Page 62 of Baja
Like it or not, Lily is right.
Family isn’t what it’s supposed to be.
It’s what it is.
Sometimes it’s messy.
Sometimes, it’s complicated.
And sometimes, it’s worth fighting for.
The moment between us doesn’t feel heavy, but we still sit silently, the air charged with unspoken words, both holding back things we need to say. Our connection feels fragile, as if it could shatter if we push the issue too hard.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spot an SUV trailing us accelerate, its front grille almost kissing the rear of my vehicle before it suddenly pulls back, creating a brief moment of relief. An uneasy knot forms in my stomach as I realize it’s been shadowing us for nearly a mile now. I shift in my seat, feeling the leather creak beneath me. A prickling awareness surges through me, my senses sharpening to a higher degree as the rhythmic thrum of the engine reverberates in my bones. With each passing second, a deep sense of dread washes over me.
This is far beyond merely dealing with a hotheaded asshole consumed by road rage.
This shit is personal.
“Is everything okay?” Lily asks, glancing at me sideways.
“Yeah,” I lie through clenched teeth, my pulse hammering in my ears as I steal glances between the asphalt and the rearview mirror. The black SUV is back, creeping closer. Panic thrums in my veins, and I grip the steering wheel tighter. “Shit,” I mutter.
“What is it?” Lily’s voice pitches higher, a thread of panic weaving through it.
“You need to stay calm.” I keep my tone firm and steady despite my insides coiling.
The car behind us surges forward, ramming into the bumper with a bone-jarring thud.
Lily screams, clutching her belly as her body jerks forward against the seatbelt. “Oh my God!” she cries out. “What’s happening?”
I stay silent, my eyes locked on the road. In the rearview mirror, I watch the car drifting into the other lane and creeping up alongside us. Then, the driver jerks the wheel violently, crashing into us hard, nearly sending us off the road.
“Fuck! Hang on!” I shout, gripping the wheel tightly as I swerve to keep the car steady. With one hand on the wheel, I pull my phone from my pocket, quickly dialing Salem’s number.
He answers quickly, “Talk to me.”
“Got trouble, Prez,” I shout, the edge in my voice sharp and noticeable.
“Where?”
“Highway, not far from the clubhouse.” The car speeds up again, and I notice the passenger window rolling down.
That’s when I see it…
… the glint of metal.
I drop the phone.
“Get down!” I roar as the shot rings out.
The sound is deafening, and the impact is immediate. Pain explodes across my ribcage, white, hot, and blinding. And for a second, I can’t breathe. I slip my hand beneath my cut, already knowing that the bullet tore through the steel door and into my body. I pull my hand away, slick with blood.
Lily screams, her voice piercing through the haze. “Nash! You’re hit!”
“I’m fine,” I lie and shove the panic down. I’m still breathing, and that’s all that matters right now. I hone in on my surroundings as I slam down on the accelerator. The tires screech in protest as I veer off the asphalt and onto an extremely narrow dirt trail, one I’m familiar with that winds its way through the thick woods, and I hope like hell the black SUV won’t be able to follow us down this bumpy path.
The small rental car jolts violently, each bump sending a shudder through the frame as dust and gravel explode in our wake, swirling in a cloud behind us. Tree limbs reach out, striking the windshield with sharp cracks, adding to the chaos.
