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Another roar erupted. Cole glanced in the rearview mirror in time to see the headlights zooming close. His heart rate spiked as he instinctively understood the other driver’s intentions. He was going to hit them. “Hold on, Olivia.”
Metal crunched as the vehicles collided, and his head hit the back of the seat. The tires slid against the wet asphalt and then caught. A horn blared. Olivia screamed as headlights from an oncoming vehicle flooded their truck. Cole swiftly maneuvered back into the correct lane, his heart racing. A moving van whizzed past them.
Close. Too close. The SUV hadn’t made full impact with their vehicle, but a high-speed chase threatened too many lives. Theirs. Innocent civilians. Cole racked his brain for an escape route, but couldn’t figure out one that would work. He glanced in the rearview mirror. The SUV lingered behind them. As if the driver was considering his next move.
The rain picked up, battering against the windshield. Cole knew he should slow down, but couldn’t. His arm was now completely numb. Blood gushed from the wound, coating his skin and his hand. The frigid air rushing in through the back window blew Olivia’s hair around her face. Her eyes were wide and her fingers clutched the cross bracelet at her wrist. Terrified. She was terrified. Cole wanted to comfort her, but another roar from the truck behind them jerked his attention back to the danger at hand.
He was going to hit them again. Cole slammed on the accelerator, and the SUV kissed their bumper. Then the driver zoomed into the next lane. His engine revved. Glass shattered as a bullet busted through the extended cab’s side window. The stalker was shooting at him. Cole grimaced and tightened his hold on the steering wheel. A thump, thump came from the tire. Shoot. They had a flat.
A bend in the road preceded a small bridge over a creek. There was only one option. He eased off the gas and let the SUV edge closer. Timing was everything.
Wait for it… wait…. He glanced at Olivia. “Brace yourself. Bend over and cover your head with your hands.”
She gave a sharp nod and then did as instructed. Trust emanated from that simple action. It added fuel to Cole’s already raging protective instincts. He wouldn’t let anyone harm her. He’d die first. God, please let this work.
Cole glanced at the side-view mirror. Another bullet pinged off the metal. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel. Almost there… a bit more… He eased off the gas again and the SUV’s bumper was nearly at the driver’s side door.
Without warning, Cole hit the brakes. Smoke rose from the tires as the truck went from 90 miles an hour to almost nothing. They hydroplaned on the wet road while the SUV zoomed ahead. The driver tried to take the turn at the bridge but failed. The SUV veered toward the ditch and then hit a tree.
Any relief was short-lived. The steering wheel shuddered under Cole’s hand. A tire exploded under the force of his emergency brake maneuver and they fishtailed uncontrollably. The truck went into a spin. Cole desperately pumped the brakes to regain control, but it was no use. Trees whirled and then they were tumbling off the road.
Metal screeched and glass shattered as the truck tumbled off a small embankment. Cole’s head smashed against the side panel. Pain erupted and spots danced across his vision. The seat belt gripped him like a vise. He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. Objects from the cup holders and the side pockets flew around him. Agony screamed through his body as his gunshot wound was jostled violently.
The truck came to a shuddering stop. Cole blinked, wondering if he’d passed out momentarily. The dots in his vision wouldn’t fade. He tried to suck in a breath, but only managed a wheeze. “Olivia.” Panic rose in his chest when she didn’t answer. He twisted his head to look at her, his neck protesting even that slight movement. Her seat was empty. “Olivia!”
“I’m here.” She appeared at his broken window. Cole couldn’t make out her features in the dark, but a second later, his door swung open. By some miracle, it still worked. Then her hands were touching him. “You passed out. I found the first aid kit under my seat. You’ve been shot.”
“I know.” He blinked to clear his vision, even as he reached for her. “Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine, just bruises.”
Her face swam in front of him. Cole could barely make out the faint scratches on her cheek. Her hair was damp from the rain. She undid the top buttons on his shirt and then the sound of a package being ripped open preceded white-hot pain as she pressed a bandage to his gunshot wound. He couldn’t feel anything past his shoulder. His fingers were completely numb. Darkness threatened to take him back under, but Cole fought against it. “We can’t stay here. We’re sitting ducks.”
She tensed. “You think he’ll come after us? But he was in an accident. I saw it.”
So did Cole, but the SUV had a strong grill on the front of it. The accident probably amounted to little more than a fender bender. Every second counted. The man could be headed their way right now, armed and ready to take Olivia by any means necessary. “Do you know where your cell phone is? Or mine?”
“My cell was crushed in the accident and doesn’t work. I haven’t seen yours.”
It’d been in the cup holder before the accident and could be anywhere in the vehicle. They didn’t have time to hunt for it. Cole fumbled with his seat belt, finally finding the release. “We have to move.” Backup was on the way, since Olivia had called Eli before the accident, but it would take them time to get there.
“Wait, you’ve lost a lot of blood.”
She opened another bandage and then quickly looped it over and around his shoulder to help slow the bleeding. The pain from his wounds, and the adrenaline running through his veins, heightened all his senses. Her touch was efficient but gentle, and when she was done, Olivia brushed her mouth against his. A light kiss, softer than the rain pattering against the leaves of the tree, but the emotion behind it was enough to send Cole’s heart racing all over again.
“Susan and her husband have a vacation rental nearby.” Olivia lowered herself to the ground. “This time of year, no one occupies it. We can hide there until help arrives.”
Cole gritted his teeth and climbed out of the wrecked truck. He swayed, his vision once again swimming. Bile rose in the back of his throat. “If I pass out, keep moving.”
“I won’t do that, so you’d better not pass out.” Olivia looped his good arm around her shoulders. “Lean on me.”
Together, they made their way to the tree line. Cole paused, glancing over his shoulder. The rain and his blurred vision prevented him from seeing the road, but Olivia’s sharp inhale told him everything. The stalker was coming. Hunting them.
Hunting her.
“Keep moving,” Cole ordered. He focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Leaves crunched under his boots. The rain soaked his hair and dropped water down the back of his collar. Icy wind rustled the tree leaves. He hoped the weather shrouded their movements. At some point, he stopped. Listened. It didn’t sound like anyone was following them, but he couldn’t be sure.
Cole leaned against a tree and used his left hand to unhook the button on his holster. He couldn’t slide the weapon out due to the awkward angle. Olivia, obviously understanding his intention, removed the gun and handed it to him. Wordlessly, he took it. He’d never shot using his left hand, probably couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn, but having hold of the weapon instantly made him feel more secure.
