Page 251 of Promise Not to Fall for the Rich & Famous

Ellie peered at the car behind them, heart racing as the lights flashed wildly. A siren sounded out a short, warning bleep.

“Were you speeding?” Wade asked.

“Barely.”

Wade jostled Wyatt. “Wake up, man, we’re getting pulled over.”

“Is your registration up to date?” Nash asked, slowing slightly but still not pulling over.

“Of course,” Wade said.

“Well…should I pull over or not?” Nash’s voice was tenser now.

“Not under circumstances like this,” Wyatt said, already lifting his phone to his ear. “Keep going. I’m calling 9-1-1 to verify it’s a cop.”

“Aren’t you supposed to at least pull over first?” Wade asked, his gaze darting from Wyatt to Ellie.

Ellie shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“This guy literally came out of nowhere,” Nash insisted.

“Well, maybe you have a taillight out. Or a headlight,” Wade said. “Thelastthing we need is for you to get arrested.”

Wyatt shushed them and began stating his first and last name, which meant a dispatcher had already picked up the call. He went on to answer a few questions, what interstate theywere on, where they were—somewhere between Texas and New Mexico, heading toward Denver.

Thank heavens; hopefully, they’d have an answer soon. But something told Ellie they may not get the answer they were looking for. She’d welcome a highway patrol officer about now. At least that was someone interested in serving and protecting.

“I’m calling Rem,” Wade announced. “I’m scared they’re going to shoot out a tire or something.” Soon, Wade was repeating the details Wyatt just shared with the dispatcher.

Nash’s foot grew heavier on the gas. “What doyouthink I should do?”

Ellie tried to think rationally, but panic was getting the best of her, causing her breaths to come short and fast. She shook her head, ears ringing, chest aching, mind racing toward one terrifying direction.

She’d heard of people impersonating officers before. What if it wasn’t an officer trying to pull them over? What if they were the people Wolf had warned them about? What if they’d been following her all along?

But Ellie already knew that wasn’t possible. They’d driven miles upon miles without so much as another car in sight. Still, she couldn’t ignore the terrifying fate she’d face if she fell into the wrong hands.

“I don’t think you should pull over yet either,” she finally said, knowing it was risky to keep going. She tried to peer into the vehicle behind them. It looked like there were two people up front. Was that normal?

The siren sounded again, more than just a blip. This time, it rang out full blast—a whining, whaling loop as the lights flashed on.

“Yes, that’s them,” Wyatt said. “They’re sounding the siren now. Can you verify that it’s someone in law enforcement before we pull over?”

Wade spoke up next. “Rem’s looking into it too.”

Nash cursed under his breath and lifted his foot off the gas the slightest bit. “Maybe Wade’s right. But if it’s really a cop, he should be able to send for backup, right?”

Ellie managed a nod, not fully sure what she was agreeing to. She wasn’t all there anymore.

“Until backup comes,” Nash declared, “I’m going to keep going.” He committed to that by speeding up once more.

Ellie’s head went light. The tips of her fingers grew prickly and numb at the same time— like an appendage falling asleep.I’m going to pass out.She didn’t want to say it out loud, but she could definitely feel herself slipping.

“No?” Wyatt blurted from the backseat, pulling Ellie back to consciousness enough to analyze his response. He sounded surprised.

“They don’t think it’s any of their officers,” Wyatt said, “but they have a few more to rule out. Keep going.”

Ellie sucked in a deep breath. She had to breathe, to tell herself it would be okay, but what if it wasn’t?