The curve opened up into a straight stretch of highway, bordered on both sides by thick forest. Dean floored it, and for a moment we pulled ahead. The engine whined in protest, but the old truck had more in it than I’d thought.
The SUV accelerated too, gaining ground.
I braced myself. Then Dean slammed on the brakes and twisted the wheel.
I lurched forward against my seatbelt, my healing collarbonescreaming in pain. The SUV shot past us. For a split second, I saw the masked face turn toward us.
Then the driver over-corrected. Swerved. The SUV left the road, and its right front bumper smashed into a tree with a sickening crunch of metal and breaking glass.
Smoke began rising from the crumpled hood.
“Should we—” I started.
“No,” Dean said firmly. “We’re getting out of here.”
He accelerated, and we raced ahead, leaving the wreck behind us.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Dean
I kept drivinguntil I was sure no one else was following us, then pulled off where I had several miles of view.
Keira was still breathing hard in the passenger seat, her right hand gripping the dashboard while her left was cradled against her in its sling. Her expression was dazed.
I pushed my hair back from my face and unbuckled my seatbelt. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” She took a deep breath, clearly trying to steady herself. “Yeah, I’m okay. That was some driving.”
“Lots of practice on icy mountain roads. Are you sure you’re not hurt? You didn’t hit your head? Let me see your eyes.”
She narrowed her dark brown eyes at me. “Dean, I’m fine.”
Everything inside me had gone quiet while I was trying to keep us alive and get us out of there, but now emotion started to creep back. Anger that blurred my vision. Fear that something could’ve happened to her.
I had to touch her.
I reached out, smoothing my hand down her cheek. As if Iwere making sure I hadn’t truly lost her this time. And to my surprise, Keira reached back. She grabbed my arm and tucked her face against my shoulder. She was shaking.
My lips pressed to her hairline, and I inhaled the scent of gardenias.
Longing made my stomach swoop.
“The mask on the driver?” I asked, barely keeping my voice steady. “Was it definitely the same?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“We should probably call this in to the sheriff’s department. Second time they’ve tried to go after you. They could’ve killed you.”
She lifted her head. “Killedus. But we already know these people are careful. Owen’s investigation hasn’t gone anywhere, and it seems like Phelan is basically untouchable. By the time the sheriff gets a car to that crash site, the driver and any trace of evidence will be gone. No. We’re doing this ourselves. We wanted to provoke a reaction, and we did.”
“But are you still up for this?” I asked.
She scoffed. “Of course I am. Are you? Or are you going to drop me off at home and make the decision for both of us? Take off and leave me behind again?”
I didn’t like the thought of continuing to put her in danger. But we’d both known the risks.
“No.”
