AN: So I got an idea from watching a tv show with undercover federal agents, and having already been toying with writing a fanfiction about Gajeel, I decided to go ahead and write one, only he's not one of the good guys, yet. This is an AU and there are two plots here, a Past and a Present. The past is italicized and the present is normal text. They will eventually meet in the middle.
Storyline: Gajeel has tried to separate the past from the present for years, doing his best to protect his family from his previous mistakes. When his daughter is suddenly kidnapped by his old cartel boss, her only hope is to fight her way out with what her father taught her. But Gajeel won't sit by idly and ignore his raging instincts - instincts that scream his past has finally caught up with him. One thing still hasn't changed: no one messes with a Redfox.
Two separate plots - the past and the present - collide as events unfold.
*Rated Mature - There is intense language, violence, drug, and some sexual situations. Reader discretion is strongly advised.
*I do not own any of the pictures.
*I do not own any of Fairy Tail - that's all Hiro Mashima.
AN: I may have gotten some details wrong from the previous chapter, but I'll change them when I go back to look.
Chapter XXXV
Gryder left the door wide open, ducking down behind the spot he had been hiding before leading Melina outside. He readied his gun and then brought it up. Frowning into the darkness, Gryder squeezed off a shot, then another. He ducked his head behind the piece of furniture. More shots popped off and the sound of a body slumping on the floor was heard behind him.
Far in the living room, a stray bullet grazed the radio just right, turning it on; the loud rap song blared in the darkness. It gave the dire situation a movie like quality. Gryder stared into the dark, amazed that it had happened, of all the times and possibilities. His attention was quickly altered as footsteps approached.
A gun's top slide chinked above Gryder's head. He sucked in a breath. The older man knew he was there. In an attempt to save himself from hot, angry metal, Gryder dove for Gajeel's legs, shooting out from behind his hiding spot. His pistol clanked on the floor and slid a few feet away out of his immediate reach.
"Fuck-!"
Gajeel spat out a livid curse as he toppled to the ground, surprised by the sudden action. His grip on his black hand gun loosened. His eyes saw white as a fist struck his face, making contact with his cheek.
Drawing back his fist again, Gryder landed a punch hard to the face. It felt wrong. He couldn't place it. Maybe it was his emotional connection to Melina. But he had to do it. He needed to get Melina out of the area. If he managed to slow her father enough for him to slip out to meet her at the barn, then maybe they could flee in one of the available cars.
The young druggie scrambled for his pistol and crouch-ran towards the open back door. He straightened once he was outside, his head immediately snapping towards the barn. It was then that he registered the scream.
Under the busted security light, Melina was struggling against a dark clothed man. He held her in one hand, the gun in his other hand pointing behind him. He gripped her tighter, causing her to mewl.
"Let her go, fucker!" Gryder yelled with a rough growl. He swiftly brought his gun up with both hands and aimed it at the man. He kept his finger off the trigger, as Melina was within the target area.
"Wait-" The man began. He let go of Melina when she bit his arm. She pushed herself away from him, but he reached for her again.
Gryder fired a shot. The round hit the man in the leg. Not at all where he was aiming, but it was dark and adrenaline coursing through him was abundant. The man went down with a cry. Gryder didn't care if the man was a part of Jose's ring or not.
He ran towards her, keeping the barrel of his gun pointed to the grass. "What did I say?!"
"And I said I'm not going without you!" She hissed.
He spat on the ground beside him, then huffed out a breath. Sweat rolled down his back, trickling under the waistband of his jeans. His shirt stuck to him and he felt certain parts of it pooling with sweat. He quickly brought the material up to wipe the sweat from his face.
Melina ran towards the barn ahead of him, glancing over her shoulder to see him right behind. She moved out of the way so he could slide open the large heavy door. She slipped inside while he checked around to see if anyone was approaching.
The air was a little chilly, but it felt good on his sweaty skin. He rolled the door shut, the track squeaking. He turned to Melina. "You ok?"
"Yea," she replied with a tremble. "Gryder, what are we doing?"
"Are you sure you're ok?" He asked, ignoring her question. He touched her arm to bring her closer to him and felt the chill bumps on her skin. It made sense; all she wore was a tank and shorts and it wasn't exactly a warm night. "Do you want my shirt?"
