“Because this is an all-out war.” The sentiment was the truth, whether Alexander wanted to believe it or not. There were a few other vehicles on the road even though we were still fifty miles outside the New Orleans city limits, the town of Covington ten miles away.
I veered around two cars, forced to move into the oncoming lane. With a truck barreling toward us, the driver honked the horn and I barely made it back into my lane before it passed.
The chase continued, taking us all the way through Covington and toward a road parallel to the Bayou, the landscape full of bald cypress and sweet gum trees. Even though the morning light had infused the horizon with vivid colors of tangerine and fuchsia, shadows encroached the roadway creating an ominous feel.
We were both holding our breath while the truck behind us sped up after passing several vehicles.
“They’re gaining on us.” Her words of warning did nothing but increase the tension.
“I guess they need to learn some manners.” I picked up additional speed, constantly glancing into the rearview mirror. While I had no doubt I would eventually lose the bastards behind us, what I didn’t count on was another vehicle heading in our direction who’d been assigned to the game.
“Fuck. Hang tight, baby.” How many times would I need to say the same words? How many times would I need her to place her faith in me?
And how many goddamn times would I need to put up with this shit?
I grabbed my weapon and rolled down the window, refusing to back down. The fuckers weren’t going to win.
Everything happened quickly but felt as if in suspended animation.
Fleur’s wail of despair.
The lurch of the Blazer as I slammed on my brakes.
A flash of headlights just before I fired off several shots at the oncoming vehicle.
A brutal thud as the truck from behind rammed into us.
And the stunning, mind-blowing launch of the vehicle in front, spiraling in the air toward the bayou.
Somehow, through it all, I managed to keep control of the Blazer, swerving right and left, slamming on the brakes. With a harsh spin, I even managed to fire off a single shot toward the truck. I thought I had it all under control until the back end fishtailed, and we were skidding toward the trees on the other side of the road.
At the same time, the driver of the truck swerved to avoid the backend of the other vehicle, running off the road as he did.
Without thinking, I threw my arm across Fleur’s chest, gritting my teeth as I braced for impact.
One more hard jerk of the wheel kept us from a direct hit, the body slam to the back passenger side still jarring as fuck.
Tick. Tock.
A horn.
A man’s agonizing wail that had nothing to do with the rollover of a vehicle.
A sticking horn.
Every sound jarred me from a daze, pulling me completely conscious.
We had no air bags, and I immediately felt the trickle of something warm on my face. Blinking, the taste of copper filled my mouth, but I didn’t give a shit. Jerking up, I twisted so I could see Fleur.
She opened her eyes, several small whimpers more comforting that I would have ever thought.
“Fleur. Are you okay?”
“Uh-huh.” She reached for me, very slowly able to turn her head. “We’re alive.”
“Yeah, we’re alive,” I snarled as I struggled with the seatbelt. As soon as I ripped it free, I twisted around. One of the men from the truck was climbing out through the wreckage. “We’re going to stay that way. I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t die on me.” Her eyes were open wide, her mouth twisted as she studied my face.
