Chapter 20 – A Sting In The Tail
Miguel forced the Patriot down the road, heading towards the De Fidio house. Lucie sat in the passenger seat, her pale face flooded with a mixture of blood and tears. Despite her best efforts, Rafa had died in her arms. Kraze sat in the back fiddling with a combat knife. He ran the blade through his fingers, studying the curvature of the blade as if it was important.
"What happened with the Yakuza then?" said Kraze as he slipped the knife back into its pouch.
"Cavelli and his guys were already there," started Miguel, not taking his eyes of the road "I saw them leave. He massacred the bastards. I found Kaido nailed to the gong in the Hall. He had a note. I think it's a hit list"
"What did it say?" croaked Lucie.
Miguel gave her a quick look before he answered. He felt utterly miserable. "It said nearest and dearest, friend and faith" he said quickly.
"And you think that's a hit list?" said Kraze.
"Yes," replied Miguel confidently, "Which is why I need to get Luca out. He'd be my nearest."
"And I'm the friend" said Lucie quietly.
"That's what I thought" said Miguel sympathetically.
The whole car fell quiet as Miguel hit the drive for the house. He parked on the gravel next to a black bike and a convertible Stallion that Luca and Natasha had stolen to get back to the house. The couple were sat outside the house, hand in hand as they waited for the Patriot to arrive. Miguel jumped out and ran over to his brother, the ocean air cool on his face.
"Hey" started Luca, a feint smile on his face. Miguel looked back at him, surprised at the couple's sudden declaration of their feelings.
"Hey man" he replied, slapping his brother's hand. "You've got to leave" he said matter-of-factly.
"How did I know you were going to say that?" said Luca, rolling his eyes, "I'm not the scared kid I was"
"I know Luca, I know. But you and Natasha have to leave. It's not safe and now you both have something to lose"
"And you don't?" replied Natasha.
"I've already lost mine" said Miguel regretfully.
"And I want to help get her back" said Luca sternly.
"No one can help me" replied Miguel grimly. "I want you to go wherever you want too, just don't stay here. Take the car and go away from Liberty. I'll find you when this is over"
Luca nodded at the finality in Miguel's tone. He knew better to argue once his brother had made up his mind.
"Come on" Luca said to Natasha.
"Hold on, I want to say goodbye to Kraze" she said, letting go of Luca's hand and running over to the van.
Luca watched her as she ran and turned back to Miguel grinning inanely.
"Sly dog" said Miguel falsely.
"You going to be alright?" replied Luca.
"Yep, going to be fine. You take care" Miguel said, hugging Luca.
"And you man"
"Now go" said Miguel, letting go of his brother.
Luca nodded and got into the convertible, reversing it ready for Natasha to get in. Miguel reached into the Patriot and, opening the glove-box, produced a wad of dollar notes. He flicked through them as he walked over to Natasha, Kraze embracing her before standing aside.
"Take this and setup somewhere nice" Miguel said, handing over the bundle. Natasha nodded and accepted before literally jumping into the car. Luca produced a pair of sunglasses and, starting the engine, sped down the driveway, the couple waving as they left. Miguel and Kraze walked down the drive as they traced the image of the red convertible along the road.
Miguel was suddenly distracted by a vibration in his pocket, his mobile phone buzzing violently.
"Hello?" replied Miguel. The number was unknown.
"Good afternoon Miguel, Jack Madden here"
"What the fuck do you want?" said Miguel angrily. Kraze looked up at him and, seeing Miguel's worried face, checked back on Luca and Natasha.
"Shit!" shouted Kraze, "What is that?"
"Ah, by now your companion should have spotted the little incident we have set up for your brother."
Miguel looked up and across to see the motorcade approach the red convertible. The black Banshee cut across the Stallion, forcing Luca off the road.
"No!" cried Miguel as he watched the two Sentinels pull up, blocking the Stallion in. He could see the tiny figures of Luca and Natasha jump out of the car, trying to run back to the house.
"Get a rifle!" shouted Miguel as Kraze ran back to the Patriot producing a M4. "Quick" he yelled as he and Kraze sprinted down the drive, dropping the phone.
But it was too late. The pair could only watch as the mafia thugs gunned down Luca, a bullet piercing his chest. Natasha hit the deck and scrambled along, away from the fallen Luca. She grabbed the pistol that was holstered on her hip, and fired into the heavyset guards, flooring one of them and shooting another in the arm. The mafia retreated under the flurry of shots, firing back when necessary. They jumped back into the Sentinels and hit the gas, the cars following the black Banshee as it sped away.
"The bike!" shouted Kraze, sprinting back up the drive.
"What about Luca?" cried Miguel.
"Lucie will sort it! Let's go!"
Miguel knew he was right and sprinted after him. Lucie stood mesmerised at the top of the drive, fixated by what had happened. Kraze had fired up the bike and Miguel hoped on, barking orders to Lucie and grabbing the M4.
"Check on them and get Luca to the hospital" he shouted as Kraze roared the bike away, heading past the abandoned Stallion and hot on the trail of the Cavelli. Lucie ran down the drive as Natasha pushed herself to her feet, the rough ground cutting into her skin. She limped over to where Luca lay before collapsing on top of him. Turning him over, she wiped her face, praying he was alive. She shook him, screaming his name as Lucie approached. She slumped down on top of him and wept, gently shaking him. She paused, his chest rising against her face.
