Deadly Silence (Blood Brothers #1)(23)

Zara leaned down and hugged her friend. “You will, I promise. Right now I have to get back to work. I’ll let you know what his discovery answers are.”

“Thank you.” Julie stood and returned the hug. “Be careful. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”

Zara swallowed and nodded, slipping back outside. She had an idea of what Jay could do fading from her cheek right now. What a complete dick. She should let Ryker have a go at him, but that would screw up the case, and she couldn’t do that to Julie. Not right now, anyway. Plus, it was professionally unethical for Zara to even talk to Julie.

She kept her head down and made it back to her car, then quickly drove out of the dismal lot. The motel was located outside of town in the middle of a mountain pass, perfect for lost and exhausted drivers, and during the day, it was deserted. Good thing. She carefully pulled onto the main road, and her shoulders began to relax.

A country song crooned through the radio, and she began to sing along. The grade steepened, and she pressed on the brakes.

Nothing happened.

She frowned and pressed harder, the pedal finally reaching the floor.

The car sped up, careening down the hillside on its own. Her eyes widened, and her heart beat faster. Her breath panted out. She pressed on the brakes.

Nothing.

She tried to focus and not give in to the fear. The brake pedal was useless. Gingerly, she twisted the key in the ignition, and it wouldn’t release.

Her phone buzzed on the seat, and Ryker’s number came up. Ryker! Relief and hope hit her at once. Her knuckles turned white on the wheel, and she tried to hug the hillside. No cars were in front of her, but at some point, she’d be in trouble.

The car continued to accelerate. Panicking, she pumped the brakes several times, trying to get them to engage.

The phone buzzed again. She reached over and fumbled for the speaker. “Ryker? I’m in trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?” he asked, his voice steady.

“I’m coming down Thompson’s Hill, and my brakes aren’t working. I’ve pumped them several times and nothing.” Her voice rose on the last words as she instinctively waited for him to help her.

Quiet ticked by. “Is anybody in front of you?”

“Not yet.” God, what should she do?

“How’s the drop-off to your left?” His tone remained calm and focused.

She glanced to the side and tried to follow his lead. “Steep and full of trees.”

“Have you tried to free the key?”

“Yes.”

“Shove the car into park and then neutral really fast. Wait. Is your seat belt on?”

She nodded and then remembered he couldn’t see her. “Yes,” she said.

“Okay. Do it and prepare for a jolt.”

She sucked in air, grabbed the shifter, and shoved the car into park and then neutral. Something clanked, the engine trilled, and then the car went dead. She angled the steering wheel into the hill, and it rolled forward, hitting a large pile of rocks along the shoulder, stopping with a crash. “Oh God.” Her heartbeat echoed loudly in her ears.

“Zara?”

She gulped. “I’m okay. The car stopped.” Silence descended on her, ominous and pounding. He’d been right. She’d turned to Ryker, and he’d known what to do. “Thank you.”

“Stay in the car. I’m on my way.”

The wind blew through the open truck window. Ryker had moved quickly to take his Hummer, more than a little thankful his brothers had dragged it out of storage for him. Winter had arrived.

Her brakes had stopped working?

He’d told Zara nearly a month ago that she needed a new car. He’d offered to help pay if she didn’t have the funds for one. . .and of course, she’d rejected the offer immediately. But a newer car wouldn’t have shut off by pulling the key out, so maybe it was actually a blessing.

If this wasn’t an accident . . .

It had to be an accident. He planted his foot on the accelerator. The idea that she’d been in danger unfolded something inside him. . .something dark. He struggled to remain as calm as he’d tried to sound for her, but emotions, dark and angry, rose up in him. She could’ve been hurt, damn it.

He was a master at compartmentalizing his life. Family—Denver and Heath—in box one. Jobs and clients in box two. The past in box three. Women in another box.

But Zara. Something about her was different. A whisper inside his head, coming from deep down, hinted that she’d escaped her box. He’d loved two people in his life, Heath and Denver, and now Zara was right in his chest, mingled up with the emotions he’d never been able to sort out.

The thought that anybody would try to harm her clenched his teeth and forced an energy to the surface he’d worked hard to banish. His chest burned, and the world widened until he couldn’t focus. He pounded his fist on the steering wheel.

His hands shook, and he wanted to yell. Anger had ruled his life for too long, and he’d finally learned to control the rage when they’d escaped the boys home. He hadn’t had to fight his baser nature in years, but now, with the mere thought that Zara had been in danger, it rose closer to the surface.

It almost erupted the second he rounded the next corner and saw her, pale and trembling, leaning against the hood of her shitty car. Mud coated her entire right side.