Page 57 of Protected By the Mountain Man

With everything going on, I should have. I had plenty of firearms back at my place, but I’d kept them away from the Martin house for Livy’s safety.

Now, I was regretting that choice.

“No,” I replied.

“Double fuck,” she said. “Utility knife…anything?”

“Check the glovebox,” I said, keeping my voice low.

She fumbled with the latch, her fingers shaking but efficient. In moments, she had a small utility knife in hand. It wasn't much, but it was something.

“Think they're here to kill us?” Her voice was a whisper, barely audible over the pounding of my heart.

“Wouldn't put it past them.” I kept my eyes on the mirror. The door of their car swung open, and two figures stepped out, silhouetted against their headlights. They were just dark shapes, featureless and menacing.

“I’m gonna try to get the jump on them,” I told Kat. “I won’t let them hurt you.”

“Your hero complex is really starting to?—”

“Save your life?” I interrupted, shooting her a quick glare. “We can argue about this later.”

She opened her mouth to snipe back at me, but dim light coming from town interrupted us both. Maybe I wouldn’t have to act after all—because headlights pierced the darkness, growing larger.

The two figures froze, glanced at each other, and then scrambled back into their car. The car engine roared, tires spat gravel, and then they were gone, speeding away from the approaching lights.

“Is it—?” Kat started to ask, but I put a finger to my lips.

“Wait.”

The vehicle slowed, pulling over. My chest tightened as the police lights flipped on overhead, painting the night in red and blue.

“Police,” I breathed. “Thank God.”

The cruiser's door opened and a figure stepped out. With the lights from the car, I could see his face…and I recognized him. Relief flooded through me.

“Chris!” I called through the window, rolling it down as he approached.

“Shit…are you two okay?” Chris's voice was tight with concern as he peered into the car, his hand instinctively resting on his service weapon. “What the hell happened here?”

“We got run off the road,” I said. “Some folks just ambushed us.”

Chris's face lost color, his usual composure slipping. “Was it the car that just tore out of here?”

“Sure was,” I said, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. “But they're long gone now.”

“Damn it.” Chris shook his head. “I'll put out an APB, but if they've got a head start…were you able to make out any details on the car?”

“It was a sedan, but I couldn’t see anything else,” Kat said.

“Me either,” I confirmed.

“Stay here. I need to call this in.” Chris turned back to his cruiser, reaching for his radio.

I looked over at Kat, blowing out a long breath. I’d thought this night couldn’t get any worse…but here we were, our lives threatened yet again. She stared back at me, the fight seemingly forgotten.

Then her eyes moved to my bloodied knuckles.

“I guess this is what we get for trying to take a night off,” she muttered. “Any pings on the security system?”

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