"No, I'm fine. Really. But what are we doing?" She asked again.
"Trying not to die." He responded, then swallowed.
"I mean us, right now?"
He saw her fear, the uncertainty of the night's end. Her hands fiercely gripped his sides above his jeans. Looking down at her, he knew she was wanting an answer to his previous statement. The fact that she was here with him instead of running for her father -her rescuer who would kill him- was not lost on him.
He bent his head down to kiss her. She eagerly met his lips with hers. He then wrapped his arm around her waist to eliminate the space between them until they were touching. Her hands slid up his back, leaning into him. She felt his hand on her cheek, gently brushing her skin.
Pulling away from her, his eyes searched hers. For the life of him, he couldn't comprehend why he thought it was a good idea to blurt out his feelings. The words escaped him before he could keep them in check. He didn't want her to see him as weak because of his confession, but he couldn't stop himself.
"I'm trying to keep you safe because I love you. You can go and find your dad, I'll personally take you to him. But if you feel even a little bit the same way... Stay with me. I can promise you I'll love you until I die. It may not be the greatest life, but you'll always be first to me."
Melina's mouth worked, though no sound came. She clutched him tighter. "You, you... " She breathed.
She had never known anyone outside of her family to profess their love for her. It was a foreign concept to her, she barely understood it for herself as she wrestled with her own feelings. How did she know what love felt like? She was hardly legal with the minimal knowledge of how life really worked. Gryder was a drug dealer. She could never live that life.
He stared expectantly at her, hoping she'd say something. His hard eyes softened in the unknown answer. His finger twitched on the pistol. The moment to regret his words had already passed. What the fuck was his problem? How could he let this young woman affect him this way? The answer was clear to him even if in the back of his mind. He knew it, he felt it.
Melina surprised him when she quickly raised her hands to his shoulders, bringing her face to his. She crushed her lips against his waiting mouth. Wisps of her hair flying around stuck to her face, mixing into their intimate moment. She breathed against him, mentally affirming her answer.
Releasing his grip on the gun, Gryder let it fall to the cement flooring. He earnestly returned her embrace. His strong arms fully wrapped around her and he briefly lifted her up off the ground. When her feet touched the floor, he pulled away only to envelop her head with his arm, pressing her to his chest. He roughly kissed the top of her head.
"I got you, baby. We're gonna get out of this."
"But promise me you won't hurt my father."
He cringed, already knowing he couldn't keep it. He was bound for a hurting later if Gajeel got ahold of him. "Melina, if it's between me or him-"
"Promise me! I love him too!" She voiced desperately. Her fists gripped his shirt near the sleeves.
"Ok, ok, I swear! Damn!" He felt her relax her death grip. His lips turned up when he realized what she said. She inadvertently told him she loved him.
A gun fired outside not too far away from the barn door. The horses in the pasture whinnied and hoofbeats thundered as they moved from the building to the other side of their grassy lot. Gryder lunged for his pistol and turned around, his arm out to shield Melina. He murmured, "Move."
This time Melina did what he said, moving towards the back of the barn. She held her hands out in front of her to keep from tripping over the farm equipment haphazardly lying around. Gryder joined her by the large red combine harvester the moment the barn door slid open in a rush. They ducked down behind the massive back tire. He wore an intense expression as he watched a man enter from their hiding place.
"I know you came in here, you fuckin son of a bitch..." A growl erupted in the quiet, followed by the cocking of a pistol. Gajeel raised the weapon in case he was shot at and fumbled with something in his pocket. He pulled out a small flashlight and clicked it on. He anchored it in one palm below the handgun in his other.
Gryder motioned for Melina to move. She crept around the harvester with him in tow and keeping in the shadows. He readied his Smith & Wesson, knowing he'd have to use it sooner or later. He would try to keep his promise to Melina if it came to it.
"Have they ruined you that you'd rather stay with them? Your mother and I have been worried sick, Melina." Gajeel called out, holding his gun up as he looked around.
As she crept through the darkness, Melina bit her bottom lip. Any other time she would have dropped everything the moment she heard her father and not stop until she was safe with her family again. Gryder changed all that. She made her decision, albeit hastily chosen, but part of her felt guilty for not really knowing what to choose.
