by K. C. Lynn
When the lane clears, he moves up alongside of her again.
“Follow us,” I bellow, pointing ahead. “We’re getting onto the interstate after this light!”
At her nod, Cade speeds past her, blowing through the red light first. He lays on his horn to warn others.
Vehicles skid to a stop, swerving to avoid us.
Relief fills my chest when I look back and see Alissa makes it through untouched.
Once we get onto the interstate, Cade slows down, allowing her to catch up. She looks over at me, pleading for instruction. I gesture for her to keep right.
Traffic is steady but with rush hour fast approaching that will change. Cade throws his hazards on, his horn consistent as he tries to keep people out of our way.
“Have you tried your emergency brake?” I ask her, the noise of the highway making it harder to talk.
“Yes. It’s not working. I’ve tried everything,” she says, her voice panicked. “My foot isn’t even on the pedal.”
What the fuck?
Suspicion forms in my gut, mixing with the dread surging through me.
“I don’t know what to do. Should I crash it?”
“No!” Cade and I both yell at the same time.
“I don’t want to hurt anyone,” she cries.
“We’re going to get you out. Just hang tight.” I look over at Cade. “I need to get in the back of the truck. I’m not going to be able to pull her in from here.”
He nods, his hard eyes remaining on the road. “Once you have her, get down. I’m going to send the Jeep into the ditch.”
Angling my body out of the window, I prop myself up on the door then reach for the roll bar on the roof, gripping the metal tightly as I pull myself up. Harsh winds whip across my face, my eyes stinging against the force.
Before I’m able to maneuver myself into the box, Cade slams on his brakes, his horn cutting through the air. My fingers tighten on the bar, adrenaline pounding through my veins as my body thrashes back and forth.
“Christopher!” Alissa’s terrified scream barely penetrates the blood roaring in my ears.
Over my shoulder, I see a Mercedes in front of us. Instead of getting out of our way, Cade’s horn sends him into Alissa’s lane.
Shit!
Alissa’s eyes grow wide with terror.
“Pull out in front of us then get back in the lane,” I yell.
As she follows the order, I move quickly, maneuvering myself into the bed of the truck as Cade pulls up next to her again. My boots land with a hard thud and I grab hold of the metal bar once more, anchoring myself as I lean over the edge so she can hear me better.
“Take off your seatbelt,” I bellow. “When Cade gets me close enough, I want you to reach for my hand but keep the wheel steady. Don’t let go until I tell you to.”
She shakes her head, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“You can do this, Alissa. Don’t bail on me now.”
Pulling herself together, she unlatches her seatbelt.
The sound of sirens rings through the air. My head snaps to the side and I find two squad trucks flying up behind us. One of them Cooper and the other Logan.
Their quick approach has the other vehicles pulling over. They both speed ahead, spreading themselves across the other lanes to clear the road for us.
I bring my attention back to Alissa. “You ready?”
She hesitates, biting down on her lip nervously.
“I swear I have you. I won’t let you go.”
Everything falls away but the two of us, trust replacing the fear in her eyes.
Holding her gaze, I extend my hand to her. Tentatively, she reaches out but the gap between our fingers is still too far.
I dip my head down, looking at Cade in the side mirror. “Closer!”
The truck inches further into her lane. Alissa’s eyes shift to the road before coming back to mine. Our fingers skim but before I can grab hold of her, the Jeep swerves, grazing the truck’s side as she runs over a piece of tire tread left behind from an eighteen wheeler.
Screaming, she yanks her hand back to steady the wheel.
“It’s okay.”
She shakes her head, a sob tumbling past her lips. “This isn’t going to work.”
“Yes, it will.” My voice is stern, knowing we don’t have time for this. “Come on, Alissa. Grab hold of my hand and don’t let go.”
She reaches out again, searching for my hand while her attention remains on the road. The moment I make contact, I grab her wrist in a tight grip.
“Good girl. Don’t let go of the wheel yet,” I order. “On the count of three, when you feel me pull, I want you to let go and push off with your foot to help me. Okay?”
She nods, her blonde hair whipping across her frightened face.
“On three,” I remind her. “One. Two…” My fingers tighten on the metal bar. “Three!”
The same moment I pull, she pushes off. Her body slams into mine as I haul her into the bed of the truck with me.
I take her down quickly, covering her body. My muscles strain as I feel Cade make a hard turn into the Jeep. The sound of metal crunching upon metal fills the harsh wind around us. The air trapped in my chest begins to escape when I feel us slow down.
Alissa’s arms lock around my neck, her body racking with sobs.
“It’s okay. Everything’s okay now.” The lie is nothing but a soft murmur against her temple. Everything is far from okay and it isn’t going to be until I figure out what the hell just happened.
CHAPTER 13
Alissa
Cold.
All I feel is cold and numb. I don’t know how to process anything at the moment; especially how close I came to a fateful death just hours ago. One I narrowly escaped thanks to Christopher.
“Here’s some tea,” Faith says quietly, handing me a steaming black mug.
“Thanks.” My hands shake as I accept it, the warm aroma infiltrating my senses.
