Page 61 of Out of Sight

“Great. We’ll take that when we get back into the city. It’s always good to have a second weapon just in case.”

I nodded, putting it safely back in the glove compartment for the time being. Will didn’t say anything more and I felt the awkward silence hang in air between us.

“I really do believe you. I wouldn’t be in this car with you if I didn’t.”

“I get that. I just wish you believed in me sooner. It kills me that you doubted me, even if you got past that.”

I paused before answering, trying to be honest in my response. “I’m not used to anyone really caring about me. I’m used to believing the worst in people.”

“But that has to change sometime, honey. I wish it changed with me.”

I wanted to hug him, to hold him close to me, but he was driving. I unbuckled so I could scoot closer and lean my head on his shoulder. I put my hand on his thigh and squeezed.

“I’m trying.”

“I know.” He glanced away from the road again to give me a brief smile. “We’ll get through this.”

“We’ll get through this little rough patch, or we’ll get through this whole debacle alive?”

“Both,” smirked. “Now, if you could just move your hand up a little higher-”

“Pervert!” I shrieked, hitting him lightly on the chest. Things were going to be okay. We had a solid plan to get out of danger, and Will would forgive me for doubting him.

“Okay, okay. Your hands are probably too cold anyway.” I put the back of my freezing fingers to his neck and he flinched at thecold, but didn’t stop grinning devilishly at me. “But I can think of a different body part or two that would be nice and hot.”

I squealed indignantly, hitting him again.

“We’re on the run from a maniac, Will. Now isn’t the time for road-head.” Plus, it was mid-morning and there were too many cars around us on the highway.

“That’s a very fair point,” he agreed, but that damn smile was still there. “You’ll let me know when it’s the right time then?”

He was so damn charming I almost reconsidered.

But then I heard it.

I turned to look in the backseat and saw the center console folded down to reveal a man crawling into the cab from the trunk.

Antonio.

“Will!” I shrieked, clutching frantically at his arm.

Will swerved, nearly driving us straight into the center divide.

“What?” he yelled, pulling his arm from me as he straightened out the wheel. Then he followed my gaze to the back seat. “Oh, shit!”

Antonio was half out, grinning that disturbing grin of his like this was all just a fun game of Monopoly and he was having a blast running the board.

Will was trying to merge and get us to the side of the road, but we were close to the city and city drivers were defensive drivers, never letting anyone cut in front of them.

Antonio was so skinny that he made it out before Will could get us to the side of the road. He put his hands around Will’s throat, choking. I screamed and tried to beat at his arms, butthe car swerved again, slamming into a pickup and knocking me clear across the bench back to the passenger side.

My head smacked into the window and it was all I could do to just hold on as Will’s hands left the wheel to try to break Antonio’s grip. The car sped up instead of slowing down with each hit, Will’s feet pressing hard on the gas as he fought for his life.

“See? You’re a great mentor, Will!” Antonio beamed, backhanding me across the face when I managed to fight the inertia and try to break his grip again. “I keep learning from you. Always go after the biggest threat first. I can’t save you for last just because I appreciate your help.”

I ignored the pain on my face and leaned forward to the glove box, grabbing that knife we found earlier. I flicked the blade open and blindly slashed at Antonio’s arm.

He screamed and let go of Will, who quickly regained control of the car and pulled us over to the side of the road while I slashed the air in between the front and back seats to keep Antonio from hurting us. Will reached in front of me to open the passenger side door and push me out, gasping for breath as he collapsed out after me.

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