Chapter 3 #2
Matteo slowed, giving us a bigger gap between our SUVs.
I hoped like crazy he was far enough back—and that what I was about to do wouldn’t hurt him.
I slammed on the brakes, jerking the wheel toward the car boxing me in, and hit it hard enough to force space between us.
The impact jarred my shoulder, but it bought me a breath.
I had not planned on playing bumper cars on the Glen Jackson Bridge with people actively trying to kill me today. But here I was.
The driver, ticked and out for blood now, slammed into me with such force that my teeth rattled.
“Are you close?” I yelled, sweat running down my face despite the air conditioner blasting cold air.
“I’m coming.”
I heard his engine roar through the phone. A heartbeat later, he smashed into the back of the car pinning me against the rail. It worked to free me as it spun out and ended up stalled facing the opposite direction, but the recoil slammed me even harder into the railing.
Pain flared up my arm as I fought to hold the steering wheel steady. I glanced in my rearview mirror. Another truck was speeding toward us.
“We’re going to have to take it together,” Matteo said. “Law enforcement’s moving in, but they’re tied up at the roadblock.”
“So what I’m hearing is that we’re on our own.
” Another hit slammed into my rear bumper.
I fought the wheel, managed to straighten out, then floored it, racing toward the far end of the bridge.
The truck sped up as well and pulled alongside me, preparing to slam into me from the side this time. I sped up again, but he kept pace.
“Yes.”
“Perfect.” I kept my voice level despite the adrenaline surging through me. “We’re going to pinch him. He’s going to try to force me off again. I’ll brake hard. You come in at the driver’s side and force him into the rail.”
“It’s risky,” he said. “Our timing would have to be perfect. We can probably make it to the other side if we keep going.”
“We can’t risk others getting hurt,” I said. Already, our maneuvering had caused several accidents. “Are you in or out?”
There was a beat of silence.
“In.”
“Stay with me.”
“I will.”
The truck lunged, shoving me toward the rail again. I fought the wheel, my jaw locked. The rail screeched along the passenger side of the SUV, metal against metal, and I winced.
These idiots didn’t need to kill me. If my mate saw his SUV afterward, he was going to do it for them.
“Get ready,” I told Matteo, slowing a little. “NOW!”
I slammed on the brakes. My tires screamed as they skidded. My seatbelt locked hard against my chest, stealing my breath.
Matteo punched the gas and hit the truck square at the driver’s door. Metal shrieked as the truck hit the rail, then tipped, vanishing over the side and smashing into the water below.
Matteo skidded to a stop inches from the rail.
I sat there, breathing hard, trying unsuccessfully to pry my fingers off the steering wheel, but they wouldn’t budge.
“You alive?” I said.
He was breathing hard too. “Yep.”
After finally succeeding at unclenching my hands, I stared at them. They were bone white and shaking. I’d never been in a more terrifying situation in my life, and that was coming from a woman who’d been in combat.
“Thanks for the assist.”
He sighed. I could tell he was coming down from the adrenaline surge too. “You’re welcome. Alpha is going to kill me. I am officially an extinct species.”
It wasn’t funny. Not really. But I laughed anyway. My laugh was sharp and shaky, the sound of someone who’d just survived something they probably shouldn’t have and was just grateful to be alive.
Sirens wailed as law enforcement finally broke through and raced toward us.
“Let’s deal with the cops first,” I said. “Hopefully we can sort this out quickly, because we have a helicopter to catch. We’ll worry about Riggs murdering us afterward.”
Matteo scoffed. “You’re fine. He doesn’t care about the SUV, Piper. His priority will always be your safety.”
Well, a woman could hope.
After dealing with law enforcement, we made our way as quickly as possible to the Portland airport. We didn’t speak much as we cleared security. After I got my shoes back on and grabbed the rest of my stuff off the conveyor, Matteo and I met my contact by gate twelve.
I hadn’t seen Tamaro in years, and the years had been good to him. I offered my hand, but he laughed and shook his head, pulling me into a hug. He dwarfed me in size but still had a baby face, which had been what everyone called him in MI.
“Captain, your call was a surprise but welcome,” he said, his green eyes boring into mine. I’d only told him the barest details. He was a shifter as well, but he was a panther, so he knew where we were going.
His hands lingered on my shoulders as he studied me. I felt Matteo bristle behind me and stepped back, giving Tamaro an easy smile. “Matteo, this is Tamaro, a buddy from the Army. Tamaro, Matteo. A friend of mine.”
The two men nodded at each other, wary and measured.
Universal male communication at its finest.
I turned back to Tamaro. “We don’t have much time. We got attacked on the bridge into town. They’re probably right behind us.”
Tamaro nodded, all business now. He took my bags and led us through a side door and down a ramp to a large hangar.
The space was vast and lined with smaller planes and a mix of short- and long-range helicopters.
We exited through a back door and headed for a small helipad where a long-range metallic blue helicopter waited.
“This is us,” he said, grinning. “Isn’t she a beaut?”
I shook my head, smiling indulgently. “I see you haven’t outgrown your love of toys.”
He put a hand over his heart. “Captain, a man never outgrows his love of toys.”
I laughed. “Nor do women, Lieutenant. We like to have fun too.”
Matteo stayed quiet, but I could feel his attention on Tamaro and me, on our easy interactions.
As we climbed into the helicopter cabin, I gave Matteo a hard look. He stared back, his expression completely unreadable, and I shook my head.
After we’d buckled in and slipped on our headsets, I adjusted my volume down. As shifters, our hearing was sharper, and Tamaro had always liked to chat while he flew. He always said it made the miles go by faster.
I checked the panels in front of me as Tamaro contacted air traffic control and started the helicopter. I could bring us down in an emergency, but Tamaro was by far the better pilot.
“Piper.”
Matteo’s voice was tight, and I followed his sharp gaze. Three men had just burst through the side door we’d exited through and were sprinting toward the helipad.
“Tamaro, do you have clearance yet?” If he didn’t, we were sitting ducks. How had they managed to get through security with firearms?
“Yes, Captain.” Tamaro had seen them and was swearing like a sailor. “Hang on!”
The helicopter rose sharply—too sharply. I had to grip the handle above me so I didn’t slam my head into the side. Matteo clung to my seat as we both twisted to look behind us again. Hopefully, they weren’t stupid enough to fire on us.
We all breathed a sigh of relief when they skidded to a stop and started yelling at each other instead. I leaned back against the seat and let out a slow breath. “Thanks, Tamaro. You probably saved our lives.”
“Glad I could repay the favor, Captain,” he said, subdued now. His eyes flicked to me. “You need backup after we touch down? I can take some leave if you need it.”
I shook my head with a faint smile. “We’ve got this covered. Where you’re dropping me off, there’s plenty of backup. And you’ve got your mate and baby girl waiting.”
His face softened instantly. I patted his shoulder and closed my eyes.
“Wake me at our first refuel.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Without opening my eyes, I added, “It’s just Piper, Tamaro. I’m not in MI anymore.”
“Nah,” he said, and I could hear the grin in his voice. “You’ll always be Captain to me.”
He couldn’t see it, but I rolled my eyes, even though his words warmed something in my chest.