Page 49 of Abducted

“Stay low and do what I say.” Shit, he must be crazy. All it would take would be one shot to her head, and—

He couldn’t think about it. He pulled his Glock from the waistband of his pants and climbed onto the back seat where the back window was shot out. The truck’s bumper loomed before him, closing in. He steadied his shoulders, aimed for their tire, and fired. The truck jerked, and the bullet hit the bumper. Cal ground out a curse. A large form hung out the passenger’s side window.

Shit.

“Babe—” Shots fired, and the truck swerved into the next lane. He collided with the rear passenger door and righted himself. Lana had cut the vehicle in front of another semi. Two closed in behind them, shielding them from the truck. The vehicle jerked as she took an exit and the transport followed.

Yes, they just might lose them.

“Good one. I don’t think they saw us turn.” He climbed over the console and dropped into the passenger seat. Lana sat ramrod-straight, her knuckles white. He reached out his hand and grazed her arm with his fingertips.

“You okay?”

She nodded wildly. “Fine.” Her eyes snapped up to the rearview mirror as she headed northeast toward the mountains. Trees began to crowd the sides of the road; they whipped past the long arms of the branches. A few minutes ticked by, and her shoulders relaxed. Cal ached to wrap her in his arms, but not yet. He couldn’t let his guard down until she was safe. The wind whipped through the broken back window, sending a cool breeze through the truck.

“Did we lose them?” Her voice was steady now and laced with hope. He glanced in the side-view mirror, but other than the transport’s large headlights, there wasn’t anyone else on the road.

“I think so,” he said. He glanced back at her and took in the gentle creases around her eyes. “Do you want me to drive?”

Her eyes slid over to him, finally meeting his. Her blue orbs slammed into him, making his chest ache. If Ethan hadn’t given them a head start… If one of the bullets had hit her…

“Yeah, I’ll pull over at the next gas station.” Her gaze narrowed on the rearview mirror. “Who’s that? Passing the transport?”

He twisted in his seat and his body tensed.

Goddammit!

“It’s them.” He unbuckled his seat belt and climbed into the back.

“Are you sure? They’re pretty far away.” Her voice trembled.

“Positive. Keep it steady, I’m going to take out the driver when they get—” The truck shot forward, sending him barreling into the back seat. “Dammit, what are you doing? I have a loaded gun in my hand!”

“Sorry. I have an idea, but we have to hurry.” They twisted around a bend, and their pursuers fell from view. The truck bounced as Lana pulled to the side of the road and turned the headlights off.

Irritation rippled through him. “Lana, we’re sitting ducks right here. Get back on the road!”

She shifted the truck into reverse and cut the wheel sharply, sending the rear end of the Chevy back into a break in the trees. Branches scratched over the smooth paint as she edged them farther into the woods until dark foliage covered the hood.

Cal stared at her in the mirror. “Damn, you’re smart.”

She chuckled and pressed her back into the seat. “You’re just realizing this now?”

He leaned forward between the seats, wrapped his hand around the base of her neck, and pressed his lips to her mouth. She melted into him, her mouth hot and wet on his. Desire stirred in his belly. He pulled away and pressed his forehead to hers.

“More of that later. Right now, I need to take these assholes out. Stay here, and if anything happens get back on the interstate and call Nate.” He opened the door and slid out of the truck, leaving his phone on the passenger seat. He rattled off the code to his phone.

Her lips parted, and the rosy hue to her cheeks faded to pale white. “Cal, you can’t be serious.”

He winked at her. “I’ll be back.” The road lit up with long beams of yellow. He jogged to a tree, dropped down to one knee, and aimed his Glock at the road. Headlights grew wider until the lights touched the grass at his knees.

A silver truck filled his vision, racing across the pavement. He fired three shots. Two tires blew out, and the truck swerved back and forth over the pavement before flipping and rolling. He got to his feet and charged across the road. His heart rate slowed to a gentle hum in his eardrums. The passenger door creaked open, and a large form fell to the ground.

Cal grabbed him by the scuff of the neck and pulled him into a sitting position. The man howled in pain, and his hands grasped for his knee. A bone protruded through denim, blood coating his pants. A gun fell beside him, and Cal pocketed it. One glance inside the car showed the driver slumped over the steering wheel. Another passenger lay at the side of the road, the broken windshield evidence of his fate.

Cal dropped to his knee and shoved the barrel of his gun into the man’s mouth. “Who the fuck are you?”

Brown eyes wide, with his dark hair plastered to his forehead, the man shook his head frantically. Cal removed the gun to let him speak, but kept it trained between his eyes.

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