Chapter 19

He was cut off by a kick on the head, effectively knocking him out. I gave out a cry in annoyance, frustration and surprise as his body crumpled to the ground. Dammit, just a second more and I would’ve known who it was.

I glared at Dominic as he came into view, stalking up towards him and got into his face. “I could’ve gotten some information out of him and hunted down the people who wants me dead and protect Monic from the danger that’s up on my ass!” I screamed at him in frustration as I grabbed a fistful of my hair and yank it in the midst of my yelling.

Dom didn’t answer me as he stared at me coldly.

“He talked too much,” was all he said before walking away.

I glowered at his retreating back. What the hell was that supposed to mean?! He can’t just roundhouse kick someone in the middle of an interrogation and knock him out, preventing any further answers we could’ve gotten out of him and walk away.

Who the fuck does that?!

I wanted to scream at him to come back here and give him a good bitch slap but instead, I turned to the dumbfounded guys.

I sighed, picking the hoodie that I threw. Apparently, Adam was too out of it to catch the hoodie or pick it off the ground.

“We’ll talk later. Get me to wherever Jake sent Monic to. I need to make sure my baby sister is safe.” I demanded.

“But- you- him- what?” Adam stared at me with wide eyes and Zac just stared with his mouth agape.

I flicked both of their foreheads, trying to get them out of the trance. “Do you want to be here when he wakes up?” I jerked my thumb behind me, motioning to the unconscious man that challenged me into the fight.

Both shook their heads and I sighed in exhaustion. “Then let’s go!”

They both scrambled to their vehicles and Adam fished out his keys, his hands trembled so much to the point that he couldn’t even slide in the key into the ignition.
I huffed out a breath and took the keys out of his hold and slid it in easily. “I’m driving.” I stated, not waiting for an objection before throwing my foot over the bike and sat there, strapping the helmet over my head and tied the hoodie around my waist.

“Are you coming?” I turned back and faced an astonished Adam after turning on the engine.

“You drive motorbikes?” He asked, bewildered. I nodded like it was no big deal.

“Get on already.” I snapped, getting tired of repeating things.

I asked for the address and after sensing that Adam was ready to go, I kicked the stand of the bike and twisted the right handle and the engine roared to life before the tires screeched and I raced out of there.

I heard a distinct sound of shock before two huge arms settled around my tiny waist. I decided to ignore it and turned on a street, counting the numbers as buildings past by in a whirl of blurred scenery and stopped in front of a particular warehouse that adam pointed out.

It seemed empty and deserted but I’ve learnt long ago to never judge anything by what you see from the outside.

I got off the bike and let Adam guide me through a small opening as he motioned for me to go first. My hands were still on the steer to push the bike forward and into the warehouse.

We don’t need any more uninvited guests showing up with a surprise party tonight, I thought as Adam locked the warehouse entrance and guided me inside.

‘It’s going to be a hell of a night’ was the only thing that was in my mind, the minute I saw Monic sitting there, being comforted by Jake.

After parking my bike near the entrance, I trudged lazily into the warehouse, guided by Adam and the dim light of our phones. It wasn’t big and it looked pretty cozy to live in. It was easily as big as my living room back home.

A couch was pushed in the far corner, covered with sheets and under it laid a carpet and nearby sat a mini wooden coffee table that seemed to be polished not long ago. Beside the couch was a lamp stand that was alight and on the other side was a mini fridge, plugged into a socket on the foot of the wall.

Shelves and 2 other couches were placed across the room along with a counter with snacks and sachets of tea, coffee and other beverages. A few clothes were strewn here and there but aside from that, there was nothing unique about it.

Monic ran towards me in a hurry and engulfed me in a bear hug before pushing me to arm’s length to start her inspection from my head to the tip of my toes for any wounds.

“Jesus Christ, Case! You’re bleeding!” Mo exclaimed in panic as she fussed over the minor wounds I have. I tried to wave her off as she gingerly grabbed my chin to get a good look on my busted lip and the blood dripping from my temple.

“I’m fine, a little dizzy but fine.” I shrugged her concern off while I nodded at Jake. He did what he was asked to and kept my baby sister safe.

“What happened?” Mo asked softly as she guided me to the couch in a corner of the room with a tall lamp beside it that gave off a dim light, enough to illuminate its surrounding.

“Some guy wants me dead and wanted to fight so we did.” I shrugged it off like it’s an everyday thing while Adam, Zac and Jake sat on the couch. They seemed to be in shock. They looked between themselves and started talking slowly, processing the events that happened in the last hour.

Monic seemed realize our friend was missing then and looked around in confusion. “Where’s Dom?” she turned to me but I shook my head.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” I told her simply. Luckily, she instantly knew better than to pry and dropped the topic.

“Do they know now?” Mo whispered in a hushed tone. Monic knows about what I do in my spare time and even though she doesn’t approve, she knows it’s better than me being depressed, wallowing in grief and isolating myself from the world. If it wasn’t for street fighting, I would be in bed, mourning for my brother and she understands that.

“Well, we didn’t exactly stop for tea and talk about it. None of us brought any China porcelain tea sets with us now, did we,” I mumbled sarcastically before shaking my head.

“You have to tell them, Case. They deserve to know what they’re getting into.” Mo whispered in a concern tone while glancing towards her boyfriend that was in a heated discussion with his friends.

I shook my head at her oblivious state. “Mo, they already know. They’re in the same community, they street fight. They know about the Underground Place, an illegal place. Sounds familiar?” I resisted the urge to flick her forehead to give the words an extra boost to sink.

After a second of silence, her eyes widened and she looked at me with her mouth shaping an ‘o’.

I pinched the bridge of my nose in exasperation and looked at her pointedly. This girl, I swear.

The sound of someone clearing their throat brought me back.

“Case, we need to talk.”