Gryder stealthily maneuvered around her, careful not to bump into anything or make noise. He slowly followed her father with his eyes, always making sure something was in between them to block them from view. He froze when the flashlight beam swept over their hiding spot and continued on through the old building.
"Stay here," Gryder whispered quietly in her ear, his breath warm against it.
She nodded and watched him creep around the tractor and bush hog to the back door. He felt the door, searching for the handle. Unlocking the door, he looked over his shoulder. The flashlight was pointing in the opposite direction, with Gajeel busy looking in the dark corners by the empty horse stalls.
He nodded, and Melina started forward while he watched Gajeel in case he turned around and saw them. They'd be as deer in the deadlights. Melina was halfway to him, carefully avoiding the heavy chains that connected the tractor and the large, flat equipement piece. It was hard to see in the dark, and she was doing well until her foot brushed the metal links.
Gryder pursed his lips, knowing what was coming. She jumped towards him as Gajeel's flashlight pointed their way. He pulled her along with him through to the brush between the building's walland the woodline, staying in the darker shadows.
"Where do we go?" She expressed urgently. Her hold on his hand tightened.
"...I don't know. Fuck, I don't know." He uttered, glancing behind him. A few gunshots were heard it seemed from all directions. Their only options were to either get to a vehicle or catch a few horses. They were several long yards from any vehicle. And the latter seemed unlikely.
He felt a presence behind him through the green uncut brush behind the barn. Letting go of Melina's hand, Gryder intentionally separated them, leading Gajeel away from his daughter. He felt a hand go for his shoulder and he turned as he felt the fingers touch him.
With murderous intent, Gajeel seized Gryder with his free hand, pointing the barrel at him with his other. He took Gryder's gun from him and tossed it behind him. He then shoved him further into the open between the barn and the house and pistol whipped him in the face, letting Gryder fall to the ground in a heap from the blow.
The young man gave a guttural cry as his head snapped back and away from the gunmetal. Blood gushed from his nose and when he opened his eyes, he was on the ground looking up at the towering man above him. He barely brought his arm up in time to defend himself as Gajeel's fist struck him again in the cheek, fully sending him into the dirt. His boot then swiftly connected with his stomach. Gryder cried out with sudden but expected pain, curling into a ball and spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Dad! Daddy, please stop!" Melina exclaimed from the edge of the brush. She watched in horror as her father quickly beat Gryder senseless. She had never seen her father so angry. It seeped from him like a dark cloud that covered everything. He was going to kill.
Gryder leaned onto his arm, half rolling to lift his head. Dark red liquid poured from his nose now, his mouth added to it. A trickle ran down from a slice on his cheek. His stomach burned from the power issued behind the kick. All he could do was groan and hold his gut. He spat out the blood. It pooled onto the dirt and grass like splattered syrup. He tried to take a deep breath through his open mouth.
"Get up and fight me like a grown ass man, not some inept sack of shit."
Gryder coughed and spit, breathing heavy out of his mouth. He drug himself into a sitting position, cringing at the pain. "No."
"What? Don't act like a damn hero!" Gajeel roared.
He fell over as Gajeel bent over to uppercut him in the jaw. Groaning, Gryder squeezed his eyes shut against the onslaught of agony. He could think a few other things he rather be doing. His pistol was too far away to be of any use. His bright eyes caught a glimpse of Melina sobbing, leaning against a tree along the dark woodline a few yards away. He heard it more than saw it, but he could make out her form. Gritting his teeth, he prepared himself for another assault.
He had made a promise. As much as he wanted to pick up his gun and shoot him in the head, Gryder had sworn not to hurt him for Melina's sake. So he'd take whatever was given, even if it resulted in death, in order to keep it.
"Daddy! Please! Don't do this! Gryder, get up!" Melina cried, turning desperately towards both of them in turn. She shivered as a strong breeze blew through. Leaves were blown with the direction of the wind, and her hair flew into her face.
"I hope you've had your fill, 'cause where you're going you won't get any. I should let you rot in prison for statutory rape and let the inmates do the rest." Gajeel ignored his daughter and threatened Gryder, all of his attention zoomed in on the man.
Gryder let out a gurgle, something resembling a laugh. "You t-think it wasn't mutual? She let me fuck her. Your sweet daughter isn't so innocent anymore."
