Page 68 of The Rough Ride

The driver’s manic eyes pierced Liz in the mirror. “Get your fucking seat belt on, you idiot. It’s the law.”

That’s enough, you animal.Liz yanked the largest knife from her sock, grabbed the woman by the hair, and stuck the knife to her throat. “Slow down, pull onto the shoulder, and let me get Ella out of the trunk. Now.”

The woman wheeled around and pointed a gun at her while keeping one hand on the wheel.

“I’m going to shoot you, Lieutenant. You’re a pain in my ass.”

Liz threw herself to the floor as the gun went off, shattering the back window. One more wild shot like that and Ella—oh God, she couldn’t think about it. Bile rose in her throat as she flattened herself tight against the back of the driver’s seat. The next shot hit the upholstery as a puff of padding burst into view.

Liz snatched the blanket, shimmied across the floor to the other door, and let the window down a few inches. It was open just enough to feed the blanket outside to attract attention. The wind tore at the billowing fabric. Liz threw her body weight on the end she’d wrapped around her hand.

“Damn. There’s that security idiot again.” The woman opened the passenger window and fired several shots at a Jaguar that had pulled up on their right side. “And’s there’s a cop barreling toward us with lights and sirens.” She hooted a frenzied cheer. “Bring it on, assholes. I’m ready for you.”

Liz crawled into a ball and held on to the blanket.What if she didn’t pull through the night?She closed her eyes and prayed for her precious Ella to survive.

Nick would figure it out. He’d be a good father.

40

Nick jolted in horror as the bullets riddled Lana’s car and her Jaguar zig-zagged between two lanes. He shouted into his Bluetooth, “Lana, are you hurt?” She didn’t answer right away as he held his breath. Seconds later, she responded.

“Hell, no. But my car’s gonna need a shit-ton of body work. What’s the plan, boss?”

He inhaled a gulp of air and relaxed a fraction. “There’s road construction and a traffic jam in three miles. The police alerted DDOT crew to get off the road and into their trucks. This perp’s going to have to slow down or crash. Stay close behind me.”

Nick turned his attention to his precious cargo in the backseat. “Arlene, we’re going to slow down and stop soon. My Kevlar vest is on the truck floor back there. Put it on. Now.”

Arlene, wide-eyed and shaking, undid her seat belt, hoisted the heavy bulletproof armor, and slipped her arms inthe holes. “I’m in.” Ella was in the car seat beside her, wide-eyed, gazing at the flashing lights speeding by.

“Good. When I stop the car, I want you to get Ella out of her car seat, set her on the floor, and cover her with your body. Do it quickly. The driver who kidnapped Liz already shot at a car. I want you and Ella protected. Got it?”

“Oh, dear Lord.” Arlene swiped tears from her cheeks and nodded. “You be safe out there, Nick. Get my girl back for me in one piece.”

“That’s the plan, Momma.” His brain rapid-fired scenarios, probabilities. But one thought arrested his attention for a millisecond.Was this pursuit the reason he’d passed two police cars and a fed SUV on Arlene’s street as he’d hurried out of the neighborhood? Had the feds realized Liz was in danger?

Traffic slowed to twenty miles an hour, then to ten. As far as Nick could see, the four lanes condensed into two like an army of ants on a detour. The police car veered left onto the shoulder and continued with lights and sirens. Nick veered toward the right a couple cars behind the sedan as the white blanket drifted like a kite across the trunk.

With no warning, the perp’s sedan jerked onto the shoulder and sped off. Nick floored it and pulled right behind them. In the distance, a guy took a leak at the guardrail. He glanced at the vehicles rushing toward him, dropped his pants, and dove over the barrier onto the grass.

A delivery truck made a quick swerve onto the shoulder in front of the sedan, causing it to screech to a halt. The perp reached out the window and fired a shot at the truck. Cars scrambled left to get away from the sedan; the cacophony of horns near deafening.

The truck driver ambled out of his cab. Nick threw hisvehicle into park and leaped out, waving at the driver. “Get back in the truck! Get back in the truck!”

The perp leaned out the window and shot the truck driver in the leg as he scrambled onto the running board. He buckled, screaming, and fell flat onto the blacktop.

The sedan darted left, but another swarm of cars blocked it thirty feet later.

A woman jumped out waving a gun, pointing it in a wide arc at different cars. Passengers screamed and ducked out of view.

Nick dragged the truck driver from the line of fire and advanced toward the woman threatening the traffic. He aimed his gun for a kill shot if necessary.

He spoke into his Bluetooth. “You with me, Lana?”

“On foot, left shoulder, twenty feet behind you. Cop got T-boned by a driver who didn’t yield.”

Nick grunted. The perp looked familiar. Different but similar. His stomach pitched when he locked eyes with her.The bar honey.

She pointed her gun at him. “Fancy meeting you here, Nick Flannery. It’s been a while.” She snorted loudly and smirked.

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