Page 45 of Peaks and Promises

I went for it.

The tires hit the tracks, and we bounced hard. My eyes flicked to the side. The train was unnervingly close.

We crossed to the other side of the tracks, and not a second later, the train raced by, whirring behind us.

I let out a breath and rolled my shoulders.

Summer turned to me, her eyes flashing with fury. “You almost killed us.”

“I didn’t.”

“You could have.”

“I wouldn’t have gone if we weren’t going to make it.”

“That was amazing,” Nate said, his voice filled with awe.

She reached over and smacked my arm.

“What was that for?”

“Racing a train with my son in the car.”

“Fine. Next time bikers are following us, you can drive.”

She huffed.

There were more warehouses on the other side, and I had to drive alongside the tracks until I found an opening in the fence that would fit my SUV. But we’d left the bikers behind. The cargo train was probably two miles long. We’d be well out of sight by the time they found a way around.

I kept to back roads until I could get on the highway going north. The dread in the pit of my stomach was back. Not because of Mayhem. I knew they’d try to find us. I didn’t expect to get away that easily. And I’d deal with them when the time came.

But every mile we drove brought me closer to Tilikum. And to the reunion I’d been avoiding for almost twenty years.

CHAPTER 11

Summer

My eyes were heavy, but I’d never been able to sleep much in a car. I leaned my head back against the seat and watched the dark landscape pass, wondering when Reese was going to stop for the night.

He seemed unaffected by the long hours on the road. Whenever I glanced at him, his eyes were open, his posture alert but relaxed. I’d offered to drive several times, but he’d assured me he was fine.

Nate had passed out in the back hours ago. I envied his ability to sleep just about anywhere.

The train seemed to have successfully thwarted Axel’s attempt to follow us. We hadn’t seen any sign of him since. Hopefully that meant he had no idea we’d left town, and we’d be long gone by the time he realized he’d lost us.

Was there any chance he wouldn’t follow eventually? I doubted it, but it was a nice idea to hold on to.

Reese’s deep voice broke the silence. “There’s a motel not far ahead.”

“Good.” I shifted in my seat, but comfort was long gone. “I could use a few hours of sleep.”

“We’re making good time. Even with the bathroom stops.”

I glanced back at Nate. “He’s almost the size of an adult, but he still has the bladder of a little kid.”

Reese cracked a smile. “He’s fine. If you gotta go, you gotta go.”

“I’m just glad he’s sleeping. Otherwise he’d be a grumpasaurus tomorrow.”