Page 61 of Something to Believe In
Sirens sounded up ahead, and he saw the faint flash of red and blue lights in the distance, behind Lacey. She must have noticed it too, because she sped up. Police were about a half-mile behind her. He sent up a prayer that Lacey wouldn't think she had nothing to lose and hit Mads head-on. He spoke to the operator. "Please tell the police they are behind Lacey now. But I'm worried she'll see us and hit us head-on."
"Yes, sir."
He didn't know what to do, but he knew he couldn't risk Maddyn being killed. He stepped on the gas and sped around her car. Pulling in front of her, he glanced in the mirror and saw her confusion. Then her eyes grew round, and he looked again at the road and saw Lacey coming straight for his vehicle.
He yelled to the operator, "She's coming straight for me."
Unsure what to do, he tightened his grip on the steering wheel and braced for impact. Maddyn had slowed way down, which gave him some peace. At least they both wouldn't be wiped out.
Suddenly, Zeke sped past him and straight toward Lacey's car. His breath caught in his throat as he watched. Lacey swerved to miss Zeke. Her car hit the ditch and flipped several times into a field.
Bringing his car to a stop, he sat a moment to let his heart rate slow. A car door slammed, and he looked into his mirror to see Maddyn running toward him.
Opening his door, he stepped out and pulled her into his arms.
"Oh my God. I thought you would be killed."
He kissed the top of her head. "I worried you'd be killed."
The others joined them. "Baby, I need to make sure Zeke is alright."
She stepped back. "I'll come with you."
They neared Zeke's vehicle; he hadn't left the inside. Axel tapped on the window, and Zeke turned to stare at him. His eyes were round, and his face was pale. Axel opened the door. "Are you alright?"
"Fuck, I've never been that close to death before."
Staring at him for a while, Axel raised his brows. "Zeke? Are you alright?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good."
Maddyn touched Zeke's arm. "Zeke, thank you so much. Are you sure you're alright?"
Police arrived on the scene. "Are you folks okay?"
Axel nodded. "We're good. Please make sure she can't run away."
"Yes, sir."
He stepped back, "Zeke, can you get out of the car?"
Zeke nodded, then slowly stepped out of his vehicle. He leaned against his car. His hands shook, and his breathing was choppy.
Mads stepped up to Zeke and hugged him. "Thank you so much, Zeke."
All he could say was, "Yeah."
Maddyn glanced at him and then looked at Zeke. "Why did you do that?"
"You folks have been so good to me. And that bitch has been so awful to you. I just couldn't let her do one more thing to you. Plus, you all are so talented. I fucking love your music. I wasn't going to let that bitch silence your voices."
Maddyn glanced up into Axel’s eyes. She saw unshed tears. Maybe those were hers. Maddyn hugged Zeke once more, then stepped back as Jami and Sean came near.
Axel moved to Maddyn and hugged her close. Over her head, he watched the officers in the field, calling someone on their phone. He turned to Jami. Their silent stares said more than words.
The next vehicle that came to a stop near them was the coroner's van. Maddyn turned to watch them wheel a gurney to the wreckage. Hart & The Hurricanes stood silently alongside the road as they brought Lacey's body to the coroner's van in a bag and quietly lifted it into the back.
Police interviewed each of them to piece together the stories. After the police released them, they unloaded Maddyn's belongings at his house and then went to the barn. It would be a different celebration from the one they had planned. They'd now be safe from Lacey, but the attempted loss of life and the actual loss of a life made it more somber. Someday, they'd celebrate their success the way they wanted. But for tonight, they'd simply be together.
