No moon. No stars. Just the thick canopy of trees blocking out any light, and Hudson's hand gripping mine so tight it almost hurt.
"Get in," he said, yanking open the passenger door. "Stay low."
I did as he said, sliding into the seat and ducking down while he rounded the hood and got behind the wheel. The engine roared to life, and we were moving before I'd even gotten my seatbelt on.
"How far away is he?" I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.
"Reeves said twenty minutes, maybe less." Hudson's eyes were locked on the dark road ahead, his hands tight on the wheel."FBI's in pursuit, but Lang knows these back roads. He grew up around here."
Of course he did. Of course the dirty cop trying to kill me had home-field advantage.
"What's the plan?"
"We get to the main highway. From there, it's a straight shot to the city. We'll meet the FBI escort and get you to the courthouse."
"And if Lang catches up to us before then?"
Hudson's jaw tightened. "He won't."
The cabin disappeared behind us as we tore down the narrow dirt road, gravel spraying beneath the tires. I gripped the door handle, my heart hammering against my ribs, watching the trees blur past in the darkness.
Every shadow looked like a threat. Every curve in the road felt like an ambush waiting to happen.
One more night, I told myself. Just survive one more night.
We'd been driving for maybe five minutes when Hudson's phone buzzed. He answered it on speaker, not taking his eyes off the road.
"Talk to me, Reeves."
"He slipped the FBI." Reeves's voice was clipped, urgent. "Lost them about two miles from your position. Last known heading was southeast. He's circling around to cut you off."
"Shit." Hudson's foot pressed harder on the gas. "What about the highway?"
"Santos is holding position at the junction. If Lang tries to intercept there, he'll have backup. But if he gets to you before that?"
"Understood." Hudson ended the call and reached across the console, squeezing my thigh. "It's going to be okay."
"You keep saying that."
"Because I keep meaning it."
I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to believe that we were going to make it through this, that Lang wasn't going to succeed, that I was going to live long enough to testify and watch him rot in prison.
But the fear was a living thing inside me, clawing at my chest, making it hard to breathe.
The headlights appeared out of nowhere.
One second the road behind us was dark; the next, twin beams of light were cutting through the blackness, closing the distance with terrifying speed.
"Hudson!"
"I see him."
He floored it, and I was thrown back against the seat as the car surged forward. The engine screamed in protest, but Hudson pushed it harder, taking the curves faster than should've been safe.
The headlights stayed with us. Getting closer.
"He's gaining," I said, my voice pitched high with panic.