She takes her spot next to me on the couch again, her hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. Cade’s, Cooper’s, and Christopher’s low voices carry from the kitchen, Christopher’s angry tone overshadowing the others.
After our statements were taken, Christopher brought me back to his place. I’m so thankful he and Cade saw me when they did. I had no idea what to do. I was on the phone with 9-1-1 when they pulled up alongside me. The operator was kind but not helpful. Though, I suppose there wasn’t much she could do.
I still don’t understand how it happened. It was such a beautiful afternoon that I decided to take the top and doors off my Jeep for my drive to the university. The moment I pulled out of my parking space and onto the busy street, I could tell something wasn’t right. It felt…different. Then once I hit a certain speed, it was stuck. No brakes.
No control.
My insides twist painfully at the terrifying memory. My Jeep is less than a year old, a graduation gift from my father. I haven’t had any issues with it until now.
“Alissa!”
The sound of my father’s panicked voice yanks me from my tormented thoughts. Putting my mug down, I jump to my feet and turn just in time to see him swing open the screen door.
“Dad!” His name falls on a sob as I rush into his arms.
“Honey, are you all right?” he asks, hugging me close.
“I am now, thanks to Christopher.”
“What the hell happened?”
Looking up at him, I try to explain something that even I don’t understand. “I don’t know. It makes no sense. I had no brakes, no control over speed… Nothing.”
Fear washes over his expression, the same one that filled me only a short time ago.
“It’s totaled now,” I continue quietly. “I’m sorry, Dad. It was the only way.”
He pulls me back into his arms. “Don’t be. I don’t care about the damn Jeep. I only care about you. And the goddamn dealership is going to be hearing from me. They better be ready because they’re about to see
the biggest lawsuit of their lives.”
“Before you do that, let’s see what the inspection reveals first.”
At the sound of Cooper’s voice, I spin around to find him, Cade, and Christopher standing in the living room. My eyes lock with Christopher’s, that connection between us stronger than ever.
My dad approaches them, extending his hand to each man, leaving Christopher for last. “It looks like I owe you another thank you, but again that does not seem sufficient enough.”
“There’s no need to thank me. I’m just glad I was there.”
I smile at him, grateful for everything he’s risked for me.
Our exchange is interrupted at the sound of a car pulling up, screeching to a stop outside.
Christopher frowns, shooting a look Faith’s way. “Are you expecting someone?”
When she shakes her head, my dad clears his throat, his feet shifting beneath him. “It’s probably Helen.”
My eyes widen in disbelief. “You told Mom?”
“I’m sorry. She was going to find out sooner or later and you know how she is if she’s not the first to know. I didn’t want that on you.”
He’s right, but I am not ready to deal with her. I haven’t spoken to her or my stepfather since storming out of their house the other night.
Looks like there’s no avoiding it now, I think to myself as I hear her heels clicking up the front steps.
“Alissa? Alissa, are you here?” Her voice is frantic as she swings open the door without knocking. “Where is she?” she spits the question, but I’m not sure if it’s directed at my father or Christopher.
“I’m here, Mother.” I step out from behind the opened door before she can tear the place apart in her wrath.
“Oh, sweetheart,” she cries dramatically, forcing me into a hug. “I’ve been worried sick since your father’s phone call. Are you all right?”
Richard steps in behind her, his arm going around the both of us.
I return her hug briefly before pulling back. “I’m fine. Thanks to Christopher and Cade.”
Her eyes snap behind me, narrowing angrily. Instead of thanking Christopher like she should, she ignores him and starts in on my dad. “I told you that Jeep was a bad idea but you didn’t listen. They are one of the most unsafe vehicles out there. Everyone knows that. I’m—”
“That’s enough, Mother,” I snap, stopping her tirade. “This isn’t Dad’s fault. It was a freak accident.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Christopher cuts in.
“What do you mean?” I ask, confused by the suspicion in his tone. “It must have been a malfunction. Things like that happen.”
“Yeah, they do, but not to someone who was just kidnapped two weeks ago and held for ransom.”
I blink back at him, his suspicion rendering me speechless.
“What are you saying?” my father asks. “You think this was intentional?”
His response is a tight nod.
“That’s absurd,” my mother sputters. “No one wants to hurt Alissa.”
“It’s something we need to consider,” Cooper says, surprising me next. “I don’t want to rule out anything until I hear back from the inspector.” His attention travels to me. “Can you think of anyone who might have a grudge against you?”
I shake my head, my mind reeling at the thought. “No. I only just got back to town. I haven’t had a chance to connect with anyone yet.”
“What about back in Baltimore? Maybe an ex?” he asks.
My eyes swing to Christopher and I find him watching me, his fierce gaze burning into the cracks of my soul. “No,” I whisper. “There’s no one.”
“Zachary is a very nice young man,” my mother starts, her smug tone heating my blood. “He cared very deeply for Alissa and—”
“Give it a rest, Mother,” I chide, refusing to let her finish. “It was almost two years ago and lasted a couple of months. He’s also happily married now.”
Her lips press into a thin line as I call out her lie.
Dismissing her, I turn back to Cooper. “There’s no one I can think of that would want to hurt me. Much less want me dead.”
