Chapter Fourteen  


Much to the surprise of both men in the vehicle, Alexa didn*t scream. She didn*t even try to fight. That was remarkable seeming as how a .45 automatic Glock 21 Police Issue was currently cocked and pointed at the back of her head.  


"You can put the gun down, Jalen," she said softly. "I*m not gonna fight you." And she honestly wasn*t. She wasn*t that stupid. But Jalen kept the gun there, more for the affect than anything else. Alexa sighed and turned just slightly to look at Mike. "I guess this explains why you haven*t been talking."  


Unable to answer, he just looked away before turning the key in the ignition to start the SUV.  


"You*re a pawn in his game, just like everybody else," she continued sadly. "I don*t get it. You*ve got yourself a good job here. Why would you do this? Did he threaten you or something? Or are you just that weak?"  


"I got family I gots to take care of," he finally replied gruffly.  

"Typical," was Alexa*s only response. She turned her head and stared directly out the tinted window, willing her tears not to fall. She couldn*t appear weak in this situation. Her strength was the only card she had to play. "So, where ya taking me?"  

"To the movies," Jalen replied, an eerie smirk on his face.  

Alexa*s entire body stiffened. "What are you talking about?" Again that sense of dread washed over her.  


"I think you know," he shot back, pushing the gun harder against the base of her skull. "Tyrell*s pretty pissed off at that little friend of yours. He wants to see her too."  

Closing her eyes, Alexa did the only thing she could. Pray.  

~*~  

"That was so good!" Alona gushed as she and Chris left the movie theatre on the other end of the mall. "I haven*t laughed that hard in a long time."  


Chris smiled and interlocked his fingers with hers. "I*m glad you enjoyed it. So, you ready to get some lunch?"  

"Yes! I*m practically starving," she over-exaggerated, a soft smile playing on her lips. The smile warmed Chris* heart. "Where do you wanna go?"  


"Pizza sounds good to me."  


Alona jumped and spun around at the deep voice so close behind her. Chris turned quickly as well and noticed almost immediately that his bodyguard, Dre, was nowhere in sight. Only a large black man nearly the size of Dre that he didn*t recognize at all. It was clear, however, that Alona did.  

"Shit," she mumbled, her breathing becoming suddenly erratic. "What do you want, Jalen?"  


"I think you know," he replied matter-of-factly.  

"Leave Chris alone. I*ll come with you."  

"Now why would I do something like that?" he countered, grinning as usual. "It*s not like me to leave witnesses, is it?"  

Chris* mind was working a mile a minute. He was trying to plan the quickest escape route. It was obvious that they were in trouble. Where in the hell had Dre disappeared to?  


"Besides," Jalen continued, "your little boyfriend here is already thinking of ways to get away. I*ve got a .45 here in my pocket that says he probably shouldn*t try it."  

Alona clenched Chris* hand and swallowed hard. "No one*s going anywhere," she assured him. And at that moment Chris wasn*t about to question her. He was afraid that if he did she very well might break his fingers.  

"Good, follow me."  


~*~  

"Which vehicle did they take?" Justin questioned abruptly as he jumped into the passenger side of JC*s jeep. He was beyond thrilled to find Lonnie in the backseat.  


"The Excursion," he replied, stepping on the gas. "I haven*t seen it yet, but let*s keep looking."  


Justin held on for dear life as JC sped through the parking lot, nearly hitting three cars and coming very close to taking out two unsuspecting pedestrians.  

"Jesus," Justin shouted as they narrowly missed a lamppost. "We aren*t gonna do Lex any good if we*re dead. Slow down!"  

JC took his eyes off the road for only a millisecond to stare at Justin but it was just enough time for the worst to happen. The speeding Jeep slammed directly into the back of a parked truck. As the airbag opened, JC let out a slew of curses that would have made any sailor blush. Justin braced his arms against the dashboard on impact and Lonnie was thrown forward, hitting the back of JC*s seat.  

As the smoke from the airbag cleared, Lonnie was the first to speak up. "You two alright?"  


"Yeah," Justin groaned, rubbing his left elbow from the over-extension the impact had caused. "I told you to slow down, C."  

