Page 41 of Shadow's Edge

The Bentley’s lights flashed as it unlocked, butnot from me.

Right, the protocol. The teams had been watching the car from their screens, running security in real-time. Once Kyle tapped her necklace, a silent signal, they’d scanned for any tampering before unlocking it remotely. I’d been so caught up ingetting the fuck out, I almost skipped a step that could’ve gotten us killed.

Kyle didn’t say anything, but I knew she noticed.

I clenched my jaw and got in, the moment we pulled away the anger inside meexploded.

“God fucking damn it, Kyle!” I slammed my fist against the wheel, making the car swerve slightly before I corrected it. Shebarely flinched, staring grimly out the windshield. “He knows who you are!”

Her fingers tightened around her dress, but her voice remained even. “It appears that way.”

“Appears that way?” My disbelief came out sharp.

Before she could answer, the car’s Bluetooth system rang, and Preacher’s name flashed across the dashboard.

Kyle sighed and hitAnswerbefore I could. “We know,” was all she said.

“Yeah, we figured as much,” Preacher’s voice was tight with anger. “You’ve also gotthree tails.”

I flicked my eyes to the mirror.I’d already clocked them because they weren’t being as discreet as they thought, but it made me feel easier that the others were onto them too.

“Yeah,” I muttered, gripping the wheel tighter. Until I had Kyle back behind our gates, I wouldn’t relax.

Then Duke’s voice cut in. “Jagger, I need you to drive like anasshole. I want you to swerve, speed, do whatever you can. At the next gas station, pull over and argue, and, Kyle, you take over the driving after.”

Beside me, Kyle grinned. “I’vealwayswanted to see what one of these can do.”

My foot instinctively pressed on the accelerator in irritation. How the hell was she excited right now? Most of the time, Kyle was level-headed, tactical, deadly serious. But now she wanted to play with the fucking car?

I shook my head but didn’t argue. Instead, Ifollowed Duke’s orders. The second one of the tails got too close, I slammed my foot down on the brake, jerking the wheel to swerve sharply in front of them. The tires screeched, the seatbelt cut into my chest, but the car behind me had to lurch to a halt, nearly getting rear-ended by the others.

Kyle barely blinked, and my frustration burned hotter.She was in fucking danger, and she was acting like this was a game.

A gas station came into view, and my instincts told me to keep going, to stay in control, and not to stop. But Kyle already knew Duke’s plan. If she trusted it, I had to.

I pulled into the lot, yanking the car into a spot before stepping out.

Kyle rounded the front,ready for the show. “You’re fucking drunk!” she snapped loud enough for half the parking lot to hear. “I told you I would drive, you asshole, but you insisted you had to do it because of your precious car. With the way you’re driving, you’re gonna get us fucking killed!”

My brows shot up. Damn, she was going all in. Then, before I could react,she marched up to one of our tails.

What the fuck?

The guy had pulled in two spots over, his tinted window cracked slightly, and Kyle knocked on itbold as hell. The driver hesitated, but when he rolled it down, shebent over, resting a hand on his shoulder like they were old friends.

She murmured something, getting a nod from him in return. And just like that,she strutted back, making sure to swing her hips.

“I’ve said sorry to the poor man behind us,” she announced loudly, glaring at me. “Now give me the damn keys and get your drunk ass on the other side.”

She didn’t wait for me to do what she’d demanded. Shejust snatchedthe keys, jumped in, tossed them into the cup holder, and hit the ignition. I barely got into the passenger seat before she took off,smooth as hellback onto the highway. Within minutes,our tails repositioned, two on the right, one behind.

Kyle justsmiled, flipping her hair like she was telling me a damn bedtime story. “We’re going to go a little faster and lose our friends.”

Her fingers danced through the air like she wasgossiping, like we weren’tactively being hunted.

“Kyle, I’m not sure?—”

Shepunched the gas, and the Bentleyroaredforward. The two cars flanking us surged to keep up, engines growling, but the one behind stuck close, waiting.

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