Chapter 21

'Bloody hell!' Jake screamed at the top of his lungs he was clinging onto the door's side handle as hard as he could his vision becoming blurred as the car sped down the road over 100kmph. Mia seated next him wasn't fairing any better her face almost white; she had raced loads of times before but had never once felt scared something would happen because it was her own fate in her own hands, right now though she was completely scared stiff. The two cars were very evenly matched heading down the straight, easily dodging a few cars in the way.

'Ah bugger.' Ashley mumbled she could see they were close to approaching the next intersection there were no cars in front but the intersection's lights were red and others cars crossed over.

'Guys you better hang on tight.' She said.

'What?' Jake yelled.

'Oh no you're not-are you kidding?' Brian said he was terrified now he'd never been in quite a situation like this in his life. She didn't have the time to respond shifting the car into another gear and hit the NOS.

'SHIT!' Jake and Mia screamed from the back seat Brian didn't say a word his fingers gripped the side of the door his knuckles almost turning white. Ashley kept all her focus on the road as everything passed by in a fuzz of blurred colours she knew the intersection was approaching fast and whatever happened next would happen within a few short seconds. She kept the car as straight as possible not wanting to change anything as they continued to fly through the street; they hit the intersection and got through by only a few inches. She hit the brakes sending the tyres into a screeching halt throwing them all forwards but with their seatbelts they were safe.

'Everyone all right?' she asked looking at her three passengers they all looked as white as ghosts she smiled lightly.

'Don't fret it is all ok, we're fine the car is fine and Hep's lost out so too bad for him.' She remarked just then they heard cars blared their horns from the intersection glancing over there was a bit of a pile-up of cars and angry drivers. Ashley and the others got out of the car looking at the intersection wearily other car drivers also stopped to have a look and pedestrians became curious as to what was going on.

'Stay here.' Ashley answered she jogged over carefully approaching the pile of cars she sighed with relief seeing there wasn't a lot of damage and it looked like nobody was injured she found Hep and his car the front bumper was quite badly damaged but the rest of the car was still in tact; Hep wasn't injured he stood next to his car kicking at the tyres shaking his head and mumbling to himself Ashley smirked and she walked towards him.

'What happened? You lost your edge have you?' she said he glared at her.

'Shut it.' He growled she laughed.

'I'll have one of the guys come around with the tow truck for the car we'll get it fixed up and looking brand new and I'll expect the money to be delivered when the car gets picked up.' She answered he folded his arms shaking his head.

'Oh and don't try and run away because I'll find you,' she answered and with a smirk she turned and walked away just in time in hearing the loud sirens of fire trucks and police. She arrived back to her car Brian, Mia and Jake looked at her each of them curious.

'Get back in we're leaving; there are more things for you to see.' Ashley answered Jake held his arms up.

'Hell no! I will not get back in the car with you not after today. Never again thank you.' He said she smirked she had a feeling this might happen.

'What's a matter? Are you scared I'd injure one of you?' she asked.

'You could have killed us,' he answered she laughed.

'Well fine if you're so terrified for your life then stay here, have a look around and find something to do. When I am finished then I'll see if I can actually be bothered with coming back to get you,' she said she turned away from him and got back into the car. Brian looked between Mia and Jake, he wasn't sure what was going on with them but he would have to find out, for now he was going to stay near Ashley, he also got into the car she smiled at him.

'Glad to see the little trip didn't put you off.' She said.

'Well its not like I haven't done it a few times,' he replied.

'Oh?' She was interested.

'Yeah though I didn't push it quite as far as you did.'

'Yeah well I don't imagine too many people have, it does take a lot of guts to pull it off and do it well. When you have other people's lives at stake apart from your own it makes it just as dangerous.' She said.

'Have you done it often?' he asked she nodded.

'While I was still teaching Mark everything he needed to know he pretty much was with me all the time, and I'd always get challenged though sometimes he would bring it on me for his own reasons.' She said. Ashley and Brian heard the passengers' back doors open Jake and Mia got into the back seat they didn't say a word and put their seatbelt on Ashley hide her smug smile glancing over her shoulder at them both turned away to look outside she shot a sideways look to Brian he too had a smile. Ashley now had no doubt whatever the reason Jake had to being here was of major importance and he'd risk it all to get what he needed.

