Accidental Shield (Marriage Mistake #6)(76)

Bingo.

Too bad they’re catching up fast.

And the bastards are still behind us now very literally, closing in.

“Should we contact the police? The Coast Guard? Tell them what I do know? What I remember?”

“We don’t have any hard evidence, babe.” My eyes flick from the SUV in the mirrors to her, trying not to freak her out. “We’re missing the full story. Until we get clues or you recall something truly damning, we’re stuck on half empty.”

She sighs. “You’re right. We don’t know, so the police wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

“No, and scumbags like these have tendrils going deep. Police, government, you name it. If we do get a solid lead, we’ve got to make sure it gets to the right person—somewhere that isn’t compromised.” Tiring of this cat and mouse game, I say, “Check your seatbelt for me. Make sure it’s buckled.”

Val looks down. “Yup. All strapped in. Why?”

She notices my eyes are glued to the rear-view mirror.

“Just trust me, and don’t turn around,” I growl.

Her expression goes numb. “Jesus. Are we being followed, Flint?”

“We’ll find out real soon. Hang on.” I press down on the gas, pushing my truck faster.

The speed limits are notoriously low in Hawaii. I’m well over thirty-five miles per hour now.

I’ve got two options: either head through the next town, where speeding like this could pose a real risk of causing an accident, or take the next turn off the unpaved road flanked with tall, wild grass. An organic farming zone, I’m pretty sure, judging by the KEEP THE COUNTRY COUNTRY signs, plus some abandoned military digs.

“What’re we going to do?” she asks, worry creeping into her voice.

“There’s a road up here that goes past some old military ruins. Ordinance bunkers and shit they used around World War II. More like a path than a true road, I guess, so hang on tight.” It also goes through the Watershed Forest Reserve, which means lighter traffic.

“But if it’s just a path...won’t we be in the middle of nowhere?”

“Don’t worry. It goes all the way through, comes out south of the big blowhole. Bryce and I have taken ATVs down here before.”

“Um, this truck is way bigger than an ATV.”

“Sure is. That’s why we’re gonna haul some major ass. Hold on,” I say, pinching a sharp right onto a gravel road.

The SUV barely makes the corner behind me.

Then they hit the gas, flying up on my bumper, trying to ram us.

I slam my gas pedal to the floor and speed on, kicking up so much gravel I can barely see them behind us. The road is rough; we’re both bouncing in our seats like ping pong balls, but I keep my foot down on the pedal, letting up only when a corner gets so tight, so treacherous, I have to slow down.

The SUV fishtails every now and then, but keeps close behind us.

Exactly what I want.

There’s a double set of S-curves a couple miles ahead, and this little trench that floods, almost turning into a small marsh. After the rain we had last night, I’m sure it’s still drenched.

“Flint! It’s not just one. I see two behind us now,” she says, her voice frozen over.

“I know.” I keep my voice dead calm, hoping it’ll rub off on her. “The second car’s on our side.”

We go clattering up the next stretch of road, virtually on the grass and mud now, so there isn’t any dust.

“Well, in that case, let’s have some fun.” She twists in her seat, waving at the SUV behind us.

I have to chuckle to myself, then tell her, “Careful. We’ve got some sharp fucking corners ahead.”

“Ready!” She plants herself against the back of the seat, gripping the center console and oh, shit handle hanging above the window.

I slow down for the first curve, just to confuse the SUV driver.

Let them think they have a chance.

A second later, I whip us around the next bend, and the next, and right before going into the tightest one yet, I punch my brakes.

Wait.

Then pour on the gas and wrench the wheel, flinging us around the curve.

Shit works beautifully.

The SUV behind us slams on their brakes, but hits the gas too soon, thinking they can nail us.

It doesn’t work.

The fucks go careening off the road, and after being air-bound for several seconds, plop right down in the middle of the trench, sinking in the muck.

“Holy...did you see that?”

Val’s chest rises and falls like she’s been sped up. She’s some mad, flushed mix of laughing and clapping, holding up her hand for a high five.

“I saw. I was the asshole who did it, honey.”

I slap her hand, check the rear-view mirror, and make sure my guy’s still following us. He only slows down to get a good look at the other pricks, probably well into struggling out of their half-submerged SUV by now and figuring out where to run.

“That was so cool!” Val gushes, totally high on the rush.

I laugh. “Now you sound like Bryce.”

“Guess I see what he means about you going into action.” She snickers, covering her mouth.

I flinch inwardly, wanting to tell her it’s not all fun and games, not this simple, but hell.