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“How many people do you want me to run over?” Damon teased, but immediately moved around a couple of vehicles, taking a sharp right turn.

We both noticed the car made the same turn.

He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, waiting until the vehicle was only two lengths back before crossing over and taking a sharp left.

Horns blasted from every direction and he barely managed to get through the intersection without being T-boned.

Somehow, the driver also made the turn, almost causing a wreck in the process.

“Hang on, kids. Keep your seatbelts on and your heads inside the ride,” Damon snickered and shifted the gear into fifth just as he hit the entrance to the expressway.

“Who do you think it is, federal agents?” she asked, more nervous than before.

“I doubt it,” he answered. “You’re working with the Feds?”

“Not on purpose.” I pulled the weapon into my hand. “Don’t let them get close enough to see your plates.”

“Oh, hell, buddy. We’ve been out of touch for far too long. I have several different plates.” He swerved around several cars, picking up speed as he did.

I kept my eye on the mirror, noticing they were getting closer. “Do you think you can pick up the speed? Maybe try and lose them? I think you’ve lost your touch.”

“You should know better than to throw that shit at me. Like I said, keep your seatbelts on.” He pressed down on the accelerator again, forced to swerve around several vehicles given the dense traffic. “I’m taking a short cut.”

He zipped into the high occupancy lane, making better time.

“The asshole is still following.” I unfastened my seatbelt, turning so I could pay closer attention. With it getting dark, it was more difficult to be sure, but as soon as the car following us had weaved around several other vehicles, even riding the shoulder, I knew for certain.

“Stay down,” I told her.

“This could get a little dicey,” Damon chimed in, and it was clear to see he was enjoying the hell out of this.

“You always did like a good chase. That’s what I remember about you the most.” I checked the ammunition.

The fuckers were getting closer. If they’d been Feds, they’d have used their lights by now.

This was all about Alfaro. That much I knew for certain.

She wasn’t safe. What the fuck was I going to do now?

“Let’s do a Hail Mary.” He was laughing as he hit the gas once again, weaving back and forth as horns blared and people skidded. “Let’s see if the bastards can follow us now.” He rolled off the HOV onto an exit at a high rate of speed.

“Are we dead yet?” I barked, watching as the assholes following us nearly collided with an SUV before spinning in a full three hundred and sixty degrees.

“Very funny. I’m a damn good driver. Do this all the time.” He was forced to hit the brakes hard as he rolled to a stoplight. “Various countries too.”

I watched the entire time, waiting. When I noticed headlights, I was forced to use my gut. “Find some place to pull off.”

“Already on it,” he said, gunning it through the green light.

“Who are these guys?” she asked and gripped the back of my seat.

“Someone who wants you and your stories erased. That will happen over my dead body.”

And I meant it too.

Damon roared through another intersection, taking a quick right and going behind a gas station. Then he rolled to the other side, keeping the engine idling while we waited. With the area well lit, we’d soon learn if the fuckers had managed to follow us.

“Where are we?” she asked.

“Don’t worry. I’ll get you to my house,” he told her. “It’s where the hell I’m taking you after we have a nice long chat over Chinese food that’s the issue. You can’t go back to that hotel.”

“Obviously not. I’ll figure that out,” I said, half laughing.

We sat still, watching the road in front of us.

Five minutes passed.

Ten.

“I think we’re safe,” Damon stated as he looked at me.

Safe wasn’t a word I’d use at this point. “Just be cautious.”

“Always, man.” He pulled out, heading further away from the city. “We’ll be at my house in ten minutes.”

Charmaine sat back as I thought about what we were dealing with just as a flash caught my attention. Headlights were suddenly only feet way, the car heading directly for us.

“Watch out!”

Damon immediately reacted, slamming his foot on the accelerator, barely avoiding the collision.

Charmaine screamed.

“Get down.” I opened the window, both my hands wrapped around the weapon, and stuck my head and shoulders out.

Pop! Pop!

I managed two shots before the Humvee spun at an angle.

“Hold on,” he said. “We’re in for another round.”

As he headed directly for the vehicle, I hung out the window, taking my time before taking the shot.

The hit was smack in the middle of the windshield on the driver’s side. I must have injured the asshole, but he kept coming.

Pop! Pop!

Whoever was in the passenger seat fired off two shots, one pinging off the Humvee.

“Well, shit,” Damon said, now weaving back and forth as the car behind us picked up speed.

Twisting my body, I fired off another single bullet, hissing when I missed. “Slow the fuck down.”

Damon listened, gearing down until the vehicle was upon us. Instead of firing again, the fucker tried to pull alongside.

“Great. He’s trying to ram us.”

With my teeth gritted, I steadied my arm, taking a single shot. There was no doubt this time I’d hit the driver.

As the car started to swerve, Damon picked up speed again.

“And our friend is losing control. Nice shot.” Damon laughed and smacked his hand on the steering wheel. “I missed the hell out of this.”

I slunk back into the seat. “Are you okay?” I asked her.

“I’m fine. Jesus Christ,” she moaned, shifting to a sitting position.

“Stay down, Char.”

In the side mirror, I noticed the car behind us was spinning out. When it veered off, crashing into a tree, I exhaled.

Until I heard a single bullet hitting the back glass.

And shattering it.

“Charmaine. Charmaine!”