Chapter Thirty-Five
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A cool breeze and steady , light rain greeted him when he stepped out the front doors of the building. The notorious Pacific Northwest fall weather had closed in. Down the hill, the gloomy gray sky was indistinguishable from the horizon until the white tops of the breakers started closer to shore.
It only took a few minutes to drive to the office. Inside, he grabbed what he needed along with a company-issued weapon and ammo, then checked in with Ryder before texting Gavin on the way out.
On my way , Gavin answered.
Tristan exited the CPS parking lot and headed east up the hill. A minute in, he found himself checking his mirrors more than was necessary. On guard and unable to shake the instinctive feeling that he was being watched. Or followed, even though the empty road behind him told him it wasn’t true.
He thought of Cassie, alone back at the condo. She was safe behind a layer of added security and had a weapon if anything happened.
God, he couldn’t wait for Quinn to be caught so she could feel safe, and they could put all this behind them. Only then could they really move forward and think about their future together.
Things were far from settled between them.
He wanted it all with her but hadn’t said it yet because he didn’t want to push or pressure her when she had so much on her shoulders.
He hated the uncertainty, the way it stirred all the ghosts from his past that whispered she might walk out when this was over.
His wipers sped up as the rain intensified. The roads were soaked, glistening where the silvery light filtering through the heavy clouds touched them as he sped along. There was still no one behind him, yet that heightened awareness remained.
He’d just turned onto a quiet road when a call came through. Cassie’s number appeared on the dash display. He used the hands-free device to answer. “Hey. Everything good?”
“Yes, everything’s fine.”
He relaxed. “So you just called to say you missed me?” A guy could hope.
They were officially together but other than their families, she wanted to keep their relationship quiet.
He understood, but sooner or later people at work were going to figure it out, and he wasn’t willing for them to be a secret for long.
“Actually, I do miss you. I’ve gotten way too used to having you around all the time.”
“Better make your peace with it, because I’m not going anywhere. And I’m not letting you go. So if you were starting to think about an exit strategy, don’t bother.” He said it in a teasing way, but he was dead serious.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said dryly. “Just wanted to double check something with you.”
“Sure, what’s up?” The back of his neck prickled. He glanced in the rearview. Still didn’t see anything.
Cassie was saying something, but he was only paying partial attention to her. Through the rain and mist, he thought he saw the shape of a vehicle behind him. Small car. Maybe a hundred yards back, keeping a steady distance between them. No lights on.
That was the part he didn’t like.
“Tris? You there?”
He’d missed most of what she’d said, too focused on the other vehicle and planning a possible escape route. This road ended in a T just over a mile ahead. Left led to another quiet, back road. Right was quiet too, but eventually met a feeder route that would take him to the coastal highway.
“Think I’m being followed.” He sped up, watching to see what happened.
“What?” Cassie asked sharply. “Who—”
“Dunno, just a gut feeling. There’s a car behind me, keeping back, but following my route.” This road was out in the middle of nowhere. He’d taken it as a shortcut. Only a local would know about it.
Or someone following him.
“What kind of car?”
“Can’t tell. No lights on, and it’s dark out here.” The dense foliage of the evergreens on either side of the road blocked most of the daylight, leaving it mostly in shadows. “It’s keeping pace with me.” The car had sped up. “No, now it’s gaining on me.”
“Where are you?”
“Heading east on Cedarwood Road.” Headlights appeared on the crest of the small hill up ahead.
A bigger vehicle coming toward them in the other lane.
The car behind him was close enough for him to see it now.
“Looks like a dark gray Ford sedan, no lights.” He gave her the plate number.
“There’s a T up ahead. I’m gonna head south and go back to the highway—”
The SUV coming at him suddenly hit the brakes and veered sideways, blocking both lanes. “Fuck,” he snarled, his gut sinking.
This is what they did to Cassie.
“Tristan! What’s happening?”
The car behind him did the same.
“It’s an ambush.” And he wasn’t in an armored vehicle.
The SUV driver’s door flew open. Tristan turned the wheel hard just as a man popped out, skidding over the wet asphalt to avoid slamming head-on into the SUV.
“Stay in the vehicle,” Cassie said in an urgent voice. “I’m calling backup.”
There was no room on the shoulders to get past either vehicle. “Gonna have to ram the car,” he answered, throwing the truck into reverse. He floored it, swung the front end around.
The car driver was out of the vehicle.
Just as Tristan pulled down on the gearshift, a bullet slammed through the passenger window. A sharp, searing pain in the back of his left arm made him hiss in a breath. It fell limply to his lap.
“ Tris !”
He glanced at the glove compartment. Knew he didn’t have enough time to get his earpiece.
He ducked as more bullets hit the side windows. Glass sprayed, slicing his face.
He grabbed the wheel with his right hand, blood trickling down his face and his left arm useless in his lap. Staying put was a death sentence. He had to try and make a run for it.
Clamping his jaw against the pain, he gripped the wheel tight and hit the gas. The truck shot forward, aiming for the back end of the car blocking the road.
A shot rang out, popping a rear tire. The truck swerved even as bullets struck the windshield, missing his head by inches.
He immediately took his foot off the gas and tried to control the skid. But the right front panel struck the back of the car.
The truck veered toward the forest bordering the road. He slammed on the brake, managed to slow a bit, but the impact with a tree trunk jerked him forward.
The seatbelt snapped hard across his chest, the airbag slamming into his face. He let out a roar as his wounded arm was flung forward.
“Tristan, answer me!” Cassie’s desperate voice came through the speakers.
He sat up, scrambled to undo the seatbelt, his gaze locked on the rearview mirror. Two men were rushing toward him, weapons up.
Staying put was a death sentence. His only chance was to get out and try and hold them off long enough for backup to arrive.
He grabbed his pistol. “Cass, I love you,” he rasped out, then flung open his door to face the fight of his life.