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Chapter Fourteen

“Why do we always end up traveling along this section when it’s dark and creepy?”

Foster smiled. Mac had been staring into the darkness for the past five minutes. Ever since they’d turned onto the long winding road up to his place. And he hadn’t missed the way she’d scoured the tree line. Likely looking for a glimpse of Voss amidst the foliage.

He winked at her. “Luck?”

“You’re hilarious.”

“Greer regained consciousness. We had to alter our plans and pay her a visit. Especially since I put her in the crosshairs. And no, you explaining, again, how she would have gone digging regardless won’t make me feel less responsible.

I’m just not sure if her temporary amnesia regarding that day is a blessing or a curse. ”

“I’d call it a win, for now. Because I have no doubt she’ll be out hunting Carrington and likely Voss once she remembers even a fraction of that night.”

“Chase might have something to say about that. He takes the whole medic thing pretty seriously.”

“I think he’s taking Greer pretty seriously. Was it just me or did he look like a love-sick puppy?”

“It wasn’t just you. I think…” He let his voice trail off when headlights appeared behind them, following along for a few moments before winking out.

Mac nudged his arm. “Foster?”

“There’s a Sig in a lockbox under your seat. Code is one-seven-two-four.”

Mac’s eyes widened, then she was shuffling until she had the box open and the weapon in her hands. “What’s going on?”

“Not sure, yet, but there were headlights behind us, then they vanished.” He glanced at her. “There aren’t any dirt roads back there, so where did they go?”

She looked out the rear window, scanning the area. “I suppose they could have pulled off onto the shoulder, but it’s really narrow. If they waited a minute, it opens up.”

“Right where Chase and Zain went off the road.”

“You think it’s Voss?”

“I think we can’t be too careful.” He nodded at the gun. “Are you okay handling that if it comes down to it?”

Mac huffed. “I said Sigs weren’t my preferred weapon, not that I can’t use one.”

“Good, because I’m not sure it would be wise to stop and change… shit.”

Foster dodged his vehicle to the left when a white truck barreled around the corner, crossing over the white line and flashing on their headlights in what was likely an attempt to blind him.

But he was already sliding across the slick grass, fishtailing back onto the road a moment before he would have clipped a tree.

What would have either stopped them dead or rolled them over.

Mac was tracking the truck as it spun around behind them, those headlights reflecting off his mirrors. Foster hit the gas, taking the next curve faster than he should, keeping the truck on the road by letting the back end skid around the corner.

Unbuckling, Mac opened her window and leaned out, aiming down the road. “Hold it steady, and I’ll see if I can hit something important.”

“We’ve only got a few seconds of straight road.”

She didn’t even flinch, nearly falling out when he had to swerve out of the way of another oncoming car. He grabbed her sweatshirt, holding her secure as she fired off a round the moment the other car was gone.

The truck veered one way, bouncing along the rough shoulder before finally steering back onto the road.

Foster glanced at his mirrors, still holding Mac’s sweatshirt. “Do you have a death wish? You nearly fell.”

“I knew you’d grab me.”

“That makes one of us.” He skidded around another corner, getting way too close to the edge. “Did you hit anything important?”

“Left tire, but the bastard must have run flats. I can try and land a few in the grill?—”

“Or you can get your ass back in the seat, and we can try another approach.” He pointed to a spot on the nav screen. “There’s an old two track around here. We can veer off and try to put enough distance between us I can spin this baby, and we can deal with this issue head on.”

“You want to play chicken with this asshole on a deactivated dirt road?”

“Whatever it takes so I can have a chat with our friend. Though, if you’ve got any better ideas…”

She grunted then buckled up, his Sig still at the ready.

Foster followed the pavement, going as fast as possible without tipping them over when the old track appeared on his left side.

He didn’t even slow, just took the gravel road going insanely fast. The suspension creaked and groaned as the truck bucked along the path, tossing everything not belted down scattering across the interior.

Mac didn’t complain, focusing on the rear. She tapped him as they went around a bend. “He just reached the gravel, but it looked as if that tire I clipped wasn’t playing as nice on the dirt. That might be our advantage.”

“Then, let’s see how far we can push it.”

Foster slowed enough to pop the transmission into four-wheel drive, eating up the mud as he followed the overgrown trail. Stones flew out the side, some pinging off the undercarriage as he kept the speed up, taking the corners fast and tight.

