Page 91 of Scorched

Headlights appeared in her rearview mirror, coming up on her fast. “Geez.” She kept one eye on the mirror as she navigated the winding road. “Don’t they realize how treacherous it is in this weather? Probably some tourist.” She shook her head. Accommodations in the area needed to come with a course on driving on mountain roads in bad weather.

The lights loomed larger as the vehicle caught up to her. She hit her flashers to signal the car to go around her, but it just rode her bumper. Maggie moved her hands to a more defensive position on the wheel and sat straighter. What the hell was this guy up to? She wished she could speed up—she was only about three miles from the ranch—but there was a sharp curve coming up. In this weather, taking that curve too fast would spell disaster.

She slowed as she got closer to the curve. To her relief, the car pulled into the other lane. It wasn’t a good place to pass, but she just wanted them to go around her. She relaxed a fraction until she realized the car wasn’t passing, but driving beside her. Maggie hit her brakes, and the other car shot forward. Its brake lights flared, and it swung back into her lane ahead of her, still slowing. She slowed to a crawl. The other car’s backup lights lit up. Her heart rate kicked up and her breathing quickened as horror washed over her. They were going to hit her!

Adrenaline flooded her veins, and she threw her car into reverse, praying no one came up behind her. She flung an arm over the passenger seat and steered the SUV backward down the road, weaving all over her lane. Her car lurched as the other vehicle struck the front bumper. She let out a scream as she fought for control. Once she stopped weaving, she pressed harder on the accelerator.

Oh my God! What was going on?

She tamped down the panic clawing its way up her throat and concentrated on driving. A side road appeared, and she whipped her car into it, still driving in reverse. The other car zoomed past on the highway, brakes screeching as it slowed. She shoved the gearshift into drive and rocketed back out onto the main road, flooring the accelerator. It didn’t give her much of a lead on the car behind her, but she hoped it was enough to get her safely through the curves coming up. Once past those, she could fly the rest of the way to the ranch.

A glance in her rearview mirror revealed the other car catching up once again. Even though she was entering the curves, she sped up. Her tires squealed, and the vehicle threatened to tip as she dove around the bends, the dark SUV right on her tail. She flew around a curve just as the other car tapped her back bumper. The trees whizzed by in a blur as her car spun wildly over the wet pavement. She skittered off the road into the ditch, coming to a jarring stop.

Dazed and dizzy, she fumbled with her seatbelt. She had to get out of the car before the person in the other vehicle came back for her. The belt released with a click, and she pushed at her door to get out. The car was at an angle in the deep ditch, so gravity wasn’t on her side. She shifted to get her legs under her and used her height to try to open the door. She only got it open a crack before it flew out of her hand.

Maggie let out a shout of surprise. Rain dripped in on her as she looked up. The face that filled the doorway made her do a double-take. No. It couldn’t be…

“Hello, Maggie. Remember me?” The man reached in to grab her collar.

Maggie screamed and squirmed, grabbing onto the car’s frame as he attempted to haul her out. “Let go!”

He braced his feet and pulled harder, tangling a hand in her hair.

She grabbed his wrist as fire raced along her scalp. “Please, stop! What do you want?”

He got her out of the car and pushed her against it, leaning into her, breathing hard from the struggle. “You’re quite feisty. I can understand what my son sees in you.” He backed up, taking hold of her arm in a bruising grip. “His mother was feisty too. It got her killed. Don’t be like Sherri.”

Horror flooded her veins, turning her legs to noodles, as she realized Cole killed Sherri. Probably Jed too. He would kill her as well if she didn’t cooperate. She fought the panic that wanted to take over and forced some starch back into her spine. “What do you want, Cole?”

He smiled an evil smile. “Smart too. Whoo-ee, you’re the total package, aren’t ya?” He shook his head. “Where he got his taste in women, I’ll never know. That Lilah was an even prissier version of you.”

Maggie’s eyes widened. “How do you know about her?”

“I keep tabs on all my kids. Make sure they’re not going down the wrong path. Declan—that boy has definitely strayed down the wrong path.”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

He leaned in, his expression dark and menacing. “He’s involved with you.”

She reared back like he slapped her. “What’s wrong with me?”

“You’re an Archer.” He tugged on her arm. “Come on. We need to get out of here before someone comes along.”

Maggie planted her feet.

Cole spun around and punched her without warning. She let out a shout and dropped to her knees in the mud. Dammit. Maggie covered her jaw with a hand. She should have seen that coming. He had her flustered, though. It wasn’t every day her boyfriend’s dad admitted to murder and tried to kidnap her.

“Remember what I said about feisty? Word to the wise, pretty lady. Fight it.”

Anger made her blood boil. She would do what he said. For now. But the minute she saw an opening, she would take it.

“Get up.” He pulled at her arm.

Maggie pretended to be off balance, falling down again. She knew she was pushing it, but every second counted.

“Those heels are ridiculous. Kick them off.”

“But they’re Manolos.” She didn’t care if she ruined her shoes. She just wanted to stall.

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