurt, and Sky pins him while Lally kicks the gun away before heading to me. I pass Alice to her and put my own gun away, then I walk over and crouch next to him as he struggles.

"She's your weakness. You taught me that." I drive my fist into his face. He groans, spitting blood, so I do it again and again. I let my rage consume me until arms tug me back—Bones.

"You wanted him alive, remember?" Skylar hisses, but he doesn't stop me. In fact, he holds him down tighter.

"Let me go!" I roar, fighting to get to him.

"Kill him, I don't care," Sky says as Bones tugs me closer, "but what about Evan?"

He's right. Evan's name clears my bloodlust, and I stare at Ford's unmoving body. Pushing their arms off, I walk away. "I'm fine," I tell them as they watch me pace. "You're right. Tie him up and gag him. We still need him."

"Are you sure about this?" Sky mutters as he pulls out the tape and rope, throwing some to Bones.

"We need him," I say. "He's the only one who can stop her, who can get her attention. She let him free for a reason rather than just killing him. You don't become obsessed with someone and then just discard them, not like that."

Sky sighs as he starts to tie Ford's ankles while Bones binds his wrists. "You're good at that," Bones comments with a frown.

"You have no idea. I'll show you later if you're good." Sky winks .

Looking back at Alice, I see her and Lally together and nod. "This next part won't be easy."

"None of this has been," Alice scoffs.

I smile widely. "You did well, little sister."

"So did you." She grins. "Now let's go get Evan back. No one will ever put up with your shit like that guy does."

Rude, but true.