Chapter 13 #3
Crouching down, I pressed my hand against her face. “Wake up, little sleepyhead.” There was no need to alarm her at this point, but I wanted to get the hell away from here.
She roused, yawning then opening her eyes. A smile immediately crossed her face until she looked at mine. “What’s wrong?”
“Maybe nothing.”
Aspen immediately jerked to a sitting position, her breath skipping. “What does that mean?”
“That means I think we should leave.”
Her brow furrowing, she nodded, rising off the blanket and immediately heading toward the water.
I followed her, still scanning the area, my blood pressure rising.
There was something going on. I could feel it in my bones.
We grabbed our clothes but I continued to scan the area, loathing the instinct that remained.
We dressed quickly, neither one of us saying anything. After gathering our things, I pulled the flashlight into my hands, moving toward her. “I don’t know if I’m right, but I think our location has been compromised.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“I wish I were. Just stay quiet until we reach the car.”
She shuddered visibly as she squeezed my hand, taking the two blankets into her arms.
I led her back the same way we came, keeping the beam low to the ground. I couldn’t push aside the prickling sensations sweeping through me. Even in the denseness of the forest, I knew someone was out there. What the fuck were they doing?
We made it back to the car without incident.
I took a few minutes dropping to the ground and looking under the car, searching for any sign the vehicle had been tampered with.
Seeing nothing, I unlocked the doors, taking another look around us before tossing the items in the trunk.
As we settled in, I could hear her deep exhale.
“It’s going to be fine. Daybreak will be soon enough.” I wasn’t certain my words were comforting on any level.
“You really think someone followed us?”
“Maybe. Just hold on.”
After starting the engine, I backed out slowly, continuously scanning from side to side. Maybe I was overreacting, allowing the events from a few hours before to cloud my judgment.
But my instinct had never been wrong.
I drove away from the area, constantly scanning the rearview mirror. There was no traffic whatsoever.
At least at first.
Less than three minutes later, I noticed a pair of headlights. While I hadn’t seen where the car had come from, I knew there were at least four houses with driveways in close proximity. However, given the time, I doubted this was random.
Aspen noticed my actions, glancing over her shoulder. “Someone is following us.”
“Maybe.” I pressed down the accelerator, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
There was still no light on the horizon, the roads seemingly darker than before.
I’d driven through the area more times than I could count, but tonight everything seemed ominous.
My gut was churning, my mind spinning with thoughts regarding the night’s fire.
As I shifted around the corner, I took a quick glance. The person was still behind us, although from what I could tell, they weren’t gaining any speed. Hissing, I hated the fact there was no other way down the mountain.
“You’re worried,” Aspen said in a quiet voice.
“I don’t like being followed.”
“Maybe it’s okay.”
And maybe not. I pressed down the accelerator again, knowing my reckless speed terrified her.
I had to find out whether we were being followed or if I was simply being paranoid.
The screech of the tires reminded me that I was taking the curves with excessive speed, the possibility of losing control entirely too likely.
But fuck, I had to get us back to a safe zone and this wasn’t it.
Within a few seconds, I confirmed my suspicions, the vehicle behind us picking up in speed. The asshole was flooring it, the headlights becoming uncomfortably close.
“You need to trust me, Aspen. This might get dicey.”
“I do trust you.”
Her few words were of little comfort right now.
As the vehicle behind us came closer, I was forced to take evasive actions, skidding around another curve.
At least I had full control of the Ferrari, although I could feel the car pulling against me.
A quick glance at the speedometer indicated just how fast we were going.
Too fast for the road ahead.
Still, I refused to let the asshole catch us, careening around the next curve.
Then I did something I hoped I wouldn’t regret.
I slowed down then slammed my foot on the brake.
It was as if time stood still, the sound of Aspen squealing as the car jerked slightly to one side, heading for the side of the mountain something I would never forget.
Then there was something else.
The sound of two gunshots.
Seconds later, I realized the car had been hit, two of the tires blown.
“You’re going to need to hold on.” My blood pressure rising, I did everything I could to control the car as it started to skid.
Suddenly, I lost all control, the Ferrari veering off toward a section of the road flanked in hundreds of trees.
“No. No. No!”
A flash of my past rushed into the forefront of my mind as I did what I could to stop the forward motion.
But it was too late.
Boom!