Gajeel growled and cocked back the slide of his gun. His jaw clenched as he aimed the barrel at him. His finger moved to the trigger and before he could squeeze it, Melina appeared in front of him. He stared wide eyed and aimed away from her.
"Get out of the way, dammit!" He yelled, leaning forward to grab her.
"No! No! Stop!" She cried hysterically, leaning over a broken Gryder. She sobbed. "I won't let you kill him!"
"He's a dangerous, sick bastard, Melina!" He shouted and stared incredulously at his daughter. "He's part of a drug cartel, for fuck's sake!"
She turned on him. "And so were you!"
He bit back his next words with surprise. She had found out. They had told her. He watched stunned as she turned back to the man, tentatively touching him and avoiding his injuries. Gryder leaned up and turned to spit, still breathing out of his mouth as blood coated his nose and bled into his mouth.
"M-Melina," he struggled to get a breath.
"Shh. Don't talk." She rubbed her face with the back of her hand trying to clear her teary eyes. She looked around in vain for something to clean up the blood on his face. His shirt was ripped from where he had been mercilessly beaten. She gripped it and prepared to rip it further to utilize it. "Hold still so I can-"
"Baby." He murmured, gazing up at her. He cringed as he moved closer to her. His hand slowly reached up to touch her cheek, but he left a bloody smudge. "I promised."
"I didn't mean for you to lay down and die! No!" She began to sob, the ferocity shaking her entire body.
The sudden emotion pouring from her sent him into alarm. Cringing, he pulled her to him, not caring anymore than he may smear his blood onto her. He ignored Gajeel's startle at their embrace and focused on Melina. "I meant every word I said."
She briefly smiled through the tears.
"Every word he said?! Oh come on, he doesn't love you!" Gajeel couldn't believe the words he heard. He itched to shoot him, but he had to get a clear shot without Melina nearby. "He's just saying shit 'cause he knows it affects you! What the hell have they done to you!?"
Melina felt hands on her shoulders. Her father began to drag her away. She struggled against him, still connected to Gryder. Gajeel kicked Gryder in the shoulder, breaking the connection and tossed Melina to the side. He swiftly aimed again before Melina could react. She screamed, knowing it was about to happen.
Pursing his lips, Gryder struggled in a deep breath before issuing a shout, the effort throwing spittle and grime from his mouth. He knew he wasn't going to fight back. Not with Melina present. He was done. And she was gone, her father would make sure of that. "Kill me, motherfucker! Just do it! 'Cause I changed, I ain't jack shit without her!"
Gajeel faltered at those words. "What did you say?"
"I said just kill me, dammit!"
It wasn't what Gajeel heard. In an instant, he was a young adult again, in tears and crumpling to the floor of his apartment before a pregnant Levy, all defenses broken before her as she questioned the man that he was, or ought to be. That night he spilled everything to her, every lie he ever told her, every half truth and direct evasion. He laid bare himself to show her how much he loved her. Because he knew then that if he didn't, she'd walk out. Pregnant or not.
He had given up the drugs for her. For Melina. He went through the hell of withdrawal for her. He broke friendships for her. He'd given up his entire life. For her. Hearing Gryder's honest words hit home like he had just sucker punched him in the gut.
He lowered the pistol, turning to Melina. Rain started to sprinkle on them. Thunder that hadn't rolled prior began its deep toll. He glared. "What's going on here?"
Gryder leaned up to finally sit, taking advantage of Gajeel's unexpected pause. "I thought it was obvious." He paused to spit. "Can't imagine dying for someone I didn't love."
Her father looked from Gryder, who roughly stood up, to her. "And I suppose you love him too?" He expected a more rational answer from her. Maybe it was, or maybe it wasn't, nevertheless it promptly came out of her mouth.
"Yes." She moved beside Gryder, letting him wrap an arm around her waist.
"Melina…" Gajeel was near speechless.
He stared at his oldest child. She had somehow grown in the time away from her family. She was less like a child and seemed more like an adult, though it didn't help him at all to know what Gryder had done with her. The choices she had to have made in the last few months pushed her to become more than she should be at her age.
He still wanted to kill the fucker, but seeing how Melina looked at him as he carefully bent down to retrieve his pistol, he only watched the scene laid out before him.
