“Oh no you don’t.” She floored the accelerator.
Racing along this slick highway had to be a bad idea. But the Sequoia increased speed too, keeping up. Almost.
Jo didn’t like taking the switchbacks at a high rate of speed, and she slowed just a little so she wouldn’t lose control and slide right off the road. That could very well be what they wanted—for Jo’s inadequate response to get her killed.
She was on the ride of her life.
Her cell went crazy. It had to be Cole. Like she could answer at this moment, when she was in the battle of the big SUVs. She had to focus completely on the road and react to whatever else the Sequoia might do.
She wasn’t going to play into their hands and lose control of the vehicle, or her thoughts. Jo breathed in and out slowly, hoping that would reduce the shaking in her hands, feed her brain oxygen so she could think. She had no plansto outpace the Sequoia now, even though they were still in position to force her off the road in the event that she didn’t lose control and go on her own.
Oncoming traffic forced the other vehicle to slow down and move into the westbound lane behind her again. Though she was still in imminent danger, that took a little pressure off so she could think.
“Hey, Siri. Call 911!” She couldn’t just assume that Cole had made the call. Help couldn’t arrive fast enough, so for now she was on her own unless Cole figured out a way to stop this. He’d said he would handle any threats, but she would work this as if she were on her own.
Siri made the call. Jo focused on the road while she waited for someone to answer, then her call dropped. Of course! She should have answered Cole’s call via Siri, but she had been focused one hundred percent on not going off the cliff and into the water.
“You have a text message from Cole Mercer. Do you want to hear it?” Siri asked.
“Yes!” Jo hadn’t meant to shout at the digital assistant.
Siri read the message. “Slow down. Don’t do anything out of the ordinary. I’ve got this.”
Whatever you say.
Jo instructed Siri to call 911 again. Dispatch answered immediately, and Jo explained the situation and her location.
“Someone has already called in this incident, and units are on the way,” the man said.
“What should I do? Keep driving? They’re going to force me off the road and off the ridge.”
“Remain calm. If you’re able to get somewhere safe, do that. Keep your doors locked.”
Best advice she’d ever heard, but not anything useful. “Somewhere safe? Are you serious?”
“Ma’am, please remain calm.”
“I’m going to end the call now so I can focus on staying safe.”
She cut the dispatcher off to tell Siri to end the call. Jo pulled in a few breaths. Up ahead was a severe drop into the strait. She had no intention of landing in the water again after her experience earlier in the day. Against her better judgment, but trusting Cole to take it from here, she turned off onto the pullout right before the most dangerous section of the road, fully expecting the harassing vehicle to follow her. But she would let Cole take care of them.
The SUV sped past her on the road, surprising her. Relief blew through her as she watched the vehicle heading west.
Cole’s vehicle slid across the gravel, coming to a stop, and he jumped out and ran to her. Lights flashing and sirens screaming, a county sheriff’s vehicle sped past them, giving chase to the Sequoia. Another county vehicle pulled in behind Cole’s Yukon.
His expression taut, Cole yanked the door open to reach for her and Jo slid right into his arms. He squeezed her tight until she thought she would suffocate. Shaking, she clung to him too. She might never let him go.
Thatwas close,much too close. Just like earlier today. Justlike back in Michigan. God,what is going on?
And now, clinging to him, she realized that she was much too close in another way. Cole...
I missed you.
Jo had to pull herself together. She tried to step away, but she was trapped by the Land Rover at her back.
Cole wouldn’t let go, but he held her at arm’s length, his intense gaze searching, taking her in. “Are you all right?”
No! I’m notall right.But yes, she was alive. She wasn’t injured. Still, the words wouldn’t come, so all she could do was nod. Gravel crunched, and she peered around Cole at the approaching deputy. Cole’s lips pursed into a seriousline, and his eyes turned dark with anger—at whatever this was. She got that. Fury surged through her as well, now that she could shake off the pure terror.
