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Another round of terror clawed at the surface, and I took my eyes off the road, almost mesmerized by the light blinding me.
Get control. Get fucking control.
When my headlights flashed on a street sign, I prayed it would lead to a busier road. I slowed down by a few miles per hour while the truck behind me sped up. Shit. As soon as I made the hard turn, I thought he was going to blow past me, glancing quickly to find out.
The loud popping noise sounded like a cannon going off and I screamed, the truck immediately swerving back and forth erratically.
A gun. Someone was shooting at me.
The entire truck started to shudder, and I realized a tire had blown. Oh, God. I couldn’t help thinking that if I’d known I was going to die today, I would have worn matching underwear. A sick laugh popped from my mouth as I did everything I could to control the truck as it swerved and groaned.
As I pressed on the brakes, inertia pulled the truck the other way, flashes of light from behind me destroying my ability to see anything but vicious shadows threatening to swallow me up. Then one loomed so big that I covered my face with my hands a split second before I felt the horrible thud, the pull toward the windshield and heard the horrific crumple of metal.
Then everything stopped except for a loud hiss.
A strange feeling washed over me as if I was floating, allowing the same moment of peace to silently capture me in warmth. Then I heard another sound, a yell and I finally pulled free of the haze. What… Steam was rising from the hood, my headlights barely projecting any light. But the one behind me was constant. I had to get out.
Disoriented, I fought with the seatbelt, unable to budge it. No. I was trapped. Another round of panic settled in and I jerked at the belt, suddenly noticing a single flame. No. It was a mirage. It had to be. When I smelled gasoline, I let off a high-pitched scream.
The door on the other side was thrown open, someone large jumping into the cab. I couldn’t see them. I couldn’t think.
“No. No. No!” I threw one punch after another until I heard his voice.
“Stop, baby. It’s me. I got you.”
“Maverick?”
“I’m here. We need to get you out, okay? Let me get the seatbelt.” His voice was calm, comforting, but I sensed something was very wrong.
“It’s stuck. You can’t be here. You need to leave.”
He cupped my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. “You need to listen to me. We’re running out of time. The truck is on fire. Are you hurt?”
“No. I don’t think so.” I took several deep breaths.
“Good,” he murmured as he yanked on the seatbelt. “Shit. It’s stuck.”
“No.” My breathing was to the point of hyperventilating. I did what I could to remain calm as he pulled a switchblade from his pocket. I noticed smoke was billowing into the cab. I didn’t want to die. I refused to allow the bastard to win. “Please.”
“Hold on. Almost there.”
I managed to control my breathing and the second he cut the strap free, I told myself that I would live and I’d keep fighting.
“Okay, come on, baby.” He backed out, sliding me with him. When I was cradled in his arms, he took long strides away from the truck. “Goddamn it. Why were you running from me? Why? You almost got yourself killed. Do you know that? Do you have any idea what it would have done to me if you’d died trying to get away from me?”
His words were laced with fury, yet the headlights allowed me to see his concern, the anguish in his eyes.
“I was trying to keep you safe.”
“You were keeping me safe? That’s my job, lady. I’m getting you out of here.”
“What about my truck?”
“Oh, didn’t I tell you? I’m a rich man, filthy rich actually. I’ll buy you ten trucks, a thousand houses. Money means nothing to me unless I have someone special to share it with. You’re not getting away from me that easy.”
“Why? Why do you care so much?”
“Because you’re mine. Your caustic mouth, your gorgeous body, your rebellious attitude and everything else that comes with it. In case you haven’t figured it out. You belong to me.”