"So what's the plan, Redfox?" Gryder asked and slid the top metal back on his weapon.
"What? Excuse me?"
"I'm all for getting Melina out of here. What's next?"
"Weren't you just trying to escape with her?" Gajeel was having trouble following.
Gryder adjusted his weight, leaning a little as he favored his side. "As I said, I'm all for it. Are we getting the hell outta here or what?"
The older man snapped out of his stupor. "You are not coming."
"If he's not, then I'm staying. I'm going wherever he goes." Melina stepped in, reaching out for the younger man. He inwardly cringed as Gryder's hand brushed Melina's rear and he held her close to him. She looked up to his eyes, scanning over his beaten features.
"Sorry baby, I'm all bloody. I'd get it all over ya." He commented quietly, gazing down at her. His face neared hers, and she could smell the metallic scent of blood.
The situation was beginning to give Gajeel a headache. He waved the pistol, as if it would clear his mind. Cold water started to rain down from above and the thunder rolled louder. It couldn't be happening. His daughter couldn't be in love with someone like… like him.
"If you've got something in mind, now would be a good time to do it." Gryder grunted and began to lead Melina away in the direction of a group of vehicles parked in front of the mansion.
Gajeel glared at him. He would deal with his bitch ass later. Right now, the young man was right. They had to get out. If Jose found them, all three of them could end up dead. "Oi!"
Turning at the sound, Gryder saw Gajeel wave his gun in the opposite direction. Her father led the way in the rain. They hurried across the back lawn towards the trees, checking behind them in case more bogeys followed and entered into the woods.
The leaves above somewhat sheltered them from the drizzling rain. The rainwater started to cleanse Gryder's face, clearing away the grime. Melina shivered from the cold settling over her. Everything was dark, she had to keep her hands out in front of her, knowing her father was ahead and Gryder behind.
A rustle in the brush startled them. Gryder spun around in the muddying path, bringing his gun up in defense mode. Gajeel heard it too, and he turned and watched the area beyond Gryder with a ready weapon. A man appeared, sweeping overgrown stems away as he limped.
"Ah, shit…" a voice murmured as a larger stem with several round leaves slapped him in the face.
"Laxus?" Gajeel called.
"Yea… don't shoot." Laxus called back. He took a few steps, every other one favoring one of his legs. He saw the darkened, vague forms lower their pistols as he approached. "I saw Melina with you, figured I better follow. Some dickhead shot me in the leg…"
The blond glanced up to see the familiar faces of Melina and Gajeel, and an extra person who wasn't Natsu. He narrowed his eyes and halted. "Who're you?"
Gryder snorted and let out a rough chuckle, realizing what had happened earlier just outside the back door. He replied, "Some dickhead."
Laxus gave a confused expression to Gajeel, who just shook his head. He turned back to the newcomer who had shot him. "That was you, huh."
"Sorry." Gryder shrugged, then placed a hand around Melina's opposite hip.
Gajeel shoved his arm away from his daughter. "Hey, knock it off."
"Is he with us now?" Laxus asked Gajeel, pointing his thumb at the younger, dark haired man. He shifted his weight.
"Unfortunately. Save all questions for later."
Gryder gave a overly large smile. He waved his pistol in the air. "After you."
The man limped towards Gajeel and they continued their way into the woods. Melina and Gryder listened to the others while they hiked. She reached back her hand, which he took with his free one.
"What's it look like?" Gajeel was asking.
The blond let out a quick breath. "I took out as many as I could, ended up with the last mag. Figured I'd save it for when I need it. I dunno about Natsu."
"You need another mag?"
"Nah, I'm good right now. There's a few back at the truck I'll pick up."
Gajeel lifted his second, unused pistol from his jeans and held it out to him by the barrel, presenting the handle to him. "Just in case more shit goes down. We're still not out."
Laxus took it and stuffed it along with his own. "I hope Natsu got out of there. Last I saw, he was poppin' 'em left and right around the front of the house. He actually threw in a smoke grenade."
"Clever," Gajeel murmured.
"Yea. But I'm not sure if someone saw me head towards the woods or not, so we gotta move fast."
Gajeel grunted in reply, leading them up to the creek. Behind and to the left of them, echoing shouts caught up to them. A few gunshots fired. The sounds seemed closer. "Shit. They're following us."
