Page 87 of Unlawful Seduction

Not for long.

Three shots later, the windshield shattered, and the truck veered off toward a bank of trees. The sound of shattering glass and crumpled metal could be heard over the roar of wind. Spinning around, I rushed toward the snowmobile, gripping Mallory’s arm as I hopped on.

She was shaking, her breathing irregular.

“We got this, baby. Close your eyes.” I wasn’t certain if she’d obeyed me and I had no time to stop and comfort her. Within seconds of taking off again, I realized the last two vehicles wouldn’t be so easy to deal with. They were both high-powered snowmobiles. I could tell by the sound of the engines.

Fuck!

This had turned from dicey to next to impossible. Yet I kept going, once again using tactical maneuvers, weaving from one side to the other. Gunfire could be heard coming from both sides, but I continued driving, making it down the mountain by another two miles if not more.

“They’re gaining on us,” she yelled.

I already knew. I’d felt the rumble of the engines in my gut. A sick, cold feeling swept over me. There was no doubt what had to occur. It was a single chance and the only one I was willing totake. Ignoring the gunfire, I powered down the mountain, trying to get as close to civilization as possible.

When I finally noticed a road sign flashing by, I knew the main road heading into town was just up ahead.

I managed to make some headway, able to pull to a stop behind a dense clump of trees.

“What are you doing? They’re coming for us.” She was closer to becoming hysterical. I jumped off, immediately reaching inside the duffle bag and grabbing one of my other handguns.

“Listen to me. Take this,” I told her.

“I’m not taking a gun.”

I grabbed her arm, slapping the weapon into it. “Don’t fight me. Take Jax and head to the road, but stay out of sight. Do you hear me?”

“What are you doing?”

I pulled them both off, unhooking Jax so the harness remained, but she was able to use the leash. “I’m going to take care of them. I’ll find you. Okay? Just keep heading into town. Do it. Please.”

“I don’t like this.”

I cupped her face, leaning over and kissing her forehead. “It’s going to be okay. They’re searching for us and the element of surprise is going to help. Plus, I don’t need to worry about you. Okay?”

She gripped my arm, tilting her head. “I don’t want to.”

“Please.”

“Okay. Just don’t get yourself killed. Okay?” She gripped my jacket, pulling herself closer to me. As she kissed my lips, I felt once again time wasn’t on our side. The snowmobiles were zigging and zagging the area in a desperate attempt to try to find us. Lights appeared and disappeared like clockwork. She had to follow my orders, or the world would lose a brilliant veterinarian and an incredible woman.

The kiss was soft, sweet, and a reminder of all the things I’d given up freely to save one little family’s life. I would do it all over again. But not at the sake of losing something like Mallory.

I pulled away, giving Jax a quick look. “Here’s a flashlight. Now, go. Just stay off the road as long as possible. Okay?”

“You promise you’ll find me?”

“I promise.”

She shook her head as if about to refuse, but Jax tugged on his leash, whining only once as he looked back at me.

I waited as she walked away, doing what I could to keep my shit together. Anger furrowed inside of me. The fuckers would go down. I added a fresh magazine, slapping it into place and returned to the snowmobile.

There was no sign of either her or Jax as I re-entered the clearing. I took off, heading in an entirely different direction to give her time to get to the main road.

My thoughts shifted to killing the fuckers, using the rage and rush of adrenaline to keep my concentration exactly where it should be.

I sped up until I neared an area the locals liked to call Danger Pass. Then I slowed, baiting them by purposely choking the engine.

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