Page 118 of Jig's Last Dance
Can I deliver this without knowing what’s inside? Fuck me. What if it’s another girl?
With a sigh, I put the car in park and open the damn envelope with trembling fingers. As I suspected, it’s a photo of a girl my age or maybe a little older. Thankfully, these aren’t half-naked pictures of a life already ruined.
But as I stare at the image of a girl who doesn’t realize she’s next, I drop my chin.
Shit. She’s at a swanky event, wearing a beautiful red dress that should clash with her auburn hair but doesn’t. Sparkling jade eyes flash at the camera, her wide mouth open with a generous smile.
She’s gorgeous and presumably still free. Can I change the trajectory of her life?
With a small sigh, I read the back: Liberty Hunter, 19, high profile but special request.
Jesus. With a shiver, I slide it all back inside and pull away from the curb. With zero desire to go back to Sal’s, I merge onto the freeway and take the exit that leads into the mountains, counting the trees as they fly by.
For a while, I avoid the specter of the girl and every other part of my fucked-up world.
Only when a dark SUV comes flying up on my bumper, do I look back. I move to the right, assuming they want to pass. It’s the wrong fucking guess because the car taps my bumper.
Holy shit. Sal is gonna be pissed about the damage. But hold the fuck up. That’s what I’m worried about? Who the fuck cares?
The vehicle pounds into me again, and I cry out before pressing my foot to the gas. We’re in the mountains, not a soul around, and the curves could be deadly. Images of my mom’s death fly through my mind before I clench my hands around the wheel.
I’m driving a fucking sports car. Let’s see how these dicks handle the speed.
Whipping around a corner, I accelerate to ninety and hug the mountain. If another car comes around the other side, I’m screwed, but I have to focus on the imminent threat.
The SUV meets my speed, and I shout when they bump me again. I can’t see past the tinted windows, but I don’t need to, to know they’re serious about killing me. Running me off the road at ninety isn’t a warning.
Is this Sal? Why? He could’ve killed me anytime he wanted while I was under his roof.
Then who?
The vehicle hits me again. I fishtail and swerve before pressing on the gas and shooting forward. But they do too, and when another curve approaches, they get right on my ass.
It’s do or die. I have to do something right now, or I’m not going to live to see another day.
With a strangled moan, I swerve toward the railing and accelerate, screaming when the barrier flies toward me. The SUV follows. Blinking the sweat from my stinging eyes, I turn toward the mountain at the last second.
The SUV goes too, but they over-correct and slam against the barrier. The last image I have is the vehicle flying over the side before the sound of it crashing into the trees overtakes the car, and I cringe.
With my heart in my throat, I slam on the brakes and stop, staring behind me in the mirror where smoke rises from the trees.
What now?
Yanking on the wheel, I pull to the side of the road and stare into nothing. I almost died. But why?
“Shit,” I whisper, grabbing the gun out of my pack and exiting the car. This is foolish, but how can I battle this if I don’t know who it is?
The smell of burnt rubber assails my nose as I stop at the top and stare at the vehicle resting against the trees. The front end is crunched like an accordion, and there’s no movement.
“Okay,” I say with a shaky breath and step over the railing before sliding down the hill. The decline is wet, and I slap my hands against the side of the vehicle to stay upright as I inch my way down.
My heart is pumping wildly, and my hands are slick when I reach the driver’s side door and clench the handle for dear life.
The ground beneath me shifts, and I gasp before resting my body against the cool metal to peer inside.
“Dad?” I whimper, a sob catching in my throat.
He doesn’t move. I slam my hand against the glass until he twists his head and looks at me with a dazed expression.