Here Comes Trouble (Nothing Special #3)(23)
JJ looked relieved for probably the first time in months. “Holy fuck. I’m going home, man. For real? Oh my god. This is unbelievable. I can’t believe you got God to agree to this.”
“He never thought you were one of the fucked up ones. He knew you didn’t like being under Chainz’s control.” Green shook JJ’s hand. “Go be with your family. Stay straight man. Don’t get caught up over there either. Drug kings are every fuckin’ where.”
“Aww, man. I’m serious, man. Y’all ain’t got to worry about me —” JJ’s eyes focused on something behind them and both he and Ruxs turned to look. “Oh shit! That’s Aaron!”
“Shit! Shit! Go, Ruxs!” Green yelled, but Ruxs had already taken off in the direction Aaron had turned to flee. Aaron was Chainz’s little brother, but also his closest companion. If he got away, their bust was as good as tanked. Chainz would get word that JJ was talking with them and he’d know JJ had ratted him out. He’d no doubt try to kill him and then change everything regarding the drug deal.
Ruxs was already rounding the corner and he saw Aaron dart in between the cars, running across the parking lot. He was fast but Ruxs was definitely faster. He was closing the distance and hoping the whole time that Aaron was alone. He heard the squealing of tires and the rumble of a diesel engine, knowing Green was coming in fast.
“Stop, Aaron and I won’t put a bullet in your back!” Ruxs yelled, hoping his lie would make Aaron nervous enough to stop or make a mistake.
Green skidded just as Aaron cleared the parking lot but the man ran around the truck into the large supermarket at the end of the mall. He kept up his pursuit and could hear Green’s quick footsteps on his heels. They barreled through the doors and people were already screaming and yelling, since Aaron had just now knocked over a huge display case of canned goods. Oh great, more damage.
“If Syn grounds us, I’m going to kill you,” Green said huffing as they ran up the condiments aisle, trying desperately not to run anyone over. People were scrambling and yelling as he and Green shouted, “Police! Get out of the way!”
As soon as he turned the corner, Ruxs had to jump a woman’s cart to keep from knocking her over and ended up slamming into some shelves that were full of cereal boxes. The display went flying across the floor along with Ruxs. “Fuck!” Green was coming up the aisle to take the corner when Ruxs saw Aaron pull his weapon. “Gun!”
Green hurled himself at the stunned woman Ruxs had dived to avoid and crashed his huge body to hers taking her down to the unforgiving floor. Gunshots rang out in quick succession, and Ruxs pulled his weapon, hesitating to return the fire, not wanting an innocent hit by his bullet. He heard shots from Green’s Glock, and prayed he had clear shots.
“Up!” Green yelled.
Ruxs didn’t hesitate; he was on his feet and running along with his partner. They skidded to a halt at the end of the meat aisle and quickly peeked around the corner at the sound of the commotion. Aaron had run into a stocker that was unloading some large canned goods.
“Get that bastard, Ruxs,” Green yelled at him.
Why the fuck was he always responsible for catching the bad guys? Shit. Green could run too. Aaron was almost back to the front of the store. It looked like he’d lost his gun but the cell phone in his hand was very visible. If he gets through to Chainz, it’s a wrap. Ruxs picked up one of the large cans of green beans and hurled at the back of Aaron’s head, unfortunately it sailed over his head and into the store’s front window, shattering it to pieces. The sound was loud and had store patrons and register clerks taking cover. Aaron was just in front of him, too much activity at the front of the store for him to get out the doors. Ruxs jumped on his back, taking him down to the ground with an angry thud.
“Don’t fuckin’ move, Aaron,” Ruxs growled, yanking Aaron’s hand behind his back, while he kept his other arm around his throat.
“Hey! Get off that kid!”
“Someone stop that guy!”
Customers who’d fled to the parking lot were yelling at Ruxs. Some taking pictures with their phones. He was sure he looked like a huge thug himself. He couldn’t worry about them. He put his knee into Aaron’s back to hold his pinned arm in place and took the cell phone out of his hand. He checked to see if the call had gone through, but it didn’t look like it. Thank you for huge fuckin’ favors.
“Put your hands up! Get off the kid and put your hands up right now!”
Oh fuck. Not the police. He and Green were way out of their jurisdiction. These guys probably didn’t recognize them, but he was sure they knew of God and Day. He heard the cop yelling more orders at his back, but there was no way he was going to let Aaron up. Ruxs kept his knee in Aaron’s back and snarled at him. “You better not fuckin’ move, or I’ll knock your ass out.”
“I will tase you if I have to. Get your hands up right now!” This cop was at the end of his patience already. Cops loved tasing people, he had no doubt the man was getting ready to follow through on his threat.
Where the hell is Green?
“Get that fucking gun off my partner right now, unless you want this size twelve up your ass.” Green’s deep voice cut off the cop’s orders. “I’m Detective Chris Green, Atlanta PD, and you are currently threatening Detective Mark Ruxsberg. Now move the fuck out of the way so I can secure my perp.”