“We’ll be fine.” She slings her backpack over her shoulder and turns to the door. “Let’s go.”
“Stay behind me,” I order, poking the curtain slightly open with my sidearm and glaring into the darkness of the parking lot. I make out the getaway car, a sedan with an Idaho license plate, and scan the area to ensure there’s no one out there waiting for us. “Okay. Move fast, Maddie.”
Despite being positive we’re in the clear, I don’t tuck the gun away just yet, my sharp eyes scanning every inch of the way to safety. There aren’t any new vehicles in the lot or in the area around it. It’s peaceful, as one would expect from a sideroad motel after midnight on a Tuesday.
I press the remote ignition from a safe distance, just in case, but the engine simply roars to life.
“Okay.” I breathe a sigh of relief, opening the passenger side for Maddie to jump in before climbing into the driver’s seat and pushing the duffle bag back, sidearm safely tucked into my shoulder holster. “Let’s get going.”
Turning in the direction of I-65 South, I’m already feeling better that I’m putting distance between Chicago and us.
“Where are you going?” Maddie turns to look through the rear windshield with a frown.
“Columbus. I can’t risk not having backup now that you’ve been exposed.” Her scowl deepens and she turns to look at me, seeming annoyed. “You’ll be safest there, with the entire Peak Securities team surrounding you.”
“No,” she deadpans. “Turn around.”
“What? Why?”
“Because…” She trails off and swears under her breath. “Just turn around, Sawyer. I need to be in Chicago. I need more time.”
“You better give me a good reason, Maddie, because I’m not about to turn this car around and endanger you without one.” I wait for her answer, but she just glares at me, and then something suddenly clicks. “No, no fucking way.” I shake my head, refusing to believe what I so vividly know to be true. “Tell me you weren’tthatfucking stupid, Maddie.”
“Just turn the car around, Sawyer.”
“Fucking hell, Maddie!” I yell in part exasperation, part panic, slamming a palm against the steering wheel. “You went after Harlow? What in the world possessed you to try and hunt down a faceless, nameless psychopath on your own?”
“I have him, Sawyer,” she shouts back. “I had a hot trail on one of the withdrawals leading straight toChicago. I just need more time to nail the bastard down and blow his cover wide open.”
“Every agency out there has been trying to do that for years, with a full team of experts!” I hit the gas pedal, desperate to get her as far away from that damned city that’s never done me any favors as fast as humanly possible. “For years, Madeline.”
“I got lucky.” She shrugs, and I let out a sardonic bark that sounds more like a pained groan at her sheer cockiness.
“He’s one of the most dangerous men in the world. He didn’t become that by leaving things to luck.” I see the exit sign to the interstate, my heart pounding so hard as it approaches that I’m not sure I’ll make the two miles without dying from cardiac arrest. “You’re underestimating him.”
“No. I know exactly what he’s capable of.” She throws herself back in her seat and stares down at her lap. “Which is why I need to get to him first.”
I chance a glance in her direction. The sleeves of her fleece sweatshirt are being thoroughly abused by her blunt fingernails, her entire body projecting terror.
“That’s not how this works, Maddie.” I cover her hand with mine. “If you charge at him, he’ll just get more desperate to neutralize you.”
“If I hide, he’ll hurt people trying to get to me,” she whispers.
“He hasn’t, though.” I look ahead in thought. “He could have used the people you love against you, but he hasn’t.”
“I know, and it doesn’t make sense.” She turns her gaze back to me. “It scares me, Sawyer, that he isn’t predictable.” She wipes away a tear that escaped the corner of her eye. “I have to find him first.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I weave my fingers through hers. “I could have helped. I would have taken you somewhere safe sooner. I wouldn’t…” I blow out a breath to try and ease the growing tension in my chest. “I wouldn’t have gotten distracted from protecting you.”
“You distract me too.” Her voice is full of sadness. “Maybe…”
“Maybe I should hand you over to someone else until this is over?” I finish for her, and another tear rolls down her cheek.
“I don’t want that.”
“But it’s the right thing to do.” Pain blooms through my chest at my own words, but Maddie’s safety is more important than my heartache. “Deep down, you know it is, Maddie.”
She opens her mouth to answer, then her eyes grow wide, the shine of headlights reflecting in her pupils unmistakable. I hit the gas and yank the wheel right even before turning my head to see the approaching black Rover heading straight into my side of the car.