Page 61 of Guarded Hearts
His sister’s voice on the line jostled him out of his dark thoughts. “I tracked Oaks on his GPS. He’s pulling into the parking lot now.”
At that moment, an unfamiliar car rolled in, highlighted by a flash of lightning. The boom of thunder that followed had Layne flattening her body against his back where he still stood in the open doorway.
He reached back and gripped her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze even as he went on high alert.
“Willow. That’s not Oaks’s old truck.”
“No. It’s his new car.”
“Why the hell would he choosenowto get a new car? Everything about this situation is fucked up enough without adding new vehicles I don’t recognize into the mix!”
“Calm down, brother. You’re on home turf now. We’ve got your six.”
“What do you know about having anyone’s six? You were never even in the military.” Even though he was going a little off the rails, his lips still twitched at his sister’s words.
Oaks climbed out of the car and popped open an umbrella. He ran across the asphalt to lead Layne under cover so she didn’t get soaked in the storm. Carson didn’t fare so well and was drenched to the skin by the time he hit the back seat beside Layne, with Oaks at the wheel.
“Where the hell did you get a new car?” he demanded as soon as the door shut.
“You told me to get rid of the truck you hated so much.”
“We’ve been gone twenty-four hours. How did you manage that so fast?”
Oaks put the car in gear. “Shit happens fast in my world.”
Fuck. Carson’s heart couldn’t take much more.
They had to get out of there. Back to the Black Heart Ranch.
The only place he could truly keep the woman he loved safe.
At least he thought he could—until bullets started flying.
* * * * *
“Who the fuck is trying to kill us now!” Carson shoved Layne off the seat and onto the floor.
The sharp metallic thumps on the sides of the car pierced the silence. She screamed as her brain caught up to his exclamation and she realized someone was shooting at them.
A bullet punched through glass, shattering it.
“Jesus Christ. Hang on!” Oaks jerked the wheel to the right. Tires screamed against the asphalt as he simultaneously stomped the gas.
Heart pounding out of her chest, Layne battled for air. She was stuffed into a narrow spot, the lumpy car floor digging into her ribs and making it hard to draw breath on top of the fear cutting off her air supply.
More bullets sprayed the side of the car, and Oaks jerked right again before straightening out.
She screamed, clutching at Carson who guarded her with his body. “Who the hell is shooting at us?”
“Do you have a fucking tracker glued to your ass or something?” Oaks demanded.
If one of those bullets hit a mark… Her blood iced over at the thought of one hitting Carson. She’d just found him again. She couldn’t live without him.
Oaks took another sharp turn. The car veered, tossing her side to side in the cramped space. “Stay low. I’ll handle this.”
“Tell me what’s happening.” Carson’s voice rumbled by her ear, but she felt the vibration through his chest.
“Fuck!” Oaks let out a low grunt of pain.