Page 91 of Sheltering You

Michael said, “What are you⁠—?”

“Quiet!”

Again, Michael fell silent, though it had to be killing him.

Her voice shook. “I can’t do it.”

“Think about it, Jazz. Why was he taking you? Why you?”

He only gave her a moment to ponder that, but he’d already worked it out.

Dari shouldn’t care about getting Jasmine. He should have left her. Why risk it?

The thugs could’ve taken Rabie and been gone. Jasmine had been the one slowing them down, putting up a fight.

“You want him to catch you?” Derrick asked. “There are obviously more of them than us. We’re outmanned and outgunned. And I’m injured. This is our shot. Can you do it or not? Because if you can’t…” Then he had no idea what to do.

“I will. I will do it.”

Derrick twisted. The headlights glowed. “Gun it. Go as fast as you dare. I’ll tell you when the road is coming. As soon as you’re turned around, flip the lights off. You see where the dial is, on the dash on your left?”

A pause, then, “Yes.”

“Okay. Whenever you’re ready.”

She floored the accelerator, and the headlights behind faded.

He watched the map. “Coming up… About ten seconds.”

“I see it.” She took her foot off the gas, then shouted, “Hold on!”

Like some sort of stunt-car driver, she barely braked before she whipped the car into a tire-squealing turn, using the narrow—too narrow—road to give her a little bit more space.

The car bumped off the road, slid.

For a split second, Derrick was sure they were going to crash and die.

And then, she straightened the wheel.

He was already lowering his window, calling, “Lights!”

They went out.

“Rabie, on the floor. As soon as you see them, Jazz, hit the gas and get as low as you can.” Derrick leaned out the window.

Headlights glowed up ahead, and then the SUV came around a bend.

Derrick aimed at the front passenger tire and fired.

The SUV jerked toward the narrow shoulder.

Jasmine hit the gas.

“Duck!”

The rear window was going down. Derrick aimed that way and fired, then shot out the rear left tire. He aimed at the gas tank and squeezed the trigger again, but the gun clicked.

He stifled a curse, shouted, “Go, go!”