Chapter 27
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
Hudson stood on the side of the road, watching Natalie’s taillights disappear around the bend.
The mission comes first. Remember?
Her words echoed in his head, a knife twisting deeper with each repetition.
He turned toward his Lexus, keys already in hand, when movement caught his eye.
A dark sedan—older model, nondescript—pulled onto the access road from a side street. It accelerated smoothly, maintaining distance but clearly following Natalie’s route.
Hudson’s instincts screamed warning.
He was in his car before conscious thought caught up with training. Engine roaring to life, tires spitting gravel as he accelerated hard.
He grabbed his phone, pulled up Natalie’s number and hit dial while keeping his eyes on the sedan ahead. She should have her cloned phone with her.
Two rings. Three.
Pick up. Come on, Natalie, pick up.
The sedan was closing the gap on Natalie’s BMW. Too fast. Too aggressive.
Four rings.
Hudson floored the accelerator, his Lexus surging forward. The marina road was mostly straight here, giving him a clear sight line. He could see Natalie’s car in the distance, the sedan between them.
Five rings.
Then her voice, wary and cold. “Yes?”
“You’re being followed.” Hudson’s voice sounded tight and controlled despite the adrenaline flooding his system. “Dark blue sedan, maybe thirty yards behind you. Don’t look back. Don’t change speed yet. Just listen.”
And please don’t choose right now of all times to be stubborn.
Natalie’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, her heart suddenly hammering against her ribs.
Her eyes flicked to the rearview mirror.
There. Dark sedan. Tinted windows. Maintaining steady distance.
How had she not noticed?
“I’m about a hundred yards behind him.” Hudson’s voice came through the phone speaker, urgent but steady. “We need to—”
The sedan suddenly accelerated, closing the gap.
Natalie’s breath caught. “Hudson—”
“I see it. When I say go, you’re going to accelerate hard and take the next right turn. There’s a residential area half a mile ahead. More witnesses, harder for them to make a move.”
The sedan moved closer. Close enough now that Natalie could see two figures in the front seats.
“They’re right behind me.” Her voice rose despite her efforts to stay calm.
“I know. Just stay steady. I’m coming up on them now.”
In her rearview mirror, Natalie saw Hudson’s Lexus emerge from around the curve, moving fast. He was trying to get between her and the sedan.
The sedan’s driver must have seen him too, because suddenly the vehicle surged forward with a roar of engine noise.
“Go!” Hudson shouted. “Now! Take the turn!”
Natalie stomped on the accelerator. Her BMW leaped forward just as the sedan pulled alongside her.
The passenger window rolled down.
A gun appeared, pointed directly at her.