Deadly Game (Fortress Security #5)(38)

A call came through his Bluetooth. He glanced at the screen in his dashboard. “Go, Jon.”

“Tangos on our tail. Two vehicles.”

“Copy that. Stay on the line to coordinate.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Rowan?” Eli asked.

“Yes?”

Brent frowned. Her voice was shaky. He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. He’d love to hold her hand, but Brent needed both hands on the wheel. He’d purposely made the path curvy. Jon wouldn’t have a problem navigating the winding, rugged road. All of his operatives had special training in defensive driving with an emphasis on combat situations.

“We have your back, sugar. We’ll keep you safe and find your niece. You can trust Brent even if you don’t trust us.”

Brent felt Rowan’s gaze on him.

“I know,” she said to Eli. “Thanks for the reassurance, though.”

“Step on it, Brent,” Jon cut in. “Closing in fast.”

Brent pressed the accelerator, pushing as fast as he dared without endangering Rowan. He glanced at the woman by his side, glad to see her seatbelt fastened. Only one mile to the road, a very curvy mile that felt like multiple miles. “You okay, baby?”

“Not really.”

“I’m sorry, Rowan.”

“For what? You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I should’ve checked for a tracker. My carelessness landed us in this position.”

“These guys are determined. If not the tracker, something else would have happened. They’ll keep coming until we stop them. I don’t understand why they’re so determined. Is the flash drive that important?”

“Seems so.”

“It’s a list of names,” she protested. “Nothing worth killing for.”

“If Phillips is behind the murders, the attacks on you, and Alexa’s disappearance, that list is something he doesn’t want in public view.”

“But what’s so important about a list of names? Being in a militia isn’t illegal. What is he afraid of?”

“We’ll know more when Adam deciphers the next code and we see the second part of the list.”

The headlights of Eli’s SUV sped toward them. “Eli?”

“How far is the road?” The operative’s voice was tense.

“Two hundred yards. At the tree line, take a sharp right.”

“Copy.”

A loud pop came through the speaker system.

Rowan gasped. “What’s that?”

“Gunfire. Hang on.”

Rowan grasped the overhead bar with one hand and grabbed the side of the seat with the other.

Brent’s SUV reached the tree line. He guided the vehicle into a controlled slide onto the roadway. “Eli, there’s a fork in the road in a quarter mile. Take the left. We’ll take the right.”

“Brent, are you sure it’s wise to separate?” Jon asked.

“I need information from Silverman and I don’t want him anywhere near Rowan.”

“You need backup. Rowan doesn’t have the training for driving under these conditions and she can’t fire a weapon. Let me get these clowns off our tail, then we’ll separate.”

He growled, hating that Jon was right. Silverman wouldn’t wake up for at least two hours, maybe more if Jon had miscalculated the drug’s dosage. The SEAL’s sniper skills were more than up to the task of stopping the chase vehicles. Giving Rowan a few more hours of safety was worth the risk of Silverman waking and slipping free of his bonds.

More pops of gunfire from their pursuers, then loud gunfire sounded over the sound system in Brent’s SUV. He glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the lead chase vehicle dive off to the side to avoid Jon’s shots.

After another volley of rifle fire, the lead vehicle swerved off the road and plowed into a ditch. Immediately steam began pouring from the radiator. One down, one to go. When Brent reached a straightaway, he floored the gas pedal. The SUV leaped forward, then skidded through a left hairpin turn. “Hairpin to the left, Eli.”

“Copy.”

The red taillights of a slower moving vehicle in front of them grew closer. Brent steered around the old car and plunged ahead. “Sit rep, Eli.”

“Jon gave the driver of the second vehicle something to think about. He’s backed off some, but hanging with us.”

“The highway is three miles ahead. Entrance ramp is on the right. Once we make the highway, shake these guys and take Silverman to the black hole. Zane said he’d have a medic waiting.”

“Davenport was on duty at headquarters. He left as soon as Z called him.”

Excellent. Jake Davenport was one of Fortress’ best medics. With Jon’s help, they’d have more information to work with soon. Brent’s jaw flexed. Provided Silverman knew anything else. At least with what Brent knew to this point, he had a place to start.

“Do I need to duck down or anything?” Rowan asked.

“No, sweetheart.” Because he was on another straight stretch of road, he chanced removing one hand from the wheel and squeezed her knee. “All Fortress vehicles have bullet-resistant glass and armor-plated bodies.”

Her eyes widened. “Nice.”

“We pay a pretty penny for them, too,” Eli said.