Page 16 of Rescuing Erin

“A cow, huh?” Colin chuckled. “What made you think about all of this?”

“When you told me about all the time you’d spent overseas, and the holidays you’d missed with your family, and how there’d been times you couldn’t call your mom on her birthday. It hit me how self-absorbed I’ve been. Here I am bitching to you because I have to have a bodyguard and my daddy has an important job running the country and doesn’t have time to coddle me when I’m stomping my foot. Please tell me I haven’t been as bad as I think I’ve been.”

“I won’t lie, you’ve been . . . challenging.”

“I’m so embarrassed.”

“You shouldn’t be. I also recognize you’ve been through a lot in a short amount of time.”

“Doesn’t excuse my behavior.”

Man, I owed my parents an apology. Not to mention, some secret service agents. Poor Gerard probably thought I’d lost my ever-loving mind. As soon as this latest situation was over, I’d make things right.

“Fuck!” Colin shouted, interrupting my thoughts. “Hold on.”

But it was too late. My body jerked to the left, then the right, and Colin cursed again as he tried to regain control of the car.

Please, God, don’t let this be it.

Chapter 6

Some dipshit had rolled through a right turn without slowing. I saw it out of the corner of my eye seconds before he took out the passenger-side back panel. The impact was so jarring Erin’s head whipped left, then nearly smashed against the side window. I tightened my grip on the steering wheel and pulled left, barely avoiding careening into another vehicle. Fucking asshole thought he was a stunt driver on Tokyo Drift. I started to roll to a stop when, in my rearview mirror, I saw the car who’d hit us, maneuver around the cars in the intersection. The dick wasn’t slowing down—he was speeding up.

“Hold tight.” I hit the gas hard and quickly swerved back onto the road. “Grab my phone. I think it landed by your feet. My code to unlock is 0-7-3-0-1-9-9-8-0-0.”

“That’s too many numbers, Colin.” It took her a minute to find the phone, which had slid off the center console in the near accident. “I can’t remember all of that.”

I repeated the numbers to her while trying to think of the best route to lose the car behind us.

“What now?”

“Hit the phone icon and dial pound one. Put the call on speaker.”

She did as I asked, and ringing filled the car before Fletch answered.

“I have a silver Ford Taurus following us southbound on Cooper Road. No front plate, but the passenger-side bumper is fucked off from where he tried to run us off the road.”

“Shit. You have an evac plan?” he asked.

“I do. Just need a few favors.”

“Anything.”

“Go by my house and do a walk through. I’m certain everything is in the safe, but I’d like for you to double check.”

“Truck and I will head over there now.”

“Also call Zane, tell him to check the traffic cameras from the area. Cooper and Freedom Highway.”

“Anything else?”

“Yeah. Tell him, it’s always best to be honest.”

“Copy that. Be safe. Call if you need anything else.”

“Will do. Out.”

Fletch disconnected, and I glanced at Erin. Her hand shook as she held the phone, staring at a now blank screen.