“Of course not.” My mother inserts herself back into the conversation. “I’m sure this is nothing more than a mechanical problem with a vehicle that everyone knows is unsafe.”
My fists clench and teeth grind at her dig to my father once again.
Thankfully, he ignores her. It’s something he has perfected over the years. “I suppose this does seem a little too coincidental,” he murmurs, thinking out loud. “When will we hear back from the inspector?”
“Within a few days,” Cooper answers. “Maybe sooner.”
“What do we do until then? How can I keep my daughter safe?”
“She’s coming home with us,” my mother says.
I’m about to jump in with a hell no but Christopher beats me to it. “Alissa isn’t going anywhere. She’s staying with me.”
My head jerks to the side, his intense eyes anchoring me to my spot.
“Absolutely not,” my mother returns, acting like she has a say.
Christopher pays her no attention and looks at my father. “She’s safe here. This entire property is rigged with security. No one can step foot on our land without us knowing. And even if they did, they would never get past Cade or me.”
His protectiveness has my heart swelling in my chest, but I can’t do that to him or his family. He’s already done so much for me.
“Well, I am more than okay with that suggestion,” my father says before I’m able to speak my thoughts.
“Are you crazy?” my mother shrieks. “She is not staying here.”
“That’s right,” Richard says, speaking up for the first time. “She will come home with us. I will hire the best protection for her.”
“You stay the hell out of this,” my father bellows, taking a step forward. “This is my daughter—”
“And mine,” my mother fires back.
“Everyone, just stop,” I cry, having enough. “This is not the time or place for family drama. Not once have any of you asked what I want. This is my life damn it, and you all are talking about me like I’m not even here.”
Faith moves next to me, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You’re right. This is your decision. Just know you are welcome here. You’re important to us, Alissa. You always have been.”
Warmth invades my chest and I give her a wobbly smile. “Thanks, Faith.”
“For all we know he’s the one who tampered with the vehicle,” my mother says snidely, pointing at Christopher.
I tense at the accusation, fury erupting inside of me.
“Christopher would never hurt her,” Faith says, sounding as appalled as I am that she would even suggest such a thing. “He saved her life, more than once I might add.”
She lifts her chin, indignation etched across her flawless face. “It’s probably some ploy to get her back. He’s trying to make himself look like the hero he’s not.”
A hurtful gasp barrels out of me.
She did not just say that.
“You, bitch!” Faith lunges for her but Cade is faster.
He leaps forward, grabbing her arm. “Easy, Red.”
“How dare you come into my home and insult my family!”
The pain in Faith’s angry voice fuels my own. “She’s right. This is low, even for you, Mother. You owe Christopher an apology, right now.”
“I’m just looking at this from all angles like everyone else. The sheriff doesn’t want to rule anything out, so why should I?”
I shake my head in disbelief, my body vibrating in anger. “Leave now!”
There’s so much more I want to say to her but I won’t. Not here. Not in front of everyone. I’m embarrassed enough.
“Come with us,” she pleads, her tone softening. “We will protect you.”
“No.”
“I’m worried about you, damn it! You’re my daughter.”
> “If you don’t leave now, you will no longer have a daughter.”
She flinches, pain sparking in her eyes. “You don’t mean that.”
“Yes, I do. You’ve gone too far this time. I don’t know what’s going to happen from here, but I do know I am not going anywhere with you.” I solidify my words by moving to stand next to my father.
He puts an arm around my shoulders, tucking me in close.
Betrayal twists her expression but I feel no remorse. She deserves so much more.
“Let’s go, Helen.” Richard tugs on her arm, his angry eyes narrowed on me. “You know where we are if you need us. Otherwise, we’ll be in touch.”
I feel like telling him that I’d never come to him for anything but I manage to bite my tongue. I’ve had all the drama I can take.
A sob flees from my mother as she storms out of the house. The moment the door slams shut, I release a shaky breath.
Energy depleted, I drop against the wall behind me. “I’m so sorry.” The apology pushes past my clogged throat, my stinging eyes shifting to Christopher. It’s meant for everyone but especially him.
“You don’t need to apologize,” he says, far more understanding than I deserve.
“Yes, I do. She was horrible.”
My father squeezes my shoulder in a comforting gesture. “Your mother’s actions are her own.”
Maybe, but it’s my fault Christopher has been subjected to her wrath. I’ve always known she can be nasty but for her to say those things, especially in front of him… And he just stood there, not fazed in the least. It was never a secret my mother didn’t approve of our relationship but she never voiced it around him…or did she? After what just happened, I’m starting to wonder. Did more happen in the past that I never knew about? The thought leaves me absolutely heartsick.
“What do you want to do?” my dad asks. “Do you want to come home with me? You know I’ll do whatever necessary to keep you safe.”
“I want you here with me, Alissa.” Christopher’s voice is strong and filled with determination.
“It wouldn’t be fair,” I whisper. “This isn’t your problem.”
“I’m making it my problem!”
“What about the rest of your family?” I ask. “If someone is out to hurt me, if this was done intentionally, I can’t put you all in danger.”