Chapter 19 #2
Maeve leaned forward in her seat. “Are those enemies?” She pointed to the blinking dots on the screen.
“Yes.” He licked his lips and glanced over. “Go in the center console and take out the black box.”
As soon as Maeve had it in her lap, she opened the lid.
“That is everything you need to know about our internal systems. When you have time, and no one is around, make sure you watch it. Memorize everything. It will explain our weapons and the vehicles. I also included special codes that only a few of us know. There are even a few secrets on there that will get you a favor or two from some very powerful people.”
“I don’t like that you’re talking, like I’ll never see you again,” she said, choking on the words.
Wolf looked at the screen and then back to her. Reaching out with his good arm he ran his thumb along her cheek.
“From the moment I met you, my life has been turned upside down, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
You are worth every second. You are worthy of love.
You are a powerful warrior, and I am honored to have had this time with you,” he said, as tears rolled down her cheeks.
There was no stopping it or the pain in her chest. “There is so much I want to say to you, so much I’d hoped for us. ”
She rubbed her cheek into his palm soaking up the feel of his touch.
“If you get a chance to run, then run, and don’t hesitate to call Morry.
I know you have doubts and questions, but she can and will help you.
I have no doubt that Morry loves you. She doesn’t waste her time on someone she doesn’t care for, especially for three years.
I should’ve gone to her sooner. I’m sorry, Walela.
I’m sorry that I couldn’t protect you the way I promised, I’m sorry that I failed you,” he breathed, and her heart broke into two.
“Stop it, I mean it. We have to keep trying. You can’t give up.”
“I’m not giving up, but there’s no way out. I have been through enough missions to know when I’m just prolonging the inevitable.”
As Wolf spoke, the thump of helicopter blades filled the cab. The bright spotlight cut through the darkness, flooding the interior. Maeve looked out the side window and whimpered.
“They’re not going to let us reach a public area, Walela. They’re trained like I am. They know what I’d do. They’ll stop us one way or another. I need you to know that, no matter what happens, I love you with my whole heart. These last three weeks with you have been the happiest of my life.”
“I hate that you’re talking like this,” she whispered, her lower lip trembling.
“We don’t have much time. I need you to listen.
They are going to take you. You’re an asset, for whatever reason, their mission has changed.
Use that to your advantage. Remember that whatever they have planned, you are stronger.
Remain the warrior. Kill them when you get the chance. Don’t ever look back.”
“Waya, please.”
The tears kept coming and clouding her vision. The Hummer suddenly swerved as Wolf’s injured arm lost its grip on the wheel. He quickly grabbed it with his good hand and glanced in his rear-view mirror.
Maeve followed his stare. The vehicles were fanned out in a perfect V formation and still on their ass, but they were no longer trying to pass them. Maeve looked at the map on the windshield again. The two Hummers in front were closing in fast, racing toward them for a head-on collision.
“Duke, on the floor,” Wolf commanded.
Maeve looked over her shoulder to see Duke do what he was told, slipping off the seat and disappearing behind them.
Maeve clung to her seatbelt as the vehicle launched over what should have been a gentle rises, turning them into death-defying leaps, tossing the Hummer into the air before it slammed down with a punishing bounce.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” she gagged, the earlier stomach roll coming back. She closed her eyes tight and willed the bile back down.
“Hang in there,” Wolf said, and she nodded. “Also, there’s a gun in the glove compartment and…” An alarm began beeping.
Maeve’s eyes snapped open. “What’s that?”
“Someone is trying to hack the vehicle,” Wolf growled.
“They can do that?”
“AJ, block all external transmissions and shut down WiFi.” The beeping stopped, but his map, along with the location of the other vehicles, disappeared. “They can if the vehicle is connected to one of their servers.”
Maeve could see the headlights of the oncoming vehicles in the distance as they drove over the next rise. The Hummer wavered again, and Wolf shook his head.
“Waya, don’t you give up,” she ordered.
He nodded, straightening in his seat. “Hang on to something,” Wolf suddenly called out.
Maeve grabbed the holy shit handle again and pushed herself back into the seat.
The two Hummers in front barreled toward them, and Maeve swallowed hard. Wolf suddenly flicked on the high beams and the floodlights mounted atop the truck. Everything happened at once.
The two trucks coming at them swerved. Maeve gasped as she spotted a spike strip laid out across the access road. There was no stopping the Hummer’s momentum She clung to the center console and the grab handle over the door as they tore over the spikes.
The popped loudly, and Maeve was unable stop the scream that escaped her. Wolf veered the Hummer between the two trucks. A crunch rang out as the sideview mirrors collided and tore free. Metal scraped against metal with a grating screech.
Wolf looked over at Maeve, as their eyes met, the Hummer jerked hard, the back end swinging wildly. Sparks flew into the air behind them as the Hummer jerked violently toward the shoulder of the road.
“Ahh!” Her scream was ripped from her throat as they headed for the dark edge.
Wolf reached out, holding his arm across Maeve as they flew off the road and charged headlong into the pitch black.