Blacklisted by Gena Showalter Page B

do you think?
    A.I.R.? I swallowed the hard lump that formed in my throat. “Lose them,” I said, the instinct to remain removed from the situation speaking for me. Please lose them . I didn’t want to be caught with Erik.
    If he’d been telling the truth earlier, that would only incriminate me further. Plus, I didn’t want A.I.R. escorting me home. I’d never be able to lie my way out of that.
    â€œWhy aren’t you losing them?” I demanded when Erik didn’t reprogram the car’s destination.
    â€œHere, let me just snap my fingers. I’ll produce the cast of Alien Nights , too.”
    I ground my teeth together.
    â€œThey’ve been on our trail since we left my house,” he added.
    â€œDid they see me get into the car with you?”
    â€œMaybe. Probably.”
    â€œOh God.” Stomach cramp. Not only had they seen me at the club with Erik, they’d seen me at his house. And I’d been willing. Think, Robins. Think .
    Okay. Maybe trying to lose them wasn’t the best plan of action. That would only make me appear guiltier. Maybe I should just get out, walk up to them, and explain what had happened. Maybe they’d let me go without needing to speak to my parents. Maybe my worries were for nothing.
    According to Erik, A.I.R. fought to protect innocent humans. I was innocent. But also according to Erik, A.I.R. would beat me up first and ask questions later. Well, what’s it going to be?
    â€œI—I’m going to talk to them.”
    â€œI can’t let you do that,” Erik said. “No telling what you’ll admit to doing.”
    â€œBut—but—”
    He commanded the car to stop. Tires squealed, and I strained against my seat belt.
    â€œErik! What—”
    â€œShit,” he growled.
    A black sedan had come out of nowhere, blocking our forward path. We couldn’t advance and we couldn’t reverse. They had us pinned in.
    â€œJust let me out,” I said. “They’ll be reasonable about this. They just have to be.”
    â€œThey won’t listen to a damn thing you say.” Motions clipped, Erik punched a series of buttons on the console keyboard. The lights dimmed, and a gear shift I think it was called, rose from the space between us. Panels opened in a wide circle and a steering wheel appeared. Pedals even lifted from the floorboard.
    I’d seen this happen on TV, but never in real life. Fear gripped me. “What are you doing?” I managed to get out.
    â€œOverriding the computer system and driving manually.”
    â€œYou can do that?” Duh. He just had.
    â€œJust hold on to your seat. It’s gonna get bumpy.” Without another word, he jammed the gear backward and the car speed into reverse. Crrrunch .
    I yelped. Metal ground against metal as we crashed into one of the sedans, then Erik moved the gear forward, turning the wheel, turning, turning.
    We hit another car.
    He slammed his foot into one of the petals. My entire body flew toward the windshield as we sped away from our tails and onto a side road. Thankfully my seat belt pulled me back.
    The other cars, of course, followed us. Their tires screeched, burning rubber and wafting smoke in every direction.
    Fear raced through me, stronger than ever before. Stronger, even, than when I’d been surrounded by aliens, Lancers pointed at my chest. Not only was I in danger now, but innocent people were, as well. Anyone taking a nighttime stroll…I clutched my stomach to ward off another cramp.
    â€œErik. You have to stop this.”
    â€œCan’t.”
    â€œPlease.”
    â€œWhat I do is too important. I can’t be locked up.”
    â€œ What do you do?” I asked, nearing hysteria. “Helping humans kill themselves isn’t important.”
    His lips drew together in a thin line.
    â€œWhat if we’re wrong and those drivers aren’t with A.I.R.?” I asked sharply. I squeezed my