Page 33 of Rescuing Baylee
His partner’s voice was tense. “We’ve got a problem. Hector left the hangout about three minutes ago. We’ve lost him on the GPS.”
Landon’s heart sank. “He could be headed this way.”
“Exactly. We’re spreading out, but you need to get out of there now, Hunter. Don’t take any chances.”
Landon glanced at Baylee, who was holding the cat carrier close, her eyes widening in alarm as she overheard Morgan’s words. “We’re on our way out,” he said, trying to keep his voice calm.
He ended the call and turned to Baylee. “We need to move. Now.”
Baylee didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the sack of cat food and the backpack she’d left by the door and hurried after Landon, the carrier clutched securely in her arms. They moved quickly, retracing their steps through the hallway and down the stairs. Every sound seemed amplified in the silence of the night, every creak of the floorboards a potential threat.
As they reached the side door, Landon peered outside, scanning the area for any signs of danger. The street was still empty, but he knew that could change at any moment. “Stay close,” he whispered to Baylee, leading her out the door.
They made their way back to the car, moving swiftly but carefully. As they reached the vehicle, Landon’s instincts screamed at him to hurry. He opened the door for Baylee, who quickly slid into the passenger seat. He took the cat carrier from her and positioned it on the floor behind her seat. “He’ll be secure there.”
Just as Landon rounded the car to get in on the driver’s side, the distant roar of an engine reached his ears. His heart raced as he glanced up, seeing headlights approaching rapidly from down the street, bouncing through the potholes in the alley.
“Get down!” Landon shouted, diving into the car and slamming the door shut just as the gray Hellcat came into view.
The car screeched to a halt just a few feet away, revving the engine, its tires leaving marks on the pavement. For a split second, the world seemed to freeze, the tension in the air so thick it was suffocating. Then, in a flash, Landon started the engine and threw the car into drive, peeling out of the parking spot with a burst of speed. Baylee could have sworn she heard pops of gunfire as they sped away.
Baylee gasped, clutching the dash as the car sped back down the street. The Hellcat’s engine roared again, and Landon could see it giving chase in the rearview mirror.
“Hold on!” Landon barked, spinning the wheel and slamming on the brakes to swing the car around in a tight arc. The tires screeched in protest, but the maneuver worked, and they were now speeding down the street, the Hellcat in hot pursuit.
Landon’s focus narrowed to the road ahead, his mind racing as he tried to think of a way to lose their pursuers. They had the advantage of knowing the area, but the Hellcat was faster, more powerful. He needed to out-think them, not outrun them.
He reached for the mic on the dash. “D-78 to shift sergeant zone 3. Porter!”
“Go ahead.”
“We’re coming your way. The Dodge is chasing us. I’d appreciate some intervention.”
“Gotcha!”
They tore through the streets, weaving between parked cars and dodging late-night traffic, but they couldn’t shake the Dodge. Baylee hadn’t made a sound, leaving him to concentrate on his evasive maneuvers. She grunted once, then was quiet again. She looked back when she heard the Austin PD car pull in behind the Dodge, blue lights flashing and the siren screaming, and he could see by her face that she was relieved. Landon suddenly decelerated and cranked the wheel, sliding into an alley just wide enough to squeeze through. Then he veered sharply to the right again, the car jolting as it jumped the curb and slid into another narrow alley.
The Hellcat roared past the entrance, unable to stop in time, and continued down the street, the APD cruiser chasing him. A second cruiser flashed by seconds later.
Landon slowed down, navigating carefully through the tight space. His heart was pounding in his chest, the adrenaline making his hands tremble slightly on the wheel. He glanced over at Baylee, who was pale but composed, her eyes wide with fear but also determination.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice rough with tension.
Baylee nodded, her grip on the dash loosening slightly. “Yeah. I’m okay. You?”
“I’m fine,” Landon replied, though the truth was he felt anything but fine. The reality of how close they had just come to danger was hitting him hard, but he couldn’t afford to dwell on it. Not yet.
They reached the end of the alley and eased back onto the main road. The Hellcat was nowhere in sight, and for now, itseemed they had lost their pursuers. But Landon knew it was only a matter of time before they regrouped.
“We need to get to a safe place,” Landon said, his voice tight. “I’ll call Morgan and have him send backup to meet us.”
Baylee nodded, her eyes still scanning the darkness outside. “Landon… thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Landon’s heart skipped a beat at her words, but he forced himself to stay focused. “We’ll get through this, Baylee. I promise.”
As he drove them toward safety, the tension in the car slowly began to ease, but the threat of what lay ahead still loomed large. And he was more determined than ever to protect Baylee, no matter what it took.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN