Page 3 of Fear for Her Life

“Nope.” The man pulled a knife. “You and me are going for a little ride.”

Glad she’d locked the glovebox, and her weapon was safe from him, Jenna pressed her tracker ring. It would alert Kane and he’d be able to hear everything being said, although needing to be saved by him the first time she’d gone out alone stuck in her craw. As a self-reliant woman, being vulnerable wasn’t in her wheelhouse. She’d wanted to prove that even in this late stage of pregnancy, she could do her job. “You’re making a big mistake. Get out of my car. Do you know how long you’ll spend in prison for waving that knife at me and kidnapping me?”

“I’m not getting out.” He pushed the tip of the knife into her arm. “Drive.”

If she got out of the car and ran into the store, he wouldn’t be able to start the car. She had the smart key safely inside her pocket. She unfastened her seatbelt and reached for the door handle. “Just let me out. You can take the darn car.”

“Look at me, lady. You figure I’m fit to drive?” The man’s red watery eyes settled on her face as he waved the knife at her. “I can get cash for the Mustang today, but they won’t want it all banged up. Drive or I’ll stick you.”

Unable to stop her hands trembling, Jenna pulled down the harness Kane insisted was safer for the baby and stared him down. “This is a very bad idea. You’re bringing down a mountain of trouble on yourself. My husband won’t care if you’re on drugs. He’ll hunt you down and show no mercy.”

“You figure I’m gonna let you live that long.” He barked a laugh. “Dream on, lady. No one will ever find you and no one is coming after me.” The man waved his gloves at her. “See, no fingerprints. Now be a good girl and head along the highway. My friend will be right behind us, and one wrong move, you’re dead. He has a shotgun and knows how to use it. Drive or I’ll stick you with the knife, and I really don’t want to mess up the carpets in this brand-new Mustang.”

Trying to remain calm, Jenna stared at him. She’d dealt with many types of criminals over the years, and the way his hands shook, this was an addict desperate for his next fix. In this state, he wouldn’t care about the consequences. It chilled her to the bone knowing he regarded her life as a means to an end. She pressed her ring again. Now the alert would go to her entire team and she needed to get as much information to them as possible. “You know I didn’t want to stop at that old gas station just outside of Louan but the needle was nearly on empty.” She looked at the man. “The next town is Black Rock Falls. I’ll drive there but then you must let me out.”

“You stupid or something? I’m not going into town.” He chuckled deep in his chest and then buzzed down the window, coughed violently, and spat. “Drive to the Triple Z Roadhouse. I’m meeting someone there who’ll give me cash for this ride.” He buzzed up the window and sat staring at her.

Lifting her chin, Jenna refused to be intimidated by this idiot. She needed to be heading toward Kane as fast as possible. “If you have a problem with drugs, there are places in Black Rock Falls that can help you get clean.” She pulled out onto the highway.

“Just drive, lady, before I cut your throat to shut you up.” He went through her purse, finding only tissues and lip balm, and then tossed it into the back seat.

Hoping he hadn’t noticed the phone between her legs, Jenna formed a plan. The man hadn’t clicked in his seatbelt. If she drove fast and then slammed on the brakes, he’d be thrown into the windshield, but what about the baby? Could she risk it? She bit down hard, wanting to growl in frustration. Right now, Kane would be driving toward her. She gripped the steering wheel and accelerated. Immediately, the powerful Mustang ate up the blacktop. She flashed past a few vehicles on the highway, leaving the old truck way behind, but the man beside her didn’t seem to notice. She went past a signpost. Time to give Kane another update. “Ten miles to Black Rock Falls.”

“I don’t need a commentary. Drive or I’ll cut you bad and toss you out. Although, you’re pretty and you smell real nice.” The man’s gaze moved over her and he touched her hair, curling it around his finger.

Swallowing the disgust and building fear, she leaned away. “Get your hands off me.”

What if Kane didn’t get to her in time? Had he even heard her call for help, or had it been drowned out by the roar of a motorcycle engine?

TWO

BLACK ROCK FALLS

A second buzz came through the speakers when Jenna had activated her tracker for the second time. Kane didn’t need to call anyone. Wolfe, Rio, and Rowley would be on the move. All had received Jenna’s call for help. Having Nanny Raya living at the ranch was a godsend. Kane rushed Tauri to her, and she’d care for him in her part of the ranch house until they returned.If they returned.Trying to fight back the rage boiling to the surface knowing that someone had threatened his wife, Kane slid the Beast onto the highway and slammed his foot down hard on the gas. The others would never catch him but they’d be there as backup very soon. As Jenna’s red dot on the map headed toward Black Rock Falls, he could tell she was driving fast. He sent up a silent prayer to keep her safe and then dropped into the zone. It was his mechanism to push away all anger, doubt, or fear. He’d used it in combat and it was as important now as it had been back then. Losing control wasn’t an option for a man with his skills. He’d kill without a second thought if under orders or if someone threatened his life. Such was the life of a sniper, but his time in the Secret Service had created a part of him that needed to protect her, and it often suffocated Jenna. He didn’t have a problem taking a bullet, for her or anyone else in danger, and had done so more times than he’d like to remember.

He’d driven the new Beast in all situations since it arrived, and it had become an extension of himself like the old truck. During his life in the military and beyond, he’d needed to be able to drive anything. The only skill he lacked was flying, and when or if he found the time, he’d add that too. He pushed the Beast hard, making the engine roar. For once the traffic along the highway was minimal. Lights flashing and siren blaring, he flew past the other vehicles as if they were standing still. He’d keep his flashers on until he got closer to Jenna and then shut them down. To anyone on the highway, the Beast looked like a tricked-out truck and not a law enforcement vehicle. When Jenna’s voice came through his speakers, the hairs on the back of his neck stood to attention.

“I said don’t touch me. Do it again and I’ll run us into a ditch.”

“You’re some crazy lady.”A man slurred his words.“I’ll enjoy watching you bleed out when I stick you.”

An image flashed into his mind of Jenna covered with blood. One mistake now and he’d lose his wife and baby again. Digging deep to keep in the zone, Kane bit down hard on the inside of his cheek and hit the nitro. The front of the Beast rose and the engine roared its appreciation, like a wild stallion set free on the plains. The forest and lowlands blurred as Kane concentrated on following the yellow line. Nothing mattered but Jenna’s safety as he threw caution to the wind and aimed the truck into a narrow space between two eighteen-wheelers, ducked out again, and headed through the mountain pass. He must get to Jenna.

The red spot on the map was getting closer and he switched off his siren and the red and blue flashing lights. In the distance, a black vehicle headed his way, its silver stripes catching the sun.Jenna.She’d seen him too. Her headlights flicked on and off and she slowed down. Kane kept his foot on the gas, and flew past her, surprised to see her pull onto the grass verge along the side of the highway. He listened as he spun the Beast around, crossed the highway, and headed back in her direction.

“I’m going to spew. I need to get out.”Jenna’s voice came through loud and clear.“Tell your friend in the old truck behind us not to kill me. I won’t run away.”

Fighting back the need to rip someone’s head off, Kane slid to a stop within a few inches of Jenna’s Mustang. As Jenna rolled out of the door, he jumped from the Beast. In one stride he’d punched through the window. Glass shattered and sprayed in all directions as he grabbed the hand with the knife, pulled it through the window, and twisted. The man howled like a stuck pig, and the knife dropped to the ground. He grabbed the skinny, filthy man by the shoulders and dragged him kicking and screaming through the window. He tossed him against the Beast and followed with a punch to the kidney. The man buckled and slid to the ground. The next moment an old truck pulled up and a man climbed out brandishing a shotgun.

“Shooter.” Jenna ducked down behind the Mustang.

Before the man had time to chamber a round, Kane drew his M18 pistol and shot him in the shoulder. The bullet went straight through and made a hole in the truck’s windshield. The shotgun fell from the man’s hand. In a scream of abuse and sobs, he grabbed his shoulder and fell to his knees.

“Nice shot.” Jenna stood, brushing dirt from her clothes. “Need any help?”

Desperately wanting to go to Jenna, Kane shook his head. His heart raced from the rush of adrenaline and he took a few deep breaths to clear his head. “I’m good. The team is on its way.”

“Okay.” Jenna indicated to the broken glass. “I’ll clean up the mess so I can drive it, although I’m not sure if I’ll ever get the stink out of it.”

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