Page 46 of Penalty Kill

The light went green and I drove, nearly making it to the other side of the intersection when I noticed a car turn out, cutting off the red car behind me. Their wheels screeched and dread washed over me.

“There’s a third car now. A blue SUV.”

“The officer is about two minutes away.”

I swallowed and tightened my grip on the wheel. That was too far away. The station was even farther than that, though. I had no choice but to keep going. I checked on the boys and they were singing and laughing at each other. Good. The last thing I wanted was for them to be scared.

A black car seemed to appear out of nowhere, a huge camera aimed at us, as it cut off the SUV. I nearly cried out when it almost hit us.

“There’s another one. A black car.” My heart was racing and it took everything in me not to panic. I wanted to pull over and wait for the police to catch up, but that would give these predators more opportunity.

“Ma’am, try to remain calm. The officer is at nine hundred south. He should be able to intercept in a moment.”

That was only a block behind me, but the light had just turned red. If he didn’t go through with his lights and siren, we were just getting farther away.

I watched in my rearview mirror as the four cars grew more aggressive, swerving back and forth across the lanes to block each other. I relayed that to the operator. “They’re getting closer and closer to my car.”

The light turned yellow in front of me and I accelerated, hoping to lose them. The light went red, but they all came through the intersection with me.

“You’re close to the station now. Just remain calm.”

“I can see it. Just a couple more lights.”

We were almost there. So close. I tightened my grip and sighed when the next light turned green so I didn’t have to stop. I checked again, and the cars were still cutting each other off.

“Sydney!” Milo screamed behind me. I looked to my right and saw a white SUV heading straight for us with another camera out. I slammed on the brakes just in time for it to crash into me.

* * *

“Ma’am, can you hear me?” Light flashed in my eyes for a split second, then darkness.

“Normal dilation.”

Something tightened around my neck, but I couldn’t move. My entire body hurt in a way I’d never felt before.

What happened?

I heard crying, and somewhere deep in my mind I knew I should be concerned. Who was crying?

“Finn?” I tried to speak, but it came out like a wheeze.

“We have the boys,” a voice said near me. I tried to open my eyes, but it was impossible.

The crying continued. Milo was asking for me. I could hear his little voice wobble. I needed to go to him. Tell him everything was okay.

“Ma’am, we need you to relax. You were in an accident.”

“Boys,” I croaked out.

“They’re okay. Just a scrape on one and possibly whiplash with the other. They’re going to be just fine.”

That's what I needed to know. “Brandon.”

“Who’s Brandon?”

“Call Brandon.” I was barely able to get the words out before the pain took over and everything faded to black.

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