Heat novel Chapter 23

The group of guys realized that Jake took off running at full speed, “HEY! COME BACK HERE!” Jay’s brother yelled as they ran after him.  Jake’s heart was pounding in his chest as he accelerated his pace. He constantly looked behind him to see if they were still following him and indeed they were.

 The guys behind Jake grew tired as they began to slow down. Jay’s brother pointed in different directions instructing the guys to split up while he and another familiar guy continued to run after Jake.

 Jake’s lungs began to burn and his legs grew tired. He panted heavily as he looked behind him to see two guys running away from him, but he was way in front for them to catch up to him. 

 Jake sighed in relief, thinking that he was out of danger's way, but he had another coming when he was suddenly forced to the ground by a harsh tackle. Jake groaned while trying his best to shake off the guy that was still on him, but it was no use as two other pairs of rough hands harshly held onto his arms bringing him up to his feet. 

 The mockery of clapping was heard as two other guys appeared in front of Jake’s helpless body.  Jake glared at a particular individual with such hatred in his eyes as the individual smirked. “Well, isn’t it Jake,” the leader of the group exclaimed with a smirk on his face, while Jake glared at him before chuckling, “Always knew you were a coward piece of shit, Jay, but now you have really proven it to me,” he said before receiving a punch from Jay as his brother quickly held him back.

 “You’re all talk Jake, but look at you now,” Jay said, getting out of his brother’s hold.  “Now, Jake, my man, you beat my Lil bro, you embarrassed him for a little b**tch,” he said as Jake began to feel aggravated by the way Jay’s brother was talking about Ashley, aggressively trying to break from the guys that were holding him back. “And now, you gotta pay for the consequences of your actions,” he said massaging his knuckles before throwing the first punch causing Jake to stumble but the guys held him up. 

 Jake spit blood out of his mouth that was from his busted lip before smirking at Jay’s brother, “Is that all you got?” He asked as Jay and his brother’s jaw clenched in anger before they looked at each other before nodding. 

Jake eyed the brother suspiciously before he screamed out as pain shot right up his right leg. Everything happened so fast that Jake didn't see it coming. Jay within seconds managed to stump onto Jake's right knee cap pushing it back with such force. Jay's brother silence his cries with two solid punches breaking his nose.

The guys that held him up, dropped him on the floor as he groaned while holding his leg. Jay smirked at Jake's condition before squatting down to his level, "And don't you worry, I'll take good care of Ashley," he whispered before signaling the guys to finish the job.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Back at home, Ashley was extremely worried. It was really late and there was still no sign of Jake. He hadn't returned anyone's calls or texts which didn't help the situation. Ashley asked Anna to do her a favor, which she did without hesitation and apparently, Jake was nowhere to be seen at the racing grounds, not even Tatiana saw him.