Beneath The Ashes

"Declan, hurry!" I laughed, gripping the edge of my seat as we tore down the road.

He smirked, shifting gears smoothly. "You want to win that bad?"

"Obviously." I leaned forward, watching as the other cars lagged behind. "You have to finish before them."

Declan chuckled but didn't argue. The car roared as he pushed it faster, the road blurring past. In the mirror, I saw Massimo, Jaxon, Zayn, and Vale's cars... but they weren't catching up.

"Are they slowing down on purpose?" I frowned.

Declan glanced at the mirror. "Looks like it."

I grinned. "They're letting us win!"

He rolled his eyes but didn't deny it. "Spoiled brat."

I stuck my tongue out at him. "Jealous?"

Before he could respond, headlights flashed aggressively ahead.

I barely had time to register it when several cars came speeding straight toward us.

"Declan—" My breath hitched.

They weren't slowing down.

My fingers dug into my seat as fear crawled up my spine. There was no space for them to pass, no way they'd avoid hitting us if they kept coming like that—

Declan cursed under his breath, fury snapping through his expression.

With one hand on the wheel, he grabbed his phone. "Massimo, we have incoming."

I could hear Massimo's voice, sharp, clipped. "How many?"

"Three—no, four," Declan muttered, eyes trained on the approaching vehicles. "No brakes. They're coming straight at us."

I saw the front cars in our convoy slowing to stop.

Then—

Massimo's car shot past us like a bullet.

He swerved left, cutting across the road, blocking the view of Declan's car from the rest of them.

A second later, Jaxon followed, pulling up behind Massimo's car.

Then Zayn.

Then Vale.

One by one, my brothers formed a wall around us as we stopped

My heart slammed against my ribs. "What's happening?"

Declan exhaled slowly, fingers flexing on the wheel. He turned to me and cupped my cheek, pressing a quick, firm kiss against my forehead.

"It might be some desperate business people." His voice was steady, too calm. "Stay in the car."

I swallowed hard. "Declan—"

"Stay. In. The car."

Then he pushed open his door and stepped out.

I sat frozen as I watched all of them get out.

Massimo. Jaxon. Zayn. Vale.

Not a single one of them spoke before leaving, but each of them glanced at me—quick, fleeting, but assessing.

Like they were making sure I was okay.

And then—

The doors shut.

And I was left alone, staring at the line of my brothers blocking my view of whatever was waiting ahead.
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Massimo's POV