"Shut the hell up," JC snapped, getting out of his Jeep. "I*ve had this thing for nine years! I can*t fucking believe it!"  

"All you*re worried about is your Jeep?" Justin shouted back, stepping into the parking lot as well. "Any idea how we*re supposed to find Alexa now that we don*t have a damn car?"  

"If you wouldn*t have been whining about my driving like you always do, this never would have happened! So like I said before, just shut the hell up."  


Justin was seething. His eyes grew wide with anger as he walked around the Jeep towards JC. "You*re an arrogant bastard, you know that? Why can*t you just take the blame for something? Just once? Would that be so damn hard?"  


JC rolled his eyes. "Is the mighty Justin Timberlake talking to me about being arrogant?" he questioned, his tone biting. "How ironic can you get?"  


Before Justin could say anything more, Lonnie stepped between the two feuding friends. "I think both of you need to shut the hell up," he commanded in a deep voice. "Mike*s Excursion is right over there." He pointed to a parked black vehicle just a few feet away.  

Justin scanned the area quickly, as did JC. No one was sure who caught a glimpse of Alona and Chris first, but it didn*t really matter. At the sight of them, both men took off running with Lonnie close on their heels. The look of outright fear in Chris* eyes said without a doubt that something was very wrong.  


"Stop!" Alona screamed when she saw the three men running towards her. She shook her head adamantly as Jalen spotted them as well. "You guys just stay back. Don*t cause a scene."  

"Where*s Lex?" JC questioned seriously, looking from Chris to the large black man at his side.  


"Over there," Jalen answered, motioning with his head towards the Excursion. "Please, feel free to go get her."  

Justin began to move but another shout from Alona stopped him. "I*m serious, Justin. Don*t! You*re all in way over your heads. I never should*ve let JC talk us into coming here. Just stay where you are."  

"She*s right."  


Everyone spun around to stare at Alexa who had quietly exited the vehicle. Mike was at her side, gripping her arm forcefully. There was no chance of her running anywhere. Jalen immediately pulled the gun from his pocket and pointed it at Alexa.  


"Get back in, bitch!"  


JC nearly passed out as his stomach leapt to his throat. Justin grabbed his shoulder quickly, more out of fear than anything else. Lonnie took a step forward.  


Alexa held up one hand, her eyes never leaving Jalen*s. "I*m not going anywhere, Jalen. I promised you that earlier. You know I don*t lie. Put the gun down before someone sees you. You know damn well if you get caught Tyrell will kick your ass."  

For the first time ever, Jalen had to admit that Alexa was right. He didn*t look forward to getting his ass beat by his cousin. Reluctantly, he put the Glock back in his pocket.  


"Alright," Alexa sighed, fixing her gaze on Justin and JC now. "I need both of you to not fight this. I don*t want either of you to get hurt. I have to go with them."  


"No you don*t!" JC contradicted her. "You can*t let him get away with this again."  


"Would you shut up?" Mike commanded loudly. "For once in your life listen to someone else, JC. I don*t want her to get hurt anymore than you do."  


"Aww, isn*t that nice?" Jalen spoke up, sarcastically sweet. "The gentle-hearted traitor. Mike, shut your mouth and get her back in the vehicle. You," he continued, ripping Alona*s hand away from Chris, "come with me." This was getting out of hand. He had to get out of the mall parking lot before someone noticed all the commotion.  

Chris reached for Alona*s other hand but Jalen spun around quickly and punched him square in the jaw. Chris stumbled backward and Jalen shoved Alona towards the Excursion. Lonnie ran towards Chris and both Justin and JC moved closer to Alexa.  


"I*m serious," she seethed, fighting Mike from pushing her through the passenger side door. "Just let it go. You can*t do anything now." She turned slowly and entered the SUV on her own accord.  

"This isn*t how the story ends!" JC called to her. "You know that, Lex! I know you know that."  


Turning back around for only a brief second, she shook her head sadly. "Better luck next time, I guess." Then Jalen shoved Alona through the door and hopped in behind her. The Excursion sped off before the door was even fully closed.  


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