Page 121 of Second Chance Savior

“Rafael,” I said to Agent Torres, “would you turn around? I’d like to go back to Main Street.”

Rainey leaned forward. “Hold on, what?”

I forced myself to stay calm. “You haven’t explained yourself, so I’m not going anywhere with you. I want to go back.”

Torres looked bewildered, eyes darting between me in the passenger seat and Rainey in the rearview.

“This is literally nothing,” Rainey scoffed. “You’re getting hysterical over nothing.”

I took out my phone, but I had no service. There were dead spots between Hartley’s downtown and Last Refuge. “Torres, I asked you to turn around.Now.”

“Yes, Lieutenant Governor,” the agent said, scowling at his partner. “I’m doing it right now.”

“Donotturn around,” Rainey barked. “Keep driving.”

“Have you lost your damn mind? She wants to go back!” Torres hit the brakes. Steered the car to the side to make a U-turn.

That was when Rainey pulled his weapon. And aimed it at my head.

“I said, keepfucking driving. Or she dies.”

My heart nearly stopped.

Torres reacted immediately. He swerved back onto the road, accelerating. “What are you doing, Rainey? What the fuck are you doing?”

“He works for Stillwater.” I watched the dark circle of Rainey’s Glock from the corner of my eye.

“No.” Torres shook his head. “No, that is not possible. Rainey, tell her. I don’t know what this is about, but that isnot possible.”

Rainey said nothing. He watched the road through the windshield. When a narrow side spur appeared, he pointed with the gun. “Turn there.Now, Torres. Do it.”

Torres turned. The car bumped as it drove over pitted dirt.

My pulse was going crazy. My mind repeating the same words in my head.Rainey works for Stillwater. Torres was armed, but he was driving. Could I reach his gun holster? Not without Rainey shooting me first. Rainey only had one functioning arm, but with a gun, that was all he needed.

“Stop here,” he ordered.

Torres pulled off beneath a cottonwood tree. “Whatever you’re planning, it doesn’t have to go this way. I know you, and this isn’t you.”

“You don’t know me.” Rainey’s voice had dropped an octave. Cold and cruel. “Drop your weapon into the back seat. Slowly.”

“Don’t!” I shouted.

“Do it, or the lieutenant governor is dead.”

With agony written over his face, Torres withdrew his gun slowly and dropped it into the back seat. It thudded onto the floor mat. My eyes sank closed in despair.

“Get out. Both of you. Try to run, and I’ll shoot.”

Torres and I got out of the car. My limbs felt weak. After all I’d been through, all the attackers River and I had faced, this was how it would end? Betrayal by someone I trusted was infinitely worse. Fear and rage tore at my stomach.

River. All I wanted was to see him again. I couldn’t let it end like this.

The dirt path was deserted. Trees loomed on either side. Rainey marched us further along, stopping when we could no longer see the car. He kept the gun pointed at us, his other arm bent toward his torso inside the sling.

“Talk to me,” Torres tried. “Whatever it is you want, we can work this out.”

“Sorry, man. Charlotte is right. I work for Stillwater, and I don’t need you for shit.”

---