Page 57 of Don't Look Back

I shriek as my car slides on the ice, but I'm able to control it after a few seconds.

“Call Colton!” I put the car in drive and press down on the gas.

Even though my hands are trembling, I know I need to stay calm or I'm going to crash us into a tree. That’s the last thing we need right now.

“It just keeps ringing.” The fear in Sophia’s voice makes my heart sink. She’s in danger because of me. I’ll do everything in my power to protect her.

“Call Pecker,” I say calmly, trying to focus completely on the road in front of me.

Her hands are shaking as she tries to find his contact information in her phone. She presses a button, then holds the phone out in front of her.

Ringing fills the quiet space and I hold my breath as I wait for him to answer. I need him or Colton now.

“Hey, beautiful,” Pecker’s sweet voice comes through the line and tears prick at the back of my eyes.

“Pecker,” Sophia whimpers. “We need you and Colton. He’s not answering his phone.”

“Colt’s right here. His phone died, what’s going on?” Gone is the sweet man I’m used to hearing, in his place is the tough cop who will stop at nothing to protect us.

“What happened?” Colt’s voice echoes through the car.

“We went to Leslie’s house to get some things. When we were packing up the car, a man was walking towards the house. When he realized we noticed him, he started hurrying towards us.”

“Are you in the car or the house?” Colt asks.

“The car. I'm driving down Beech Tree Road,” I say, hoping if I talk to him, I’ll stay a little calmer.

“Shit, the roads out that way are horrible. How much are you sliding, babe?” There’s murmuring on his side of the line, then I hear an engine revving.

“A lot,” I whisper as the car slides a little bit again.

“Is anyone following you?”

I glance in the rearview mirror and swallow thickly. Maybe it’s not him. Maybe it’s just someone else.

“Yes. Someone’s been behind me since soon after we left the house.”

“Can you tell what kind of car?”

“No, but I passed a black Ford Explorer parked on the side of my street.”

“Motherfucker!” Colt roars.

“We’re on our way to you, Leslie. I want you to keep driving until you get to the Farmer’s Market. Right before you get to the parking lot, I want you to slow down and pull over on the side of the road. Pretend you’re having trouble with your car. Put on your hazards. Put the car in neutral and rev the engine like you got stuck in the snow.”

“Why would we do that?” Sophia shrieks. “He probably wants to kill us.”

“Because we’ll be waiting and we’ll protect you,” Pecker says softly. “Trust me, Soph.”

“Zoey?” Colt’s use of my real name has tears gathering in my eyes. One trickles down my cheek and drips onto my coat.

“Yeah?”

“I love you, baby. Be careful. We’ll stop at nothing to protect you from him.”

“I love you too,” I choke out.

I glance in my mirror, noticing he’s significantly closer than he was a few moments ago. I tighten my grip on the wheel and pray he doesn’t try to run me off the road again.

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