He took a step towards Gryder, motioning to his pistol. "You got enough rounds?"
"I should."
"What's the model?"
"Smith & Wesson, 40 cal."
He nodded. "I may have some at the truck. If not, switch it out for my other Springfield when we get there."
Gryder raised an eyebrow. ".45?"
"And hollowpoint." Gajeel smirked.
"Nice. Not settling for an easy loss, eh."
Melina watched them speak with their weapon lingo, very quickly losing interest. "Alright, seriously, let's go." She said with a chatter of her teeth; the cold rain kept pouring down on them. Pulling Gryder forward, she wanted to catch up with Laxus.
What seemed like forever, they finally reached Gajeel's truck. The dark Dodge Ram blended well into the surroundings. Gajeel rushed forward to open the door for his daughter. She visibly shook and gratefully climbed into the dry vehicle. An unopened water bottle was in one of the cup holders. She took it and drank, watching the men dig around in the duffle in the truck bed. Seeing the black jacket stuffed on the dash, she pulled it on.
Laxus opened the back passenger door. He slid in and shut the door. Melina's teeth chattered as she rubbed her hands together. He motioned to the wheel. "Here, turn on the heat."
She turned the engine and immediately, warm air began to seep through the vents. It felt almost surreal to be in her father's truck. A giggle wanted to burst forth from her chest. She was almost home.
Small explosions of gunshots sounded closer than they had been before. Laxus leaned forward to call out the open driver's door. "Hurry the fuck up, we still gotta get Natsu!"
Melina's eyes swept the vehicle's perimeter several feet out. She heard a deep whine. It was something she had heard a few times while at the mansion. It reminded her of Sting's Charger. Her eyes widened. She lurched for the wheel to call out to her father. As she did, two beams of light intensified in the darkness as the neared.
A roar of a four wheel drive came into earshot. Gajeel and Gryder scrambled, Gajeel jumping into the driver's seat, while the other hopped into the bed. He gripped the top of the bed with one hand, hitting the back window several times with his other, yelling as he did. "Go, go, go!"
Gajeel threw the truck into drive as another vehicle's headlights rounded the corner, mud flying as it attempted to drift past a large tree. "Where the hell did that come from!"
He hit the accelerator until the engine roared, then shifted into a higher gear, which hauled them into a greater speed. Laxus slid the back window open and the sounds outside were more sharp in the cab. Gryder yelled through the small window over the engine and the rush of wind.
"Oh shit! It's the Subaru! Gajeel, you gotta haul some major ass!"
"What's the Subaru?" Laxus asked.
"Jose's drug runner!"
Gajeel looked into the side mirror, seeing the vehicle gain on them. The truck flew over the uneven ground, spinning up mud and grass from the back tires and narrowly missing the sporadically placed tree trunks and other plant life. The vehicle Gryder glimpsed closed a little of the distance between them. A loud explosion filled the air.
Gryder grunted as the truck's tires hit a ditch in the ground. He fell into the bed, hitting his head on the back of the cab. His feet kicked at the duffle, which had slid to the upright tailgate. A bullet ricocheted somewhere close. Gryder dropped to the bed lining to dig through the bag. Picking up the gun Gajeel had mentioned before the chase started, he popped his head up from behind the tailgate to fire back.
The truck zoomed past the corn by the edge of the field. The tall stalks flashed by in a blur. Wind whipped at Gryder's wet hair and shirt, and Laxus kept watch on Gryder. He turned to the driver. "We gotta go back for Natsu!"
"Fuck! That's right..." Gajeel growled, and shook his head. He found the turnoff he had used to get there, quickly turning the vehicle to the right to enter onto the road.
In the front passenger seat, Melina held onto the door's armrest, watching the scene behind. She gasped as Gryder lost his balance, falling backward onto his back from his seated position. He leaned up on his arm to cock the pistol and rose up to fire a few rounds.
Tires squealed as they made contact with the pavement. The uneven terrain smoothed out on the blacktop, giving Gryder better aim. A gun appeared out the window of the other car and fired at them. It sped up, the engine clearly upshifting. "You better step it up!" Gryder shouted towards the cab, still keeping an eye on their pursuers.