"He's alive! Get the car!" she called to the stunned Lucie…
x
The bike sped through Liberty with a righteous fury; Miguel holding on to the M4 as if his life depended on it. They had caught the motorcade up, spying it in the distance.
"Hold tight" shouted Kraze over the growling engine, the noise resounding like thunder.
The wind flew through Miguel's hair as Kraze navigated the traffic with precision, sparing no amount of speed, the trips on the dirt track clearly paying off. Miguel clumsily held the rifle in two hands, aiming forward past Kraze's head. The silver Sentinel gleamed in front of them, the motorcade not yet noticing the vengeful knights behind them. Kraze accelerated harder, the buildings of Liberty becoming a blur as they tried to match the speed the Banshee had set for its guardian vehicles.
Miguel aimed steadily, squeezing the trigger and loosing a burst of bullets, the metal bolts hitting the rear window of the closest Sentinel. The glass exploded in a fulfilling way, the car loosing control as the passengers panicked. The car swerved to the left, crossing into the path of a Flatbed truck. Miguel watched on as the Sentinel hit the truck, spiralling out of control, the car being pushed along the road by the force of the impact. He faced forward, the explosion of the car resonating down the street.
Kraze revved the bike harder, the driver of the Sentinel in front becoming more erratic. Miguel saw the windows being wound down, so once again took aim. Two of the guards had twisted around and were firing back, their semi-automatics raining a hail of bullets on the riders. Miguel fired two short bursts, hitting one of the guards in the chest. His body slumped, hanging out of the window. The Sentinel began to shake violently as it turned a corner, no longer following the Banshee.
"Follow Cavelli" yelled Miguel. He could still see the black bolt out in front.
Kraze revved the guts out of the bike, the speed providing a mix of blurriness and adrenaline. Miguel felt a bullet whiz past his head from behind. He looked around, the Sentinel behind them.
"Fuck" Miguel cursed as he informed Kraze of the situation. Kraze nodded and switched lanes, mounting the pavement on the other side of the road. Pedestrian after pedestrian threw themselves out of the way as the roaring machine blasted past them.
"Watch the scaffolding!" screamed Miguel as Kraze hit a wooden plank, the angle providing them with a ramp to launch them into the air. The bike came down to land with a crash, the suspension absorbing the shook enough for the bike to charge forward. The Sentinel was now level with the bike and Miguel took the opportunity to launch another unwavering burst, the driver's head punctured as the bullets smashed through the side window…
x
Louis watched in his rear mirror as the bike launched into the air, the wooden ramp providing enough of an angle for the bike to gain sufficient lift. He cursed as the riders stayed on after the bike came back down.
He pushed his foot to the floor, squeezing the life force out of the Banshee. Checking his mirror again he cursed louder, concentrating fervently on the road. The Sentinel had smashed through a glass window, the resulting explosion letting Louis know that he was on his own…
x
The wind smashed the riders as Kraze took the bike into unrivalled levels of speed. Miguel focused on the weaving Banshee, watching as it twisted through the slow vehicles on the road. Kraze guided the bike through the maze of traffic, the bike flowing like water. They turned a corner sharply as the Banshee altered its course, narrowly avoiding the nose of a van.
Miguel levelled the rifle and fired a burst, the bullets falling short. He cursed and lowered the gun, holding on tighter as Kraze pushed, trying to close in on the screaming animal in front. He watched helplessly as the car began to pull away, the bike not having the speed to home in.
He had begun to give up hope until the extraordinary happened. Out of nowhere, a white Yakuza Stinger appeared in front of the bikers. It accelerated hard, even beating the Banshee for pace. Miguel and Kraze became spectators as they watched the Stinger catch the Banshee, the driver side-swiping the beast with its nose, the backend of the Banshee flying out as it was induced into a spin. The car smashed into a barrier lined against the pavement, the nose crumpling and the windscreen shattering under the impact.
Kraze slowed the bike down to a halt, the pair jumping off and running towards the Banshee, smoke pouring out of its bonnet. The Stinger had come to a halt but no one got out. Miguel stared through the window, the glass separating Miguel's gaze from the bald oriental's. Miguel looked the driver straight in the eye, nodding as Yen gave a quick smile. He floored the accelerator, wheels spinning as the Stinger disappeared.
"Come here you fuck!" shouted Kraze as he dragged the body of Louis Cavelli into the road, away from the smoking car. Miguel turned away from the image of the Stinger to face the figure on the floor. Louis squirmed, blood trickling down his face.
"Fuck…fuck…" he cried as Miguel approached, silently drawing his handgun. A crowd of pedestrians had run over to the scene, wanting to check if the driver had survived. Instead, they witnessed Miguel silently pull the trigger of his pistol, the crack of the bullet entering Louis' head ringing down the narrow street.
Miguel turned to the crowd, pistol by his side. He stared at them with glazed eyes through his twisted hair, his once flowing locks saturated with sweat. A silent pause followed as Kraze ran over to the bike, a siren launching on the horizon. Miguel broke his gaze and jumped on the bike, swiping the M4 from the ground.
