Page 14 of One Wrong Move

“Not at all.” In fact, she did the same. Warm wind whistled through the Bronco, fluffing wisps of hair from her intricately woven bun.

“Tad filled me in on my ride into town,” Christian explained.

“And?”

“He knows who took the fob.”

“Great. Who is it?”

Christian tapped the wheel. “That’s the problem, he doesn’t know.”

She frowned. “I don’t follow.”

“Tad went home with a woman from a gala he hosted last night.He met her at the end of the night. She’s not local. They were both three sheets to the wind. They went to his place. They...” He tilted his head. “Gracefully sidestepping that one. Several hours later, he woke, and the woman and the fob were gone.”

“He doesn’t know the woman he went home with? I realize, not the point to focus on, but ewww.”

“Agreed. We’ll have to question the rest of the gala guests. See if someone there knew her. I highly doubt some unknown person just waltzed into town, happened to be dressed for an art gala, and randomly ended up with Tad.”

“So, you’re thinking she was part of the heist plans?”

Christian tapped his nose. Adorable as it was. Seriously! What was up with her? Of course, she noticed handsome men, but only in a passing glance. Christian was sticking in her mind, and that was not acceptable. “You think she set Tad up?”

“Absolutely. She played him.”

“Played him?” she asked.

“Like in a con...” His gaze flashed to the rearview mirror, and she turned, this time seeing a white SUV barreling down the winding road behind them. “Hold on.”

The pulsing of unrestrained fear seared her limbs as she braced for impact. This wasn’t happening.

“Hang on to the roll bar!” Christian hollered.

She scrambled to curl her fingers around the silver bar overhead.

Christian gunned the gas, but it made no difference. The SUV rammed into the rear driver-side door, the collision whipping Andi’s head forward, her body jarring, pain radiating down her legs.

They rocked to a stop, mere inches from the guardrail but still on the pavement.

Christian looked over, his gaze slipping over her. “You okay? Are you hurt?”

“I’m okay,” she started, and then her eyes widened as a white flash of movement swept across the back window. “He’s backing up!”

Christian revved the engine. The Bronco lurched forward, butthe SUV rammed into the rear, thrusting them skidding sideways, the odor of burning rubber and burning brakes filling her nostrils as the SUV plowed them into the guardrail.

He hit the gas, but the wheels just spun out. “Come on.” He pumped the gas, the wheels kicking up smoke, but he couldn’t gain traction.

The SUV backed up and came barreling at them again.

Without thinking, Andi reached over and took his hand. He intertwined his fingers with hers. The SUV collided, whipping them sideways, crashing them over the guardrail.

A scream burst from her throat as the ground dipped away.

Please,Lord. I’m not ready to die. But if it’smy time,fly me home to you.

They landed with a slamming lurch. She opened her eyes and looked at Christian—confusion passing between them.

He ever-so-carefully moved toward the window, looking out. His shoulders drooped on an exhale. “We landed on a ledge.”

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