Page 30 of Rafe’s Future

“Rafe?” Lena squeezed her eyes shut to avoid seeing the worst.

The other car sped toward them, showing no signs of slowing down or moving out of his way. But just when Rafe was beginning to think he’d made a mistake that could cost them their lives⁠—

A sharp, high-pitched howling came from the approaching vehicle as it jerked out of their path at the last possible second. Using his mirrors, Rafe watched as the black car’s passenger-side tires hit the graveled shoulder before the driver wrenched his way back onto the road.

Making the same move as before, Rafe spun them back around. The other car once again came into full view as he and Lena came to a sudden stop. They watched in silence as it returned to the pavement. Its front bumper made a sharp left, and the vehicle immediately started to drift.

All four tires skidded sideways along the highway, sending a large cloud of smoke into the air. Despite the driver’s obvious efforts to the contrary, it kept sliding for several yards. Its wheels eventually dropped off the pavement to the opposite shoulder, and that’s when the black sedan started to roll.

Over and over again, its metal frame viciously tore into the adjacent field. Dirt and pieces of debris flew out in every direction. Seconds later, the car came to a stop.

It landed upright. Steam escaped in a rising cloud from beneath its crushed hood. Rafe sped forward, pulling off onto the shoulder before putting his car into park.

“Holy crap.” Lena breathed heavily as they both unbuckled their seatbelts. Reaching back, she pulled free the holstered pistol she’d kept concealed.

Rafe retrieved his Glock, his eyes never leaving the wreckage. So far, there were no signs of life, but that wasn’t a guarantee that the driver was dead.

“You good?” He spared a few seconds to check on his temporary partner.

“Yeah.” She nodded. “I’m fine. You?”

“I’ll be better once we figure out who he is.” Rafe motioned toward the unmoving driver. “Come on.” He pushed open his door. “Stay sharp, just in case.”

“I was about to tell you the same thing.” Lena exited the car on her side.

Gravel crunched beneath their boots as they approached the offending vehicle with their weapons drawn. Their footfalls grew softer when they breached the edge of the thick grass.

From their current vantage point, they could see the driver’s slumped form through his shattered window. Fresh blood smeared the deflated airbag that had deployed.

With one hand, Rafe silently motioned for Lena to go around to the passenger side. He watched the man behind the wheel with a highly trained eye. Ready to catch even the slightest of movements, they inched closer.

When he was close enough, Rafe reached a hand inside, pressing his fingers to the side of the guy’s neck. His pulse was slow and a bit thready, but there, nonetheless.

“He’s alive.” Rafe looked at Lena from over the dented hood. “Cover me.” He holstered his weapon and unbuckled the unconscious man’s seatbelt.

“What are you going to do?”

“Take him with us.” Metal screeched as he used one foot as leverage to force open the door.

The driver’s left arm fell limp, and he started to fall out but Rafe caught him just in time. Hooking his forearms beneath the guy’s pits, he began to pull. A few grunts and groans later, their would-be attacker was free.

“You got anything we can use to secure him?” Lena looked his way.

He nodded, hoisting the bleeding man over one shoulder, carrying him like a giant sack of potatoes. Lena stayed close, her fingers still curled around the butt of her gun as they walked.

When they reached Rafe’s car, they secured the man’s wrists and ankles with a set of military-grade cable ties. Once he was bound, they worked together to place his limp form into the otherwise empty trunk.

“What about the car?” Lena asked as they buckled themselves in, and Rafe fired up the engine.

He grabbed his phone and sent a secured text before putting the car in gear and taking off in the opposite direction of his house.

“It’s taken care of.”

“By whom?”

Rafe spared her a sideways glimpse as he drove down the road. “I’ve kept in contact with a former clean-up crew from back in the day. They’re officially retired now but still take the odd job on the side. They’re quick, thorough, and trustworthy.”

Lena blew out a calming breath as she settled into her seat. Thumbing toward the back, she asked, “So where are we taking him?”