He was starting to wonder if they’d run out of useable road when Mac tapped his thigh.

“He’s gone, Foster.”

That’s all Foster needed to spin his truck and turn off the headlights, leaving them sitting there in utter darkness. The overcast sky blocking any hint of star shine.

Mac remained vigilant beside him — gun at the ready as the road brightened a moment before the truck bumped around the corner. Foster punched the gas, then hit the lights, setting off the white Toyota in sharp relief as he quickly ate up the distance between them.

He didn’t know if Striker was driving, but the figure veered off the path, careening down a small incline before bouncing to a stop, the tires spinning against the mud.

Foster hit the brakes with every intention of racing down the hill before Voss could react — hopefully ending everything right there — when an SUV bounced around the corner.

What looked like the same shaped headlights he’d originally noticed behind him.

Someone leaned out the window, an assault rifle aimed their way.

Foster hit the gas, narrowly missing the SUV when it sped past, a barrage of bullets striking his truck.

He reached for Mac and shoved her head below the dash, somehow keeping the truck racing along the track without hitting a tree or getting stuck in the mud on the side.

Those lights appeared behind him, but they faded a few moments later, nothing but dark forest staring back at him.

He waited until he’d reached the paved road and fishtailed onto it before easing up on Mac. She arched a brow once she could look at him.

He sighed. “I didn’t want you to get hit.”

“And I’m touched, but it would have been hard to counter whoever fired at us when I can’t see to shoot.”

“You not getting shot is a hell of a lot more important than throwing a few bullets their way.” He glanced in his rearview, still heading toward home. “I could call Kash and we could go on the offensive.”

Mac scoffed. “Call me crazy, but I doubt even your rifle is a match to that AR-15. Now, if I had my chopper…”

“Easy there, Airwolf . Sadly, I’m certain we’ll get another chance.

Though, I’m not sure what they hoped to achieve.

” Which was what concerned him the most. Eliminating Greer, Chase and Zain had made sense.

Especially if Voss wasn’t sure how much she’d already shared.

But this felt more random. Or was it desperate?

Mac stared out the back before shaking her head. “You’re worried they’re escalating.”

“I don’t like putting the people I care about in the crosshairs.”

“Not to kick you while you’re down, but we were already there. And maybe Voss, or whoever that was, just wanted to scare you. They didn’t fire until one of them was at risk of being caught.”

“Let’s hope that’s the case.”

He glanced in the rearview, again, as he shook out his right hand. But even after he’d parked in front of the house, the road was deserted behind him.

Mac met him behind his truck. “I suppose this means more patrols tonight.”

“At least, we’ve got backup.” He frowned at the couple bullet holes in his quarter panel. “I doubt they can buff that out.”

“I think it gives the truck character.”

He shook his head, taking her hand as she grabbed the food. They carried it into the kitchen, looking over at Kash and Zain when they ambled in.

Foster gave them a twirl of his finger. “Did you guys clear the perimeter or should I go check?”

Zain gave Foster that death stare Mac had talked about in the hospital. “You did not just ask me if the property was clear when my paranoia level far exceeds yours.”

Foster held up his hand. “Sorry. My adrenaline’s still a bit high.” He gave them a rundown of the day’s events, ending with the chase.

Zain all but growled, fisting one of the napkins as he placed his burger back on the plate. “I’m really starting to hate this guy.”

Kash gave Zain a slap on the back, avoiding his left side. “I’m pretty sure you’re way past hate and well on your way to plotting revenge.”

“He tried to murder Chase and Greer and make it look like an accident. Hell, we’re pretty sure he actually murdered Foster’s parents. We need to end this. Preferably with me looking down my scope.”

“You’re in no condition to use your sniper rifle.” Kash arched a brow. “Unless you were hoping to mess up both shoulders?”

Zain pouted, picking at his fries as the room fell into a heavy silence. Nyx paced back and forth across the room, seemingly sensing the ever-growing restlessness

Foster pushed his half-eaten burger aside. “As much as I hate the thought, we should definitely up our security tonight. Mac and I’ll take first watch. One of you jackasses can spell us off.”

“I can handle security.” Zain tapped his chest. “All night.”