Dean and the rest cheer until Drac breaks it up. “I have a guy from the manufacturer on the line. He’s going to walk us through the disabling process. There’s a display in front of you. Punch the manual tab.”
Rolling her eyes, Charlie grabs the mic. “Jesus God Almighty. You think I didn’t try already? We’re locked out.”
“Unplug the panel from the dash.”
“I tried that, too. Who is this bozo helping you?”
The dead silence isn’t what I would call encouraging. I feel like I called tech support and got the offshore rep who asks if I tried rebooting.
“Where are the master electronics?” I expected him to say beneath my seat, or in the sleeping compartment.
Instead, he says, “Under the hood.”
“Fuck.” Dean echoes my sentiment. “Hang on babe, the State Police are going to close the highway and put down spikes.”
“What if the semi turns over?”
Nobody answers.
Chapter 25
Dean
While Amish buggies, horses, and farmland race by, Bluetooth sends O’Brien’s voiceboomingthrough the stolen Beemer’s speakers. “We’ve closed the road. Spikes deployed. Without tires, the truck will have to stop.”
I never should’ve let her board the freaking deathtrap. “Babe, talk to me. Are you there?” Her cellphone at my ear, I wait until she finishes talking to Drac.
When they’re done, she snickers. “Me and Charlie jumped out and stopped for a burger, fries, and a shake.”
“Excellent. Save some for me.” Lordy, I’m so proud of her, my chest puffs out. Ophelia’s one hell of a brave woman.
“If you two would shut up for a minute, you might like to know I’ve managed to slow the damn truck down.” To others, Drac may sound pissed off, but I can tell he’s smiling.
The women in the cab cheer, and O’Brien jumps onto the airwaves. “Tighten your seat belts and if you have cushions, put them between you and the dash. Aim the steering wheel uphill on impact if you can. You have two minutes.”
“Good copy. Over.” After my lover responds, we drive by a roadblock.
Picturing videos I’ve seen of wobbling eighteen wheelers, I pray the radioactive components in the back are secure.
Overhead a helicopter hovers and a female voice counts down.
Adrian, who hasn’t said a word for miles, clears his throat. “Bro, you need to add more braking distance from the semi.”
Like hell I will. “Copy that, Mom.”
Now, it’s only me behind an out of control truck and the dotted white line.
“Three… Two… One…”
Pop-pop-pop. Excruciatingly loud explosions make my ears ring. As chunks of rubber thunk down on my windshield, I slam on my brakes and spin the wheel toward the meridian.
Meanwhile, the truck’s momentum moves it forward on its rims. Sparks fly, the cab tilts and hangs in the air. A heartbeat later, it lands upright, plows into a hill, and fucking stops.
Ignoring the helicopter about to land, I hop out and sprint to the cab’s open door. Charlie jumps out first, followed by Sky. I hug them both then drag my woman to my mouth.
Once we unlock lips, I cup her gorgeous cheeks and capture those brown eyes. “Lia, swear to me you’ll never, ever, do anything so foolish again.”
She holds up three fingers. “Under no circumstances, will I jump on an AI-controlled truck with nuclear missiles.”
