“O aeroporto fica logo à frente, senhor.”
The airport is just ahead, sir.
I’d done my best over the years to hone my instincts and learn to follow them. Without emotions. Without being judgmental. Just blocking out everything for the split second needed before making what could be the wrong decision.
Not in this case. The car was small enough I was able to see him reaching under his seat. That’s the moment I snapped, allowing my gut to take over. A split second later, I had the barrel of the weapon pressed against the back of his head.
“Você vai dar a volta e nos levar para o outro lado.”
You’re going to turn around and take us the other way.
I already knew he wouldn’t, but I was offering time. His entire body stiffened, but he didn’t act as if he would comply.
“If you don’t, I will pull the trigger.”
The flash of his eyes in the rearview mirror was a clear indication he knew English. The information was something I’d store in the back of my mind for later. Right now, I had to deal with terminating his life while still keeping us safe.
Especially since he pressed down on the accelerator. Shooting the fucker wasn’t in our best interest. He would crash andpotentially kill us and at this point, I had no doubt I needed his vehicle.
“Resisti, tesoro.”
Hold on, baby.
Reaching over, I tried to get control of the steering wheel, but the man was stronger than I’d believed. We both struggled and as we did, the car started to weave back and forth across the road.
“Look out!” Emmeline yelled.
“I’m trying.” I managed to prevent the bastard from getting into a head-on collision. But not by much.
“You need to watch where you’re going. You also need to get his weapon before he does.”
The discord in her tone was fucking amusing. I had no idea how I could find any of this remotely amusing.
She was suddenly climbing over the headrest of the passenger seat, slithering down as if she’d done the move before.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I barked.
The driver figured out what was happening, daring to let go of my arm where he was fighting me to keep from getting control so he could grab her thigh.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” She was quick with her knife, driving the blade through his hand into the seat.
“Argh!” The man’s scream was sharp, far too loud for the confined space. I’d be damned if her actions weren’t effective as hell.
Next on her agenda was wrenching his weapon from under the seat, jerking back when she heard a volley of horns.
I jerked the steering wheel just before we clipped the side of a truck. We’d already gone way past the airport.
“Fuck,” I hissed.
The asshole was still moaning in pain.
“Shut up!” both Emmeline and I yelled at the same time.
After shoving the weapon into the pocket of the jacket she’d worn, she threw me a look. “Just hold it steady while I hit the brakes. Do you think you can do that?”
“Fuck you,” the driver hissed. There was an accent I hadn’t detected before. Where the hell was he from?
My answer obviously didn’t come fast enough.
