Page 32 of Silver Secrets

Slipping into the driver’s seat, Sloane pulled her phone from her purse, smiling when she saw a notification. It wasn’t hard to guess who was messaging her.

Gage:

I’m just saying, I found this incredible BBQ place last month with Hawk and Nash. We’re talking the best pulled pork and ribs I’ve ever had in my life. My LIFE, Red.

Gage:

I’ve got to go back and have more. Please don’t make me take the guys again. I can’t listen to their bickering. Seriously, it’s going to kill me.

Gage:

Okay, okay. I hear you in the silence. You need more time to think it over. Just know, there’s this incredible bakery not even a mile away from the BBQ place that has a twenty layer chocolate cake. Don’t tell Dolly I said this, but we can stop in there and get a slice if you want.

She laughed, plugging her phone in so all the controls connected to her car. There was a part of her that wanted to say yes to Gage. To be free from her overactive mind. Would he want to hold her hand again on the date? Would he want to kiss her?

A hug between her and her girlfriends was nearly impossible until about a year ago. Not that she really had any friends before Mae came into town with the guys from Montgomery Defense. She was warm and friendly to people when she had to be, but Sloane had mostly kept to herself, buried in her work. And then when Lily entered her life, well all bets were off. There was no way Lily would have let her get away with not being her best friend.

Her whole chest warmed at the thought of her friends. Even being around the guys had gotten easier in the last few months. The way Stone had looked physically pained by having to cross that boundary to check over her injuries the night of the race popped into her mind. Yes, because he had been so respectful, but also because Gage had carried her for a long time in his arms—and she hadn’t felt panicked. Anxious, yes. Worried, yes. But not about being so close to him.

Sloane pulled out of the driveway, flipping her high beams on as she turned onto the dark country road. Nighttime driving was not her favorite, but she’d just take her time.

She wanted to say yes to Gage. He was safe. And kind. And was always trying so hard to get her to smile or laugh. But there was something in the pit of her stomach urging her to ignore her heart. Anxiety that was pushing her to isolate.

A car approached in the opposite lane, and Sloane dimmed her headlights. She noticed a vehicle coming up fast behind her. There was barely a shoulder on that part of the road, but Sloane moved over as much as she could in case the person driving wanted to pass her. Of course, there were no lines on that particular rural road, but she’d had people pass her in similar situations. She was fine with that. Whoever was driving the truck, which was now nearly on her bumper, clearly was not.

They revved their engine so loud that Sloane physically shuddered. She slowed down, flipping her blinker on as she moved even closer to the ditch. But the truck still didn’t go around her. In fact, they began flashing their lights at her aggressively. Her heart went into overdrive. Should she stop? Were they trying to get her attention? Every fiber of her being was shouting to get back on the road and hightail it out of there.

So that’s exactly what she did.

Her foot pressed down on the accelerator, and her engine revved as it followed her command. For a moment, that provided room between her and the truck, and relief flooded her. But it was short lived.

“What are you doing?” Sloane gasped as the truck accelerated, nearly ramming into her bumper before backing off. They turned on their high beams, this time leaving them on, lighting up her car and making it impossible to see the dark road in front of her.

“CALL GAGE!” she screamed into the car’s command control center. The line rang twice before his voice boomed inside her vehicle.

“Hey, Red. I was wondering when I was going to?—”

“Gage…” Shit. The truck accelerated again, flashing their high beams into her car. She could barely see the road, her hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly they ached.

“Sloane? What’s going on?”

“Someone’s following me. Out on Kingsley Road. They’re shining their high beams into my car and it’s so hard to see.”

“How far outside of town are you?”

Her eyes flicked again to her mirror. The truck was revving up again, speeding closer and closer to her.

“Ten minutes. I tried to pull over but they just pulled over with me. It’s scaring me, Gage. I’m going almost eighty. They’re so close behi?—”

Sloane’s whole body jolted forward as the truck slammed into her bumper. She let out a scream, her hands squeezing impossibly tighter around the steering wheel trying to maintain control of the car at the insane speed she was going.

“Sloane? SLOANE! Answer me!”

“He…he hit my bumper. He’s ramming me!”

“I’m going to have someone call the sheriff’s office. Just stay on the line, and look for anywhere that you can turn off into that’s busy.”

“There’s no businesses between here and town.”

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