Page 49 of Never Fear (Whiskey Ridge)
McKenna
My focus strained against the blinding light on the dark streets of Whiskey Ridge. Whoever thought it was a good idea to turn their brights on behind another car—no matter how hard it was to see—had no regard for people with sensitive eyes.
As I slowed at the stop sign to turn onto the main highway that cut through Whiskey Ridge, the truck didn’t stop. I watched as it kept its speed, coming closer and closer, with no red lights illuminating the trees around its ass end to show they were even thinking about braking.
My chest thumped at a fast pace as I slammed my foot down on the gas, gunning my car so hard my tachometer shot into the red zone. I sped onto the highway, the faint smell of oil filtering into the cab, but I didn’t have time to focus on how hard I was beating my vehicle right now.
The truck didn’t bother to slow as it whipped around the corner and continued to tail me. Their exhaust was a loud roar in the night, echoing through the thick pines and interrupting the silent serenity of the forest. Suddenly, thelight bar attached to the top of their vehicle lit up the night, messing with my eyes even more than before as I tried to keep my focus on the road. I gnawed on my bottom lip as my limbs began to tense. Fear wasn’t a feeling I’d been accustomed to mere weeks ago, but now it sank its teeth into my bones and controlled me more often than not.
In my rearview mirror, the truck began to swerve back and forth, almost like it was teasing me with how close it was. I couldn’t go home for fear they’d follow me, but I had nowhere else to go. I could drive in circles for who knew how long, but by the way they seemed to be pinned on me, I doubted I would lose them. I didn’t think it was my house they wanted, anyway.
They wantedme.
Grabbing my phone from the cup holder, my trembling fingers shook over the screen as my thumb repeatedly missed the bottom and snagged on the light pink case instead. Right as I got it to unlock, my car jerked forward. My head snapped up at the same time my phone flew from my hands. The truck was right on my ass, ramming into my bumper not once, but three more times. I cursed, dropping my gaze to the floor to search for my phone.
I had to call someone. To find help. I couldn’t avoid Austin any longer, couldn’t ignore the fact that I needed him right now. Not when death was knocking at my door and I was about to have no option but to answer.
Thankful my phone had only landed on the passenger seat, I quickly grabbed it. I forced my hand to quit its trembling long enough to unlock my phone once more, and pulled up my contacts. Austin’s was at the top because, of course, his contact name had to start with an A.
Tapping the call button at the same time as my foot pressed harder on the gas, I held my breath.
“Either you can’t get enough of me, you’ve given in to my request to pick you up, or your life is in danger.” Austin’s voice through the speaker was an answered prayer, and I nearly wept at the sound of it.
“Given the fact that I’ve done everything in my power to push you away, I’d say there’s only one answer,” I said shakily.
He must’ve heard the waver in my words. Sensed the fear enveloping me. He could read me too well, but I couldn’t hate that little fact right now. “What’s wrong? Where are you?”
The truck’s exhaust grew louder seconds before it slammed into my bumper again, jerking me forward. The seat belt had to have bruised me by now. I hadn’t even realized I’d screamed until I felt the rawness in my dry throat.
“McKenna,” Austin snapped. “Talk to me, baby. I need to know where you are.”
“I-I’m driving home,” I answered, glancing in my rearview mirror but quickly regretting it as the light bar blinded me. I could barely see the dark road ahead of me now with the imprint of the bulbs in my vision.
“I know that, kitten.” His voice was softening, though I heard the edge in it. The stiffness as he tried to remain calm. “Tell me where. What are you near?” Movement sounded in the background.
“Uh.” I scanned my surroundings, and while the area was pitch black, I’d lived here long enough to recognize the location. “Near Wagon Road, off Highway Seventy.”
“Wouldn’t have thought it was anyother highway, sweetheart. That’s the only one you’d take to get home.” A door slammed through the phone. “I’m on my way.”
“What do I do, Austin? They keep hitting my car. They—” But I didn’t get to tell him about the lights or the speeding or the danger that threatened to bury me six feet under as they clipped the back corner of my car and caused it to spin.
I think I screamed Austin’s name as the world became a blur through my windshield, and then it stopped as I seemed to be falling.
The car landed with an earth-shattering screech of metal and glass.
So loud that I think it followed me into my dreams.
Or maybe my nightmares.
I couldn’t tell anymore.
Chapter 20
Austin
Her screams would stick with me for the rest of my life.
They would continuously shred a hole through my heart, chopping it into pieces and laying them at my feet—just to rub in the shame that I’d done such a shitty fucking job keeping her safe.
