A white car pulled into the side of the gas station.Annie gasped, seeing the Washington State badge on the driver's door panel.Grabbing Leigh's hand, she tugged her sister down below the dash, hidden from view.The vehicle looked exactly like the one Jason drove for work.
The moment the patrol car parked, Annie's stomach dropped.She grabbed Leigh's arm and pulled her down in the seat.Her sister's eyes widened in shock, and she froze, her body trembling.
She squeezed her sister's arm, unable to reassure her that it wasn't Jason.It was another law enforcement officer.All they had to do was hide out of sight.
Leigh was petrified, but Annie's fear wasn't for herself — it was for Hunter.Jason was chasing Hunter to catch up with them.
He was inside paying for gas.If he came out the door, he'd walk straight into the officer without realizing it.She had to warn him.
Annie peeked out the back window.Baddy was off his motorcycle crossing the lot, his stride quick, his eyes locked on the truck.Relief flickered through her chest.She squeezed Leigh's hand."Baddy will help us," she whispered, unlocking the door.
Hunter's MC brother slid into the driver's seat, his presence filling the cab."Everything's gonna be okay," he said, voice low but steady.
Annie leaned forward."Go warn Hunter."
Baddy shook his head."Can't.He made me swear on the patch.No matter what happens, I'll stay with you."
But she saw the flicker of pain in his eyes when Hunter stepped out of the store.She looked at the patrol car.The officer was twenty feet away.
Annie's breath caught.
"Run," she whispered, though she knew Hunter couldn't hear her.He couldn't hear anything.Screaming his name would do no good except bring attention to Leigh.And she couldn't risk her sister.
The policeman shouted, ordering Hunter to stop, his voice sharp and commanding enough to be heard inside the truck with the windows closed.Hunter kept walking.Oh, God, he couldn't hear him.He wasn't aware that the officer was coming for him.
Panic filled her, and she sat up higher, trying to warn him.Annie's chest tightened, her nails digging into her palms.
Baddy started the truck, the engine rumbling to life."Motherfucker."
Annie leaned forward, eyes locked on Hunter.She couldn't look away.
The moment the truck rolled forward, Hunter stopped, frowning through the window at her.She motioned widely.He turned, saw the cop, and raised his hands.
Annie's heart slammed against her ribs."What is he going to do with Hunter?"
Baddy drove on, pulling them away."God damnit."
"We can't leave him there."She scrambled in her seat, twisting to look out the back window."He doesn't understand.This is our fault, not his.All he was doing was trying to help us."
Her breath froze in her throat as the officer lifted his pistol out of its holder and aimed at Hunter as the truck turned the corner, and she lost sight of him.
Annie pressed her hand to her mouth, her chest aching.She couldn't breathe.It wasn't right that they were leaving him.
Hunter was alone.
"Stop."She scrambled all the way onto the seat."Let me out."
"No."Baddy turned left and kept going."I need to find a place to pull over where we can't be found and call Prez.He'll know what to do to help Hunter."
Annie looked left and right, anticipating that at any moment Jason would show up out of nowhere and stop them.Her sister remained huddled on the floor of the truck, well below the windows.
"It'll be okay, sis," she mumbled, automatically.
"This is all my fault."Leigh rolled tighter into a ball."He'll kill him."
"Nobody is killing anyone."Baddy pulled over and slammed on the brakes.
"His gun."She felt along the seat and touched the cold metal."He left it here."
