Page 24 of Eden and her Mercenary
I couldn't hear Declan's response, but Royal's expression tightened. "Understood. We'll handle it."
The construction site loomed ahead—a half-finished office complex surrounded by chain-link fencing, its skeletal framework ghostly in the darkness. Ryker didn't slow as we approached theentrance, ramming through the gate with a metallic shriek that set my teeth on edge.
"Everyone, hold on!" he shouted as we bounced over uneven ground, construction materials flashing past on either side.
The pursuing SUVs followed, their headlights cutting through the rain like searchlights. One veered left, attempting to head us off at the far side of the site.
"They're trying to box us in," Harrison observed, her scientific detachment momentarily overtaking her fear.
Ryker spun the wheel again, taking us between two partially constructed buildings. The narrow passage scraped both sides of the van, the sound of tearing metal adding to the cacophony of the engine and pounding rain.
"There!" I pointed to a loading ramp that led up to the second level of the unfinished structure. "Can we make that?"
"Only one way to find out," Ryker replied grimly, accelerating toward the ramp.
The van struggled up the incline, engine protesting. For one heart-stopping moment, I thought we wouldn't make it—then we were on the second level, concrete pillars flashing past as Ryker navigated through the partially built floor.
"Where does this lead?" Royal asked, bracinghimself as we bounced over debris.
"Nowhere," Harrison replied. "That's the point."
Understanding dawned as we approached the unfinished edge of the building. Beyond it was a twenty-foot drop to the adjacent structure's roof—a gap that no vehicle should attempt to cross.
"You're insane," I gasped, realizing Ryker's intention.
"Trust me," he replied, foot steady on the accelerator. "I've made bigger jumps than this."
The pursuing SUVs had realized our plan too late. They screeched to a halt at the bottom of the ramp as our van hurtled toward the edge of the unfinished floor.
Time seemed to stretch as we became airborne, the van suspended in that breathless moment between departure and arrival. My stomach lurched, weightlessness taking hold as we sailed across the gap. Royal's arm shot out, steadying me as gravity reclaimed us.
We crashed onto the adjacent roof with bone-jarring force, the van's suspension bottoming out with a sound like a gunshot. Sparks flew as metal scraped concrete, but Ryker maintained control, steering us toward a maintenance ramp on the far side.
"We made it," Harrison breathed, disbelief coloringher voice.
"Not yet," Royal cautioned, eyes still on the pursuers. One SUV had reversed, clearly intending to find another route around. The second, however, was backing up, preparing to attempt the same jump.
"They're following us," I warned as we descended the maintenance ramp, the van's brakes squealing in protest at the steep angle.
"Let them try," Ryker said grimly. "That SUV is twice our weight. Physics isn't on their side."
As if to prove his point, a tremendous crash echoed behind us. In the side mirror, I glimpsed the SUV's front-end crumpling as it fell short of the jump, plummeting to the ground below in a shower of broken glass and twisted metal.
"One down," Royal said without satisfaction. "One to go."
We reached street level and merged onto a main road, the van's damaged exterior drawing curious glances from other drivers despite the late hour. Ryker kept us moving at exactly the speed limit—fast enough to make progress, slow enough to avoid police attention.
"The remaining SUV?" I asked, scanning the traffic behind us.
"Lost them for now," Ryker confirmed. "But they'll regroup. Junction won’t give up easily."
Harrison had gone quiet, her initial burst of adrenaline apparently fading. She stared at her hands, trembling slightly as the reality of her actions sank in.
"You okay?" I asked softly.
She looked up, a complex mix of emotions crossing her face. "I just threw away fifteen years of research and probably committed career suicide. But yes, I think I'm okay." A small, bitter smile. "Better than I've been in a long time, actually."
Royal moved to the front of the van, leaning between the seats to confer with Ryker. "We can't go directly to the MacGallan estate. Too risky with Junction still hunting us. We need to make sure we've lost them completely."
