Page 228 of The Forbidden Note

The speedometer starts to dial back.

“If no one is around, you can swerve back and forth on the road. But. Be. Careful. And keep an eye out in case you’re in the wrong lane.”

I start to turn the steering wheel. My fingers are slick with sweat and they almost slip off the leather case.

“Don’t get carried away,” Zane warns. I can hear wind rushing in the background and the sound of stones shifting under his feet.

“Are you… running?”

The sounds continue. “Focus.”

I keep doing what he instructed.

“It’s working.” Near maniacal laughter pours from my lips. “Zane, I’m slowing down!”

“Good, tiger. We’re almost there. Now, I need you off the road. A rough surface will create resistance on the tires. Can you pull over to the side? Preferably somewhere grassy?”

“I don’t see grass.” I peer over the steering wheel, “but I do see a sort of off-road path.”

“Go there.” He sounds even more breathless than before.

“Zane, are you okay?”

“I’ll be okay when I hear that you’re okay.”

My heart skips a beat.

“Tiger.”

“Mm?”

“Are you focusing?”

I drag my gaze back to the road and steer the car into the rough path. The sand and rocks help slow the car even more and I eventually roll to a stop.

“I did it!” I scream. Throwing my head back in relief, I squeeze the phone to my ear. “Zane, I stopped.”

“And I’m almost there.”

“What?” My eyes bug and I glance around. There’s no one on the road. “How did you drive here so fast?”

“It’s a long story and I’m on foot, unfortunately.” His pants get even louder.

I unzip my seatbelt and glance over my shoulder, trying to see the direction he’s coming from. At that moment, I hear the roar of an engine.

The sound is familiar.

I whip around.

A tinted black car speeds toward me.

For a split second, my memory takes over and I realize it’s the same vehicle that tailed us that night after our meeting at the treehouse.

My fingers clamp around my phone and I let out a breathless, “Zane…”

Before I can get any other words out, the black car crashes into me. I fly to the roof and then slam back down on the steering wheel.

Pain flashes through my body, searing my skull.

---