raise.”
“And you did that?”
“Yeah. My old man left when Camy started kindergarten.”
“How old were you?”
“Thirteen.”
“Tough age to lose a father.”
“Wasn’t much of a loss. I was doing most of the work around the farm by then anyway. I helped Mom as much as I could. Joined the Army to make sure those that wanted went to college.”
Where did that sweet edge come from? He was supposed to be a hard-ass. “Wait a minute. Ivy Rose, Lily Rose. Those are all flower names. What is your first name? Rosebud?”
“It’s not a freaking flower name. My father named me.” He sped around a slower farm truck, his eyes constantly flipping from the front to the mirrors, keeping his focus on the tail. “Mom named the girls.”
“This is too good.” She rubbed her hands together. “You shouldn’t have given me this much ammunition.”
He stomped on the accelerator as they climbed a hill. “If we survive the next fifteen minutes, you can harass me all you like.”
“That’s not funny.”
“Wasn’t aiming for funny.”
The sudden rise as they crested the hill sent her stomach flying. Normally the tummy tickler at the top of the hill made her smile, but right now, she wanted to throw up. “Do you think he’s going to make a move before we get to the ranch?”
“I would.”
“You know you’re supposed to lie to me to make me feel better?”
“Wrong. My job is to protect. Being unprepared will get you killed. You need to accept the reality of the situation.”
The sedan hugged their bumper as they sped down the hill faster than the speed limit. “Reality sucks.”
“It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
“What are you, a freaking billboard?” The lake on her right barreled past, giving her a sense of vertigo. The curve at the bottom of the hill wavered in her vision. She dug her fingers into the armrest. “We won’t make it at this speed.”
“Won’t need to.”
She yanked on the seatbelt, locking it tight around her midsection. “I really don’t want to end up in the same ditch as Lauren’s truck.” Lauren had crashed into that spot a week ago when men intent on kidnapping her cut her brakes. “There’s not much left of her truck.”
“Not planning on wrecking my truck.” Rose released the accelerator as they approached the sharp turn. One wrong move would have them blasting into the side of the bluff. Or the lake.
Debi’s heart pumped like a windmill drawing blood painfully through her veins. The sun dimmed and her vision blurred. The lake was murky this time of year. Cold. Her breath sputtered. She’d gone swimming in the lake since she was a kid, but she’d rather not dive in car first.
Echo slammed into the truck from behind, and the truck fishtailed. Rose straightened it out. “Damnit. I’m still paying on this truck,” he muttered. “Come on, Fowler.” The sedan hit from the side, pulling more low curses from Rose. “Fucker.”
“Is this part of the plan?” She really didn’t remember this part of the plan.
“Wait for it.” He slowed the truck at the curve.
The sharp report of gunshots echoed. Debi ducked. She tried to drop to the floor, but the seatbelt locked her in place. Rose braked and shifted the steering wheel. The move slammed her into the door. They wheeled around the curve before Rose yanked the emergency brake, forcing a skid that spun them in a half circle. They slammed to a stop in the center of the highway, facing the opposite direction. Dizziness spun her head in a loop. Her vision fogged and she welcomed the blackout that threatened.
“Deep breath, sweetheart. We’re not finished.”
Chapter Five
S hots fired at the perfect moment. The gold sedan swerved, missed the curve, and crashed into the cliff. All according to plan, but Rose wanted to catch the bastard. It was time to figure out what the fuck Echo wanted and why the hell they didn’t back down, but a panic attack had Debi in a tight grip. A thin glaze
“And you did that?”
“Yeah. My old man left when Camy started kindergarten.”
“How old were you?”
“Thirteen.”
“Tough age to lose a father.”
“Wasn’t much of a loss. I was doing most of the work around the farm by then anyway. I helped Mom as much as I could. Joined the Army to make sure those that wanted went to college.”
Where did that sweet edge come from? He was supposed to be a hard-ass. “Wait a minute. Ivy Rose, Lily Rose. Those are all flower names. What is your first name? Rosebud?”
“It’s not a freaking flower name. My father named me.” He sped around a slower farm truck, his eyes constantly flipping from the front to the mirrors, keeping his focus on the tail. “Mom named the girls.”
“This is too good.” She rubbed her hands together. “You shouldn’t have given me this much ammunition.”
He stomped on the accelerator as they climbed a hill. “If we survive the next fifteen minutes, you can harass me all you like.”
“That’s not funny.”
“Wasn’t aiming for funny.”
The sudden rise as they crested the hill sent her stomach flying. Normally the tummy tickler at the top of the hill made her smile, but right now, she wanted to throw up. “Do you think he’s going to make a move before we get to the ranch?”
“I would.”
“You know you’re supposed to lie to me to make me feel better?”
“Wrong. My job is to protect. Being unprepared will get you killed. You need to accept the reality of the situation.”
The sedan hugged their bumper as they sped down the hill faster than the speed limit. “Reality sucks.”
“It’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
“What are you, a freaking billboard?” The lake on her right barreled past, giving her a sense of vertigo. The curve at the bottom of the hill wavered in her vision. She dug her fingers into the armrest. “We won’t make it at this speed.”
“Won’t need to.”
She yanked on the seatbelt, locking it tight around her midsection. “I really don’t want to end up in the same ditch as Lauren’s truck.” Lauren had crashed into that spot a week ago when men intent on kidnapping her cut her brakes. “There’s not much left of her truck.”
“Not planning on wrecking my truck.” Rose released the accelerator as they approached the sharp turn. One wrong move would have them blasting into the side of the bluff. Or the lake.
Debi’s heart pumped like a windmill drawing blood painfully through her veins. The sun dimmed and her vision blurred. The lake was murky this time of year. Cold. Her breath sputtered. She’d gone swimming in the lake since she was a kid, but she’d rather not dive in car first.
Echo slammed into the truck from behind, and the truck fishtailed. Rose straightened it out. “Damnit. I’m still paying on this truck,” he muttered. “Come on, Fowler.” The sedan hit from the side, pulling more low curses from Rose. “Fucker.”
“Is this part of the plan?” She really didn’t remember this part of the plan.
“Wait for it.” He slowed the truck at the curve.
The sharp report of gunshots echoed. Debi ducked. She tried to drop to the floor, but the seatbelt locked her in place. Rose braked and shifted the steering wheel. The move slammed her into the door. They wheeled around the curve before Rose yanked the emergency brake, forcing a skid that spun them in a half circle. They slammed to a stop in the center of the highway, facing the opposite direction. Dizziness spun her head in a loop. Her vision fogged and she welcomed the blackout that threatened.
“Deep breath, sweetheart. We’re not finished.”
Chapter Five
S hots fired at the perfect moment. The gold sedan swerved, missed the curve, and crashed into the cliff. All according to plan, but Rose wanted to catch the bastard. It was time to figure out what the fuck Echo wanted and why the hell they didn’t back down, but a panic attack had Debi in a tight grip. A thin glaze
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