Chewie turns left at the intersection, and I quickly turn right. Cutting the wheel a little too hard, the tires nearly come up off the pavement and my head slams into the window.

“Fuck!” Anger and pain rush through my chest as I gain control of the car. Looking in the rearview mirror, the state trooper behind me catching up, I slow down hoping they will follow me and not Chewie.

My heart is pounding so hard I feel it in my throat. My forehead beading with sweat.

I’ve never done something so reckless; so lawless. My adrenaline is pumping so fiercely through my limbs I feel high.

Nibbling my bottom lip, I glance in the rearview mirror. The trooper car stops at the intersection and I stop breathing.

“Follow me. Follow me,” I will them to turn the damn wheel.

Their lights bounce and reflect off the road behind me as they speed to catch up with me.

I exhale a sigh of relief and take them further into the darkness before hitting my brakes.

Opening the door, I shine the spotlight into the desert as if I’m looking for the suspect.

“Did you lose him?” a trooper asks.

“The Corvette turned his lights off, and I lost him about a mile back,” I lie, and it causes my chest to sting.

The things we do for love.

“Fuck!” The trooper kicks his tire. “I had the president of the Sin City Outlaws back at my traffic stop, I bet he’s long gone now.”

I keep my head away from him just in case he’s been informed about me dating Zeek.

“Come on, let’s get back there,” the other trooper suggests. I keep my head forward and continue shining the light into the dark until they pull away.

When silence falls upon my shoulders, I turn finding the road behind me empty.

Nearly tripping inside my squad car, I reach for my cell phone and dial Chewie.

“Whoooo! You couldn’t catch me if I let you!” he hollers into the speaker, nearly busting my damn eardrum.

“Did my boys get through?” I ask with a shaky voice, the adrenaline starting to fade.

“Yeah, they got through.”

“How do you know?”

“Um,” the phone goes quiet.

“Th-thanks again Chewie.” My voice cracks with emotion. Clutching the phone a little tighter, my lips press into a tight line to keep from tearing up.

I’m not sure if it’s from the fact I went against my badge or that my fiancé will be home for Christmas.

“Hell ya, anytime.” He chuckles, and I click the phone off. Chewie works for my lover, I know it.

Heading to the drop off at the back of a Chinese restaurant, I slam the van into park. Felix and Mac pulling up behind me on their motorcycles.

Climbing out, I shut the door and the smell of Chinese food greets me. The building is two stories high, and painting Red and Gold. The Chinese Man.

For a filthy druggy, I’ve been told he has the best Chinese food on the south side.

“’Bout time you show up.” Looking to my left a short Chinese man emerges from the darkness. He’s wearing a suit with a red tie and a fedora hat.

Six men following closely behind him, their arms by their sides they look like a little Chinese Army.

“Little overkill there, don’t ya think?”

He laughs, running his index finger over the rim of his hat.

“Only knowing you by the notorious Zeek, I don’t trust you,” he insults.

“Good, call.” Felix cracks his neck, a sly smile on his face.

“Well, when you’re a dick and wanting drugs on Christmas Eve or else, I can’t be held for my actions, what can I say?” I hold my hands out wide.

Machete and Felix step forward, their guns drawn protecting Mac when he enters the back of the restaurant. The Chinese man’s face goes pale.

“You fuck on me?” He holds his hands out, the language barrier becoming thicker. He thinks I’m going to rip him off on this deal, but I have no such plans.

“Just a mere lesson on how to respect those who run these streets.” I smile. Raising my hand, I run my thumb back and forth over my bottom lip, my eyes staring into the little man on a power trip before me.

Just then the back door opens to the restaurant and Mac appears with a Chinese woman screaming in a different language.

“No!” The Chinese man runs to her aid, and I raise my gun. Making him stop.

“Oh, so you are a man of family.” I tilt my head to the side. “Funny, because you’re keeping all of us from ours, risking us being thrown in jail and for what?”

“I sorry. I sorry, p-please. Just take the money and go.” He snaps his fingers, and one of his mini soldiers throws a duffle bag onto the parking lot ground.

Insulted that he thinks my priorities can be bought, I pull the trigger on my gun, lodging a bullet into his leg.

He screams and drops to the ground. His so-called army panics, and runs behind a nearby garbage can, and empty crates to the left of it. Taking cover, I know it’s only a matter of seconds before they return fire.

“If they fire their weapons at me and my boys, I shoot again,” I warn.

“No shoot!” he tells his crew, his voice crippled with pain.

Mac laughs, pushing the girl toward the Chinese man. Striding toward me, he stops a foot from me. Chomping on a Crab Ragoon.

“What the fuck man?” I shake my head. He’s always finding food when we’re on a job.

“Gotta eat, man.” He shrugs, stuffing his mouth. Reaching out, I grab his cut and pull him behind me.

“We good?” I glare at The Chinese man.

“Good!” he clips fast.

“Enjoy your night.” My tone dry.