“Good point. The truth?”
“Worth a try.” He stopped the car partly on the shoulder.
The cop parked behind them and climbed out of his car. Jax had the registration in hand before the cop started toward them,leaving the glove box hanging open. She closed it so he wouldn’t see the pistol tucked there. Jax slid the driver’s license from his wallet and eased his window down.
“Of course, we’re going to get a speeding ticket after fleeing armed gunmen.” She didn’t know whether to laugh or be annoyed.
The cop came into view by the back window.
She heard another vehicle, probably just someone driving on the highway. Or she thought so until the cop stopped by Jax’s window.
A second later, a black SUV slammed into him with a sickening thud.
The SUV blurred past, going way too fast. No time for anyone to avoid the intentional hit-and-run.
The cop slammed to the ground in front of their car, a ragged mess.
Kenna screamed, covering her mouth with her hands.
The SUV driver hit the brakes and swerved the car around in an arc, stopping with the driver’s side visible. Two windows lowered, and automatic weapons were pointed out at them.
Jax raised his window.
Muzzle flashes. The relentlesspop-popof rounds slamming into the car, rocking the vehicle.
Kenna ducked her head, but the armor held. The window caught bullets but didn’t shatter. The rounds barely made indents in the clear material, but the illusion of safety wouldn’t last.
She slid her phone from the cupholder and called 911.
“If we go, they’ll keep chasing us.”
Kenna said, “We can’t wait for Preston.” The call connected. “We need help! We’re being shot at, and one of your highway patrol officers is down! He was—” A lump clogged her throat, and she had to cough it out.
“Officers are en route.”
“If you have a helicopter, send it! And SWAT.” She had to breathe.My baby.“These people won’t stop until we’re dead.”
The phone fell from her hands.
Jax grabbed the gun from the glove compartment.
She grasped his elbow. “Don’t get out.” She didn’t want to be in the car all by herself. She also couldn’t stand to sit here, doing nothing to help, while he faced down armed men to keep her and the baby safe, risking his life for them.
“I could climb in the back, use the car for cover, and shoot them over the roof.”
“They should’ve installed turret guns with all the bells and whistles on this thing.” She had to distract herself somehow from thinking about the three men now approaching them.
Each man fired round after round at the body of the car. The windows. Any point of weakness they thought they could find, including the gas tank cover.
If one of them shot into the tank, would it ignite and explode?
Surely, there were safety measures in place.
Lord, help us.She needed the police to get here as quick as they could.Please don’t let us be too far out.She’d never prayed for the police to show at a scene as hard as she did just then.
And yet, part of her still wanted to be with Maizie and Zeyla, helping them. Or asking Preston to come here. But they couldn’t.
They would keep each other safe. She and Jax were on their own.
