Page 43 of Peaks and Promises

Summer and Nate got out, and she hesitated, looking around before hurrying into the small convenience store.

I stood where I had a clear view of my surroundings while I pumped the gas. Cars drove by in a steady stream, and the heat pressed at me. We hadn’t even left town yet, and a knot of dread already sat in the pit of my stomach. For a moment, I considered whether I could get Summer settled in Tilikum without seeing my family. Maybe I could meet my mom privately, introduce her to Summer and Nate, then get out of the way.

But I knew that wouldn’t work. I couldn’t drop them off and fade into the background. My siblings wouldn’t let me get away with it.

Which meant I had to face my family. All of them.

Even my dad.

Summer and Nate came out carrying bottled water and snacks. I finished gassing up, and when I replaced the nozzle, the back of my neck prickled.

Turning, I did a quick scan of the road and surrounding parking lots. A second later, the roar of motorcycles grew.

Three bikes headed toward us.

“Get in,” I said, my voice sharp.

Summer and Nate hurried over to the SUV, and we all scrambled in. I turned on the engine and drove forward, but before I could get onto the street, one of the bikes made a quick turn into the gas station and stopped in front of me.

They’d seen Summer and Nate.

With a sneer, the biker revved his engine. The other two pulled in behind me, blocking my way out.

Summer looked out the back window. “Um…”

My eyes flicked around, and I calculated our best options. I was tempted to drive forward and run the guy over, but a hit-and-run would mean running from both Mayhem and law enforcement. Not ideal.

There was a wide strip of weed-choked rocks between the gas pumps and the curb. Cranking the wheel, I hit the gas and cut across, bumping over the curb and onto the street.

The bikers swung around and followed.

I was heading in the wrong direction, but I wasn’t worried about that. First things first—I needed to lose the three idiots behind us.

“They’re following,” Summer said.

“Yep.”

“You’re very calm.”

I shrugged. “It’s not like anyone’s shooting at us.”

“Why do I feel like you’d still be calm?”

Without replying, I took a left. The bikers stayed on our tail.

“Are they going to shoot at us?” Nate asked. I couldn’t tell if his tone was laced with fear or fascination.

“They better not,” I said.

Summer twisted in her seat. “Nate, maybe you should get down.”

His forehead creased with worry as he leaned over across the bench seat.

“Don’t worry, chief,” I said. “I’ll lose them.”

I wasn’t sure how, exactly. But I’d figure it out. Half my job was making things up on the fly. And sometimes people were shooting at me while I did it. This wasn’t bad. Just annoying.

“But the windows really are bulletproof, right?” he asked.