“Buckle up,” I commanded as I pointed at my ear and started the Porsche’s V-8.
“What’s going on?” Yates asked.
I pointed at my ear again.
“Next time, I get one of those too.”
I didn’t want to miss anything, so I put a finger to my lips.
After a second of silence, Lucas added, “What’s the problem?”
I pulled away from the curb, right after a minivan, and burned rubber, reversing course on the street. Jordy and Pete were at the house with Peyton. If they were in trouble, so was my girl.
Lucas tried again. “Jordy, say again... Pete, radio check.” With no answer, he made the call. “Zane and Winston, back to the house, max speed.” We were the two closest.
Since he’d said my name first, I responded first. “Roger that.”
Winston confirmed the order right after me.
“Jordy and Pete,” Lucas said slowly. “If you copy, single click.”
No response came, which made the silence sickening.
My stomach tightened as I took the first corner, tires squealing. I steered purposefully, alternating between full throttle and heavy braking, dodging around slower cars, my vision narrowing to the road ahead and obstacles. This Porsche was the real deal, a road beast, especially as Joe had set them up. My Ducati was possibly the only way to get there faster.
“What happened?” my passenger asked as he cinched his belt tight.
“They’re in trouble at the house and not answering.”
Yates shook his head. “Not good.”
I pressed the button to initiate a call. “Call Peyton,” I commanded as soon as I found a clear stretch.
“Calling Peyton, iPhone,” Siri responded through the car’s speakers. I clicked up the volume to be able to hear over the roar of the twin-turbo V-8.
The call went to voicemail. “Peyton, call me right away.” I hung up and retried the call with the same result.
“Be all right, Angel. Hold on, I’m on the way.”
“We’re on the way,” Yates corrected me. “Rangers lead the way.”
I nodded, grateful for the reminder that as polished as he looked now, at one point the man had been a Ranger and had gotten down and dirty in the same faraway deserts as I had.
“And I appreciate it.”
I pressed the accelerator all the way down as soon as I passed the next car.
Peyton
What the hellwas that explosion?
Jordy had fallen down, and as I watched, Pete stumbled in and fell as well.
Through the glass, I saw smoke fill the room. Rushing around the table, I headed for the door, but then I saw my worst nightmare.
A bald man was inside the house amid the smoke, wearing a gas mask.
Instantly, I ducked down below the windowsill.
