Page 58 of Wait in the Truck
But…dammit.That ranch isminenow. I huff out a breath. It’s hard to make any concrete plans at all, knowing it’ll be a long while before we’re out of the woods. I had hoped the sheriff coming by last week to tell me about the discovery of my father’s truck would at least have calmed my nerves, but it hasn’t. There’s simply not a lot to be done to alleviate my anxiety. It’s a waiting game. The more time passes, the less likely any evidence will come to light.
With a heavy sigh, I hurry through my end–of-shift tasks. The crowd of thirsty bar patrons have long since departed for the night. The faster I get done, the faster I get home to Kade. I check my phone on my way out the door. It’s two in the morning.
Thumbing open my text messages, I find the exchange with Kade, smiling a bit as I remember how he had pouted like a big baby when I told him Billy needed help covering the Friday night shift.
We’ve gotten used to spending all our evenings together watching TV or playing cards or even just reading side by side. We’ve become accustomed to each other’s presence in such a short time, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Exiting the bar, the cool drizzle falling from the gray clouds above hits my face. The weather has been shit lately. Just as I get to my red Chevy, thunder rumbles overhead. Ipeer upward, noting the sky is pitch black, the moon hiding behind the storm clouds. The rain begins to pick up, and I race to the driver’s side of my truck, unlock the door, and scramble inside.
An involuntary shiver racks my body as I turn the key, firing up the engine. The downpour took all of three seconds to soak through the T-shirt I’d thrown on over my bikini top. It clings to me like a second skin and sends a chill down my spine. Quickly turning on the heat and the defroster, I glance down at my phone before I take off. A couple texts must have come in as I was getting ready to leave.
Wildflower, be careful driving.
It’s getting nasty out there.
Smiling at Kade’s characteristic show of protectiveness, I tap out a quick response.
I’m heading out now.
Be home soon.
I pull out of the parking lot, the gravel crunching under my tires as a bolt of lightning lights up the thick, oppressive dark blanketing the surrounding area. The flash gives everything an ominous glow. The crack of thunder accompanying it vibrates inside my chest, and then, the skyfully opens, a torrential downpour hammering hard against the truck. I grip the steering wheel tightly and sit up a bit straighter as I take off. Peering at the winding road in front of me as best I can, the windshield wipers make a squeaking noise with each pass before my eyes.
I make the turn that leads out of town toward Lilac Meadows, and the thunderstorm continues on as if some angry god above is pitching an epic temper tantrum. Shuddering hard, I note that a pair of fuck-bright headlights has appeared in my rearview. A hulking black truck. I squint as the beams bounce off the drops of rain cascading down the windshield, making it difficult to see much beyond the hood. “It must be Kade making sure I get home safely,” I mutter under my breath and slow down. As carefully as I can manage, I reach over to my phone in its holder on the dash and put a call through to him.
“Sage?” comes his rough voice. “You okay, darlin’?”
“Hey, could you turn your brights off? You’re blinding me up here.”
There’s an unexpected pause as he bites out what sounds like a curse. “Sage, I’m at your place. I’m not behind you.”
“Shit, okay.” My heart bucks around in my chest like a bronco. The dark monster behind me roars as it accelerates, coming in close until it’s nearly on my bumper. “Kade.” I wince as anxiety crawls over my skin and nervous wordstumble from my lips. “Whoever this is won’t get off my ass.”
“Are you fucking kiddin’ me?” he bites out, disbelief lacing his words.
I glance at the rearview again, and all the breath rushes from me. Trying to keep the tremble out of my voice, I say, “No, I’m not. I think I’m in trouble.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m not far from the bridge.” And no sooner do the words leave my lips than the truck rams into me, sending me sliding off the road into the gravel alongside the Black River. I don’t have time to think, much less stop the scream that tears from my throat as I slam on the brakes, hoping to stop the skid before I end up in the ditch.
“Sage! What the fuck just happened?” Kade grits out, worry clear in every word. “Are you okay?”
My hands shake and my breath comes in rapid-fire pants as dread fills me. I sneak a glance into the rearview.Oh fuck.The other truck has pulled up directly behind me. Creeping fingers of terror crawl up my spine, and anxiety twists itself into pretzel-like knots in my gut. Something tells me they didn’t stop to make sure I’m okay.
“Sage!” Kade shouts, his voice ricocheting around the cab of the truck.
I exhale hard, finally stuttering out, “I-I’m sorry. Whoever that asshole is played a seriously sick game ofbumper cars with me, ran me off the road, and now they’ve pulled up behind me.”
“Fuck! I’m leaving now. Don’t hang up.”
I press my palm to my chest and listen with my eyes squeezed shut. I just want Kade. Need him here with me. I glance over my shoulder, wishing the driver of the other truck would justgo.
A moment later, I come out of my skin as a dark figure appears at the window. I gasp aloud, the sound of my own fear like something jagged and broken. “Kade.” I blink, trying to make out their features hidden in the shadows. Lightning crashes. The face it illuminates is from my nightmares. My voice shaky, I whisper, “Kade, it’s Samuel.”
“Fuck,” he growls. “Don’t talk to him, Sage. Don’t put the window down. Nothing.”
But before I can acknowledge what he’s said, the lock pops up. My heart jumps into my throat as I whirl to the side to slam my fist down to relock it. I’m too late. The door opens with a screeching creak, a blast of rain and wind hitting me, full force.
