Page 81 of Critical Mass
Hudson started after them, but his ribs screamed in protest. He stumbled, catching himself against Natalie’s car.
Atlas made it to the gap between houses just as the first attacker vaulted a fence into the neighbor’s backyard.
Atlas raised his weapon but didn’t fire. There were too many houses, too many potential civilians in the line of fire.
The next street over, a car engine roared to life. The attackers had staged a getaway vehicle.
By the time Atlas reached the fence and cleared it, Hudson heard tires squealing. Jake had jumped into his vehicle and circled around in pursuit, but suburban streets weren’t designed for high-speed chases. Most likely, the attackers had too much of a head start.
Atlas jogged back, holstering his weapon, breathing hard. “They knew exactly where they were going. Had the escape route planned, vehicle positioned. This was a coordinated hit.”
Jake’s voice crackled over the radio Atlas had clipped to his belt. “Lost visual. Black sedan, no plates visible, heading east on Riverside Drive. I’m in pursuit but they’re—” A pause, then he muttered something under his breath. “They just ran a red lightat the intersection. Too many civilians. I can’t follow without risking bystanders.”
Hudson wasn’t surprised.
With Atlas close and danger gone, Hudson doubled over. The adrenaline that had kept him moving was fading now, leaving only pain and the sick realization of how close that had been.
He pressed his hands into his knees, breathing hard and tasting blood from his split lip. His ribs ached where one of them had landed a solid kick, and his knuckles were already swelling.
But Natalie was safe. That was all that mattered.
CHAPTER
FORTY-FOUR
Jake pulled backinto the driveway, and he climbed out shaking his head.
“Lost them. They hit the highway access ramp and disappeared into traffic. I got a partial description to call in, but without plates . . .” He trailed off, the implication clear.
These men were ghosts. And most likely, they’d be back.
Hudson should have memorized the plates when he confronted the men earlier. He was trained to do so. But he’d been too preoccupied, he supposed.
“You okay?” Jake holstered his weapon as he approached.
“Fine. Just bruised.” Hudson straightened, wincing. “Those guys weren’t Ravenscroft’s security team.”
“I wonder what happened to them . . .” Jake frowned and glanced around.
Atlas was already on his phone, calling in the incident to Colton. “Two hostiles, professional training, attempted abduction or assault. They pretended to be the security guards hired by Natalie’s father to protect her.”
Natalie stood a few feet away, still clutching the landscaping stone. Her chest heaved, probably with adrenaline and fear.
“Who were they?” Her voice shook as her gaze bounced back and forth between all of them. “Were they my father’s enemies? The same people from the marina?”
Hudson met her eyes. “Most likely. Whoever they are, they’re escalating. That means things are only going to get harder from here.”
Natalie’s hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
She’d just hit a man with a rock. Had watched Hudson fight off two attackers like it was something he did every day.
Because it probablywassomething he did often.
This was his life. Secrets and danger and split-second decisions that meant the difference between living and dying.
And now it was her life too.
Hudson stepped close to Natalie, gently slipping the landscaping stone from her grasp and tossing it aside.
