Queen of Quarantine (Brutal Boys of Everlake Prep #4) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,62

the consequences.

The sunlight was blocked out as the dark trees clustered close, their branches arching overhead. The bottom of the car was so low it kept smacking the ground as I drove through ditches without slowing. The car might not have been happy with the choice, but it was a damn beast and the power in the engine meant it ate up the track despite its lack of suitability for potholes. I was thrown around in my seat, nearly biting my tongue, but I didn’t ease up on the accelerator, watching the little dot that marked my Night Keeper on the GPS, sailing along the road in my direction.

I could make it in time. They were still a way off.

The phone started ringing and my heart lifted with relief as I found Blake calling. I hit the speakerphone, losing sight of the map, but it didn’t matter now. There was only one path I could take and it was directly through the forest.

“Tatum?” Blake barked anxiously. “Where are you?”

“I’m following the fucking assholes who took Kyan,” I growled. “Are you all alright?”

“Fuck, where? What happened? What do you mean someone took him?” he demanded, not answering my question as he sounded like he was running.

“I saw them on the CCTV. They put him in a car and took off out of the main gates so I took chase,” I said, wondering why the hell these things always seemed to happen to us. Weren’t we due a break?

“What’s happening?” Saint demanded in the background. “Give me the phone.”

“Where are you, sweetheart?” Blake pressed.

“I’m out near the highway, I took your car,” I said just as a loud bang and a screech sounded as the bottom of Blake’s car dragged over a rock.

“Are you driving it through a meatgrinder?” he balked.

“Something like that,” I breathed as I glimpsed a view of the road on the other side of the trees and my heart lifted. “I’ve gotta go.”

“We’re coming. Don’t do anything stupid,” Blake demanded.

“She can handle herself,” Monroe growled.

“Wait for us, siren,” Saint commanded.

“Kyan’s in trouble,” I snarled. “I won’t be waiting for anything.” I killed the call, tossing the phone back in the cupholder as I checked Kyan’s location. They were driving down the road at speed, but I still had the advantage. I was going to get ahead.

“Yes,” I hissed, forcing Blake’s car to go even faster as mud splashed up around me.

I clenched the steering wheel hard, my heart pounding like it was going to burst right out of my chest.

I’m coming, husband.

I was going to drive right into their path and claim him back from them even if I had to tear the world apart to do it. I didn’t know why the fuck they’d taken him, but that didn’t matter right now. All that mattered was returning him to my arms where he belonged. We’d figure out what the hell was happening after that.

Adrenaline scorched my veins as the trees parted ahead and Blake’s car whined in protest as I made it climb a short, steep hill back onto the road.

I bounced in my seat as the bottom of his car scraped over the tarmac and I slammed my foot on the brakes, coming to a halt in the centre of the road.

I grabbed the gun from my seat, shoved the stupid door up into the air, unclipping my belt and diving out.

The Land Rover was only twenty feet away, tearing toward me, not slowing and my heart stalled entirely as I raised the gun and faced down my enemies.

“Stop!” I cried, but they didn’t.

I stared at the driver and my upper lip peeled back as I recognised Bait, that fucking asshole who’d stalked me, who’d terrorised me. My finger twitched against the trigger of the gun, my eyes wide open, my aim true. I took the shot, but the car veered right at the same time, tearing down another track opposite the one I’d exited, climbing a hill up into the trees.

I growled in frustration, racing back to Blake’s car and jumping into the seat.

I tugged the door down and started the engine which had decided to turn itself off because apparently the car was on eco mode.

“For the love of fucking god.” I got it started up again, the engine roaring as I pumped the gas and took off after the Land Rover, my stomach lurching as I skidded down a muddy bank into the woods and was thrown forward in my seat.

What the hell