Dark Secret - Avelyn Paige Page 0,47

could either save my daughter or end all our lives, I yank the wheel to the right, and without dropping speed, I zoom across the plain between the two roads. The chances of making it across this landscape without hitting a pothole, or obliterating the front end of this vehicle on a rock are slim, but I chance it anyway, knowing that God and I now have an understanding. He’s going to make sure I get my kiddo back. A roar rips from my throat as I move, rivaling the scream of any fun-seeker riding their favorite roller coaster. Except mine is a scream of fear, not thrill.

Finally, I’m on the interstate and spin the wheel, righting the vehicle in the direction of the Mexican border, and now just a few feet behind them. “Come on, asshole,” I mutter, speeding up and getting even closer.

At this time of night, there’s not another soul on the road. My heart gallops in my chest when I see a sign appear that makes it stutter before going even faster: Mexico - 2 miles.

He’s going to make it. He’s going to find a place to cross illegally, and I’m going to lose Hayden forever.

A hole appears in the windshield just above my head, and I stare at it in shock, realizing that Randall’s shooting at me through his window. Another hole appears right beside it, and I scream, ducking low.

A road appears on the left, and Randall cranks the wheel, his van going off the ground on one side before righting itself.

Fuck, fuck, fuck! What am I going to do?

A corner appears up ahead, and when Randall slows to take it, I decide my next move. I don’t slow. I press the pedal down harder, praying to God that he takes care of the children.

Hitting it is like a dream. It all happens both in slow motion and hyperspeed. I don’t have time to react, but I feel every vibration and hear every sound. The front bumper of my van collides with the ass end of Randall’s, and then I’m spinning.

I scream as the walls around me cave in as I roll, losing track of where Randall and the kids should be. By the time I come to a stop, my head is pounding, the glass around me is shattered, and my vision is blurred.

“Hayden,” I croak. “Hayden.”

My last thought before the darkness takes over is: I think I just killed my own daughter.

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“Come on, man, hit the fucking gas. Shelby’s out there on her own!” I scream at GP from the passenger seat.

“I’ve got it down to the floor. I can’t make this thing go any faster.” I know he’s trying to catch up with them, but every second counts right now. I don’t care if we end up in a high-speed chase with the police tailing us. I have to get to Shelby and Hayden before it’s too late.

“See anything?” Judge asks from the back.

“Nothing.”

“She’s out there, son. Both of them are.”

“You mean the three of them are. Lindsey put her ass on the line for the two of you, and she’s stuck now,” Karma interjects. I turn and look at him, finding his large frame plastered against one side of the van, his eyes dark. Empty almost, just like mine. He’s got more skin in this game than he wants to admit.

“I’m very aware of the situation my niece is in. That shit isn’t lost on me.”

“If I—I mean, we, lose her to this bullshit...” Shaking his head, he looks away.

“We won’t,” Judge assures him.

“We’ll see about that.”

My leg bounces like a fucking druggy itching for his next fix, while GP drives in the direction that she and Randall went. What the fuck was she thinking? We could’ve made it back to the van in time, but she took off like a bat out of hell without us.

We’re only miles now from the border. If they make it that far, I’ll lose Hayden, probably Shelby too. I can’t have that.

“You see that? Look there.” Judge points between the front seats toward a plume of smoke visible in the sky a few miles ahead of us.

“Right there!” I bellow. “GP, follow that smoke!”

He makes a quick right turn onto a side road before veering the van off-road. We bounce hard across the dusty earth underneath us.

My mind goes into overdrive, assessing what we could find under the smoke.

Are we too late? Is Hayden gone and Shelby collateral damage? My hands grip the