Page 13 of Zero Visibility

“It’s me, Jen. It’s me. Don’t scream.” Ben. Her legs threatened to desert her. He let her go, and she whirled to see his handsome face because she had to be sure. Tears blurred his face from sight. Without thinking, she threw herself into his arms and he held her while she sobbed her relief.

“It’s okay,” he whispered against her ear while he urged her forward. “We have to hurry. Our vehicle is down at the base of the mountain.”

She nodded because getting words out was impossible. All she wanted was this nightmare to be over so that she could make amends for hurting the man she loved. Was it too late for a second chance? Please, God, no.

Chapter Six

All Ben wanted to do was hold her close and be reassured this was real. Shewasreal— not part of one of his fevered dreams about her. But they were in danger every second they were out in the open like this.

With his arm around Jen’s waist, he spotted the SUV where his men waited. As they neared, Will, Tegan, and Peter jumped out and hurried to meet them.

“We saw their vehicle go by,” Will said. “I couldn’t make out how many were inside, but we need to get out of here now.”

Ben opened the back door and ushered Jen inside. Before he got in, men’s voices carried down the mountainside. “She was here recently. Fan out. Find her.”

They’d reached the miners cabin.

Ben jumped in the SUV and closed the door. “Let’s go. It won’t take them long to realize we have her.”

Peter turned the vehicle around at a rapid rate and floored the gas. The SUV bounced over the rough terrain strewn with downed trees.

Jen was shaking beside Ben. He reached for her hand. “It’s going to be okay. I’m not going to let them hurt you.”

She laced her fingers with his without speaking. Tears hovered in her eyes.

Peter almost flew onto the road and managed to keep the SUV from sliding into the ditch. He pressed the pedal to the floor. Ben glanced behind them. There was no doubt in his mind that the men at the mine were part of Legion. Somehow, they’d tracked Jen and planned to use her to get to him.

“The truck. It slid off the road and went down the side of the mountain,” Jen whispered in a shaky voice he almost didn’t hear. “I was so afraid.” She turned to him.

He brushed tears from her face. “I know, but it’s over. We’re going someplace safe.”

She leaned against him. He put his arm around her and held her close. No matter what lay ahead, he would love her to the day he died, and he would give his life for hers.

“Lights. Coming up behind us.” Tegan’s warning had him turning in his seat.

“Get off this road now,” Ben ordered. It was their only chance.

Peter didn’t hesitate. He jerked the wheel to the right and headed off onto what appeared to be an open field. They bounced across the pastureland riddled with prairie dog holes while Ben kept his attention behind them.

“They’ll see our tracks heading off the road and follow,” Tegan stated in a tense tone.

“Just keep going. Will, find out where the nearest road is from here.”

“You got it.” While Will pulled out his phone and got busy, Jen’s eyes clung to him. She hadn’t asked for any of this. Just another innocent victim of Legion.

“What if they follow?” Her voice was clogged with tears.

“We’ve got this, Jen. I promise, we’ve got this.” Ben caught Tegan’s surprise and looked away. He prayed he hadn’t just lied to his wife.

Peter barreled across the uneven ground while the vehicle following them slowed. They’d spotted the tracks. The driver eased onto the same path Peter had taken.

“Where’s our closest road?” Ben asked. They needed an escape route now.

“Up ahead. There’s a small gravel road that should intersect. It ends up back in Denver.”

Not ideal, but they didn’t have a choice. “Take it.” It would buy them some time, but Ben had no doubt the men following them would keep coming.

“I see the road.” Peter pointed up ahead of them. A barbed-wire fence divided the property from the road. Without pausing, Peter aimed the SUV toward the fence and leveled it as they flew onto the road without slowing. Jen screamed as he made a hard right, slinging the occupants of the vehicle around.

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