Gajeel promptly shifted and the truck began to draw away from the Subaru. His daily driver wasn't as lightweight as was their tail; eventually, they'd be overtaken before they get off the road, let alone find Natsu.
Ahead was the beginning of the estate's long drive. Gajeel felt like he was on a suicide mission. They finally stormed the gates and now had Melina with them. They should be on their way home putting in as much distance as they could instead of running back into where there was danger. It was messed up. However, they couldn't just leave Natsu's dumb ass to die.
"Where the hell are you going?!" Gryder cried, shoving his face up to the window.
"I've got a third man still back there. We're not leaving him!"
Gryder pursed his lips and glanced over his shoulder. They had pulled off the road and were now headed down the gravel lane. The pursuing headlights appeared behind and the Subaru turned down the lane.
Someone was running up the lane down the drive. "Is that him?" Gajeel asked aloud. The lights behind him made him nervous.
"I think it is. Slow down!" Laxus replied.
"Like hell I'm slowing down!"
The blond rolled down the window with the button, sticking his head out. He saw the pink hair. "Get it, bitch!"
Natsu recognized the truck, then saw the vehicle closing in on them. He dove in through the door Laxus opened before sliding over behind the driver's seat. Without waiting for the door to shut, Gajeel slammed the accelerator. "We gotta turn around. Once we're back there, it'll be hard to get out. They'll be on us like white on rice."
"I couldn't get all of them," Natsu said. "But they're into some messed up shit. Before I left, I saw several girls tied up in the garage."
Melina's head snapped to him. "Oh! They're being sold along with the drugs! I watched a few of the deals."
Gajeel's eyes widened. "That could have been you!"
"But it wasn't! Gryder kept me from it."
There was a sound metal on metal sound and the truck lurched forward as the Subaru attempted to smash into the tailgate. It rammed the back end. Gajeel jerked the wheel to the left, guiding the truck off the lane and into the wooden fence that bordered it. Wood flew around them, and the large truck skidded back onto the lane, now headed back towards the road.
The grey Subaru was quick; it easily drifted onto the slick grass as it turned around. It caught up with them. Gryder shouted something from the back and Gajeel glanced up into the rearview to see. He hit a dip in the drive and at the current speed, lost control. The truck skated off the gravel onto the grass and barreled into a large tree, smacking into it from the side. It effectively ended their get away.
"Fuck!" Gajeel yelled, punching the wheel. He turned to the others as they scrambled out of the cab.
Gryder hurdled out of the bed and was at Melina's side in a heartbeat. He palmed the Springfield with an extra magazine in his pocket. "Come on!" He stuffed her behind the large tree trunk while the others hid behind the truck for cover.
"Wait!" She cried, peering around the trunk. He slid behind the front right tire, ignoring her as his focus shifted to staying alive himself.
Gajeel crouched near the bumper, while the other two were at the rear. The Subaru idled and the doors opened to gunfire. Melina immediately covered her ears against the loud shots, huddling against the back of the tree. She hugged her legs close to her, hearing the bullets whiz past.
Her father grunted. He held his shoulder with a grimace, taking a moment to collect himself. When his hand pulled away, there was blood. Gryder knelt on the ground beside him. He sprawled out on the wet grass and laid rapid fire from underneath the truck. One or two rounds from the barrel hit the Subaru's hood. The rest missed their mark.
Melina heard Laxus curse and a mag slide out of a pistol, then the reload. Gryder glanced back at her, jumping as a round missed him. A bullet penetrated the tree high up. A branch above made a crackling sound. It broke off from the main trunk and toppled to the ground. He watched as it fell towards Melina.
He could barely get a word out before the branch and all its leaves engulfed her. She screamed, sending him into a panic. He clambered his way to her, skidding to a stop into the branch that covered her. "Melina!"
Lifting the raw wood, Gryder carefully drug it to the side. He had to be quick, as there was hot metal flying around. He used the branch as a crude shield, positioning it to the side of the base trunk. Melina's hands covered her head. She whimpered as he bent close to her. There was a scratch on her cheek, but she was intact.
A voice called out from the other vehicle. One which Gryder was familiar. He strained to hear what Sting shouted.
"Gajeel!"
He glanced to where Melina's father crouched. Their gazes met. Gryder could only guess what was going on through the man's mind as his name was called through the pouring rain.