'Now, where are we?' Jake wailed just as soon as Ashley stopped the car outside a three-story apartment block.

'Just paying a little visit to the old enemy. See what he is up to when things go down here everyone always jumps to the conclusion I'm involved. Nobody stops to even think about Jonathan just because he's the country's best racer.' She answered shutting off the engine she unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to her three passengers.

'Don't try anything stupid around Jonathan and his guys they are not as nice a group as mine. We are pretty accommodating to many but he isn't, and he is very suspicious of everybody.' She added.

'What are you hoping to get out of him?' Brian asked.

'I am just going to see if he knows anything about the new team in town he was present when I confronted the new group and it was just the few odd things he said that got me thinking.' Ashley answered the four got out of the car.

'Baker!'

They turned around and looked up to the second floor balcony; a guy dressed faded jeans and a plain blue t-shirt leaned over the railing he held a bottle of beer in one hand.

'Where's JB?' Ashley asked.

'Busy he won't be seeing anybody today,' the guy remarked she smirked.

'James you get you behind back in there and tell him I want a word. I don't care if he's busy he is going to make time.' She said. James pulled a pissed off face though he knew better and turning around he strode back inside the glass sliding door.

'Come on.' She said Brian, Mia and Jake followed her up the stairs they reached the second floor and advanced to the door James walked through moments ago. From outside they heard laughing, happy, relaxed voices, TV on the background and soft music from the stereo.

'Does he own the one apartment?' Jake asked.

'No. He owns the entire block.' She said jake and Mia glanced to each other they didn't say a word but they had a similar thought cross their mind. Brian too had a similar thought he's been in this business before and knew all the perks to come with gaining success. Ashley pushed the heavy draft curtains aside walking inside she had to cough with the strong smell of smoke and alcohol. Jonathan's team members had spread themselves in the lounge area; Ashley was interested as only some of the members were here the rest were missing she presumed they might be in their own apartments but she knew better it was an unlikely situation.

'Well Miss Baker. What can I do for you?'

Ashley, Brian, Mia and Jake watched Jonathan follow James into the lounge area and from the way he was dressed it wasn't difficult to suss his reason for being 'busy'.

'Cut the formalities. What do you know about the newbies in town?' Ashley asked. Jonathan walked to the breakfast car table he half sat on the barstool.

'You presuming I know it all.' He said.

'I saw you communicating with their head man the other night as well as you turning up when I first ran into them.' She replied he rubbed his chin.

'They don't tell me much and even if I did know you won't drag it out of me.' He said she sighed she was in no mod to play his chit-chat game tactics.

'What you're saying is you guys meet up but don't discuss a thing.' She said.

'Not that it really is any of your business but yes.' Jonathan answered.

'Then do you know what happened at Adrian's place?' she asked Jonathan burrowed his eyebrows.

'I heard their place got trashed the other night. Don't even try and point fingers Baker we were nowhere near the place as I'm sure you're aware.' He added.

'Word travels fast so you know something.' Ashley said he shook his head, stood up gave a stretch he started walking back to the corridor heading for his room before he stopped short and glanced back over his shoulder.

'Those newbies you are so hung up on following aren't the only ones running around Dublin. Lots of rank outsiders have become vastly active since you were away.'

'Maybe you should go search them out first.' He remarked. Ashley thought about it she recalled the occurrence of the car accident, checking out Adrian's place and getting attacked from behind, Jonathan was right this sort of stuff hadn't ever happened prior to her leaving. She turned back to the others.

'Come on.'
She walked towards the door heading outside the rest of Jonathan's team ignored them continuing to watch the TV.

'What did he mean?' Mia asked.

'I don't know something is definitely up around here the city is different.' Ashley replied.

'What are you going to do about it?' Jake asked.

'Nothing yet there is some research to do first. For now we're heading back.' She said, walking down the stairs.