Page 52 of PenPal Hero

“So help me, Bonnie,” he gritted between his teeth. “Let me get you some place safe, for crying out loud! Then we’ll talk.” He steered her in the direction of his truck that he’d parked about a block down the road.

Before they’d made it even half the distance, a black Land Rover skidded to a halt on the road beside them. The window rolled down.

“Get in,” a woman shouted.

Her words were followed by a volley of gunshots behind them.

Jackson was surprised to see Summer Rose behind the wheel, but there was no time for questions.

Fortunately, Bonnie offered no resistance when he yanked open the back passenger door and lifted her inside. The sound of gunfire had probably underscored to her just how much danger they were in.

“Get down,” he ordered, slamming the door shut.

More shots were fired. One of them pinged into the side of the vehicle.

Bonnie hit the floorboard, and Jackson followed, shielding her with his body.

Summer Rose gunned the motor and took off.

Jackson waited until her speed slowed before addressing her. “The next time a guy asks you out to dinner, you could just say yes.” His voice came out rough and gravelly.

“Aw, honey! You think this is about you?” she crooned, meeting his gaze in the rear-view mirror as he sat up.

“Partly,” he countered, winking at her. “My gut says you’re more than capable of multitasking.”

Bonnie scrambled out of the floorboard to take a seat next to him. “You two know each other?”

“Yep,” Jackson drawled.

“No,” Summer Rose intoned at the same time.

“Well, which is it?” Bonnie’s gaze swung dazedly between them.

He started laughing. “This isn’t exactly what I had in mind for a dinner date. Like Summer Rose pointed out earlier, though, I’m a little out of practice.”

“Feel free to drop me off on the side of the road,” Bonnie groaned. “I have no interest in third-wheeling it with my oldest of five annoying brothers.”

Tough! There was no way he was letting her out of his sight until he was sure she was safe.

“Smooth.” Summer Rose admonished in a mocking voice as she met his gaze again in the rear-view mirror. “You have a real way with the ladies.”

He leaned his head across the seat as he answered. “I know.” Because of his position, he was the first person in the vehicle to catch sight of the dark, windowless van hurtling their way from the right.

“Look out!” He reached for the wheel, pulling hard to the left.

Because of his quick thinking, the van crashed into the side of them, grazing them hard instead of fully t-boning them.

The SUV skidded off the road, hit a curb, and bumped through a shoulder.

More shots were fired.

“Get down,” Jackson shouted again to his sister.

A window shattered, and shards of glass went flying as they dove for the floorboard a second time.

Summer Rose revved the motor and drove up the side of the ditch. Soon, Jackson could see buildings flashing past the windows on both sides. Tall buildings. Close buildings, telling him they were zipping through a back alley.

He held on to Bonnie, protecting her head as best he could. The buildings flashing past their windows disappeared as Summer Rose reached another road. She increased her speed, and the sound of gunfire faded.

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