Heat

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.
Katie and Roger were in the kitchen drinking some wine as they waited for Jake to return home. They both were really worried but this wasn't new for
Jake, since he has been disappearing at night since he got here.
They both knew how worried Ashley was, but Roger kept reassuring her that Jake was fine which really pissed Ashley.

Roger and Katie were currently having a conversation when his phone began to go off. He furrowed, wondering why his ex-wife was calling. Katie
saw the confusion written on her husband's face as she placed her hand on top of his. "Is everything alright?" She asked as he nodded, "Yes, dear,
please excuse me," he said before walking out of the kitchen.
Roger entered the living room, immediately accepting the call, "Monica, how are you?" He asked in a calm tone, "I'm not fine, Roger, but what I do
want to know is why in the hell is my son in the hospital?" She asked in a harsh tone taking Roger back on her question.
"I'm sorry, what?" He asked pacing around, "What do you mean, Jake's in the hospital?" He asked as Monica sighed in frustration, "Roger, I'm in
rehab trying to get my life together for my son only to get a call from a stranger stating that he found my baby in an alley almost beaten half to death,"
she explained as her voice began to crack, "I sent him there for you to be with him, bond with him, protect him and now he is in the hospital," she
continued as Roger stayed silent, by now Katie had walked in the living room and she felt extremely guilty.
"What kind of father are you or have you forgotten that you had responsibilities to take care of, is your new family more important than your damn
son, Roger?" She asked growing angrier than before, "Go to my son, Roger or so help me god, I'd be spending a lifetime in the government's prison,"
she said before hanging.
Roger harshly tossed his phone before running his hands over his face, "What's wrong, my love?" Katie asked, slowly walking towards him, "Jake is
in the hospital," he replied as she gasped, "That was his mother, she got a call about Jake, he was found in an alley, almost half beaten to death," he
continued as Katie held her hand up to her mouth watching how her husband struggled to contain his emotions.
She pulled him into a confronting hug before a familiar voice caught their attention.
"You said he would be fine," there stood Ashley with hot tears running down her face, "Ash-
"YOU SAID HE WAS STRONG!" She yelled as her tears couldn't seem to stop, "But you still didn't care to go out and look for him, and now Jake is in
the hospital.
"If his mother didn't receive that call then Jake would've been dead."

TO BE CONTINUED...