Page 33 of Fatal Thrill

The report was so loud, Jaya slapped her hands over her ears as she hunkered down and prayed for God to save her friends. To save her unbornchild.

She felt the rental’s back end slide toward the other car, felt the impact, and there was another volley of gunshots. Was Jon shooting? Was the person in the othervehicle?

How could anyone drive this road and shoot at the same time? And why in the hell was someone shooting atthem?

Finn. Dad.The cross. First, they’d kidnapped Finn, then blown up her van, nowthis?

It didn’t make sense, but it had to all be tiedtogether.

Jon’s big body bent over hers, his weight pressing down, flattening her. Every cell in her body welcomed it and she gripped his coathard.

Hang on,baby.

She wasn’t sure if she was telling that to Jon or the child in her belly, but it didn’t matter. She neededboth.

Jon yelled at Colton to do a 180 and Jaya thought,oh hell no, right before Colton yanked the handbrake and they wentspinning.

For a terrifying moment, she felt suspended with only Jon’s body keeping her from floating away, and then there was another jarring impact and everything came to an abruptstop.

Heartbeat pounding in her ears, it took several moments for Jaya’s brain to catch up to the sensations in her body. Her hands refused to let go of Jon’scoat.

“They’re gone,” she heard Shelby say on a sharp exhale. “They went over thecliff.”

“The cliff?” Jaya cried. “Into thewater?”

“Who the fuck was that?” Colton’s voice sounded faraway.

The words rang in the car or maybe Jaya’s ears were just buzzing from the adrenaline overload. She felt Jon’s hands on her, sliding over her head, neck, andarms.

“Are you okay?” he asked, raising her up so they were face to face. In the dim light, she saw a trickle of blood running down his jaw from a cut on histemple.

Reaching out, she touched the blood, the sudden enormity of the moment washing over her. Her stomach flippedand…

Five…

Jaya knocked Jon’s hands away, climbing onto the seat, broken glass crunching under her butt and cutting right through herjeans.

Four…

She grabbed the door handle, yanking on it hard, but it didn’t goanywhere.

Three…

She shoved her shoulder into the door, but it had caved in from the abuse the other car had givenit.

Two…

“I need to get out!” she yelled atJon.

But really, it was already toolate.

Understanding lit his face, but instead of moving away from her, he movedin.

His arms went around her and he hugged her tight. What was hedoing?

She shoved at him, but he held her tight, refusing to let go. Next thing, she was in his lap and he kicked at thedoor.

The jammed door flew open, metal and glass spraying everywhere. Jon slid across the seat and hauled Jaya out, setting her gently on her feet, his hands holding her by thehips.