He pushed the SUV harder, weaving through the curves, doing whatever it took to put more distance between them and the wreck.
The storm swallowed the sound of the crash behind them, but Jackson’s gut stayed tight. Whoever those shooters were, they’d regroup.
And when they did, they’d come hunting again.
Chapter Ten
Avery twisted in her seat, eyes locked on the road behind them. Nothing but rain and darkness. The truck was nowhere in sight. Still, her pulse wouldn’t slow. The adrenaline kept pounding through her, sharp and cold.
They’d come close. Too close.
If that big truck had managed to shove them into the ditch, it would have been over fast. She could picture it clearly, the SUV flipped or pinned, the shooters closing in through the rain.
Of course, she and Jackson wouldn’t have gone down easy. They would have fought back. Neither of them was the type to sit still and wait to be executed.
But it was a fight they might not have won.
She turned forward again, stealing a glance at Jackson. His jaw was set, his focus unshakable, hands tight on the wheel as the storm beat against the glass.
The thought hit her hard. They were alive because of him. Because he refused to lose control when everything else had gone to hell.
Avery drew in a shaky breath and tried to steady herself, but her heart still hammered like it was trying to break free.
They weren’t safe. Not yet.
And she knew it was only a matter of time before whoever sent that truck came after them again.
“I didn’t see who was in the truck,” Avery said, her voice still unsteady.
“Neither did I,” Jackson replied, eyes fixed on the road. His voice was calm, but she could hear the strain underneath. “You made a good shot.”
Avery looked down at the gun resting in her lap, her hands still trembling. “I wasn’t trying to play hero. It just had to be done.”
He nodded slightly. “Maybe so, but you still risked your life. I’m not happy about that.”
She gave a tired huff of breath. “Neither am I. I’m just glad it worked.”
For a few seconds, the only sound was the engine and the steady drum of rain. Jackson’s face was tight with focus as he tapped his phone’s controls on the console.
He activated the hands-free link and dictated a message. “Noah, we need a team and local law enforcement sent to this location.” He rattled off their coordinates. “Truck went off the road after a pursuit. Shots fired. Possible casualties.”
The message sent with a beep, and Jackson’s attention went right back to the road.
Avery turned her gaze to the window, watching the dark blur of trees and water streak past. “You think the truck will still be there when they get to it?”
Jackson shook his head slightly. “Doubt it. But they might find something useful.”
Avery nodded. The people chasing them were smart, but maybe they’d left behind a clue. A tire tread. A shell casing. Something the CSI could trace.
It wasn’t much hope, but right now, it was all they had.
Jackson’s phone beeped, the sound sharp over the hum of the engine. He glanced at the screen where Noah’s reply flashed.
“He’s on it,” Jackson said. “He’s sending a team and the sheriff’s office to the crash site.” His eyes flicked back to the message. “He wants to know if we’re all right.”
Avery’s gaze dropped to his hands on the wheel, steady but tight. “What are you going to tell him?”
“That we weren’t injured,” Jackson said. He hit the voice control again and dictated, “We’re fine. Need a new vehicle soon but for now taking Avery to a safe location.”