Page 86 of Montana Silence

More than anything, I needed Neil to relax and not think I was trying to get away. If they thought I would try to get away at every turn, I would never be able to.

Because of Liam, and the rest of my friends, and also thanks to Rayne, I had my voice back.

Time to use it.

“I couldn’t…say anything until now,” I said. “But I’m glad we’re leaving.”

Claire looked over at me, the dreamy smile on her face fading. Likewise, Neil met my eyes in the mirror. “Really?”

“Yeah.” My voice came out hoarse. “It’s been really hard being away. Harder than I let anyone know. Because people don’t understand what it’s like to be part of a true family.”

I knew exactly what it was like now, and it was the reason I was able to keep my voice steady as I lied. “It’s a relief to be going home for real.”

“Then why did you help Malcolm stay in prison?” Claire asked. “You could have said no and not testified.”

“I just—” I broke my voice off. “I just needed to see him. When I was overwhelmed at the first hearing, it wasn’t because I was afraid. I was just so upset that I couldn’t go back in time.”

They were still suspicious. “Besides, you seemed happy that he was staying in jail. Isn’t it a good thing for all of us?”

In the mirror, Neil grinned. It was the smile of someone so completely out of touch with reality, andthatwas what made it terrifying. “It is a good thing. Malcolm was the past. And we’re the future, Mara.”

I forced myself to smile. “I’d still like to wear a dress, please. It doesn’t have to have all the embroidery, but I still want to look beautiful for you.”

“Oh, you will.”

The tiny imprint on the dashboard in front of me drew my attention.Airbags. This car had airbags, and it might be the thing to save my life.

“Will you take these off?” I lifted my wrists. “I’m happy to be coming home with you. Do I need to be chained up like a criminal?”

Neil chuckled and leaned forward, wrapping a hand around the back of my neck and pressing a hot kiss to my cheek. I nearly gagged. “Not yet, Mara.” His words rumbled near my ear.

Don’t move. Don’t move. Don’t move.

“Don’t worry, I believe you. And I’ll believe you even more when I see you smiling at the end of the aisle. But until then, the cuffs stay on. I can’t take the chance you’ll be taken from me again.” His voice dropped to a sickening whisper. “I’ve waited too many years to have you.”

He leaned back finally, releasing my neck, and I hauled in air, trying to feel less sick. And less nervous about what I was about to do. We were in the right lane, and there was an overpass coming. If I didn’t want to hurt anyone else on the road, this was my best chance.

“Okay,” I said. “Whatever you need to trust me is fine.”

Claire smiled, and in the mirror, Neil checked his phone. For the first time, his eyes weren’t glued directly on me. He was distracted and she was relaxed. It had to be now.

Sending a prayer this worked and didn’t leave me dead, I took a breath.

Just before the overpass, I lunged, grabbing the steering wheel and yanking it as hard as I could, before Claire could react. We were going too fast, and there was no chance for her to correct our course. She screamed, and I closed my eyes just before we crashed headlong into the bridge.

Chapter28

Liam

The chopper was loud.Even with the headphones on, I found it was an effort to focus my thoughts. The line was open to the guys back home, and I could switch back and forth between them and the local cops as needed.

Right now, we were chasing the car Mara was in, and we were almost there. A few more seconds and I’d have a true visual on her.

“We have the blockade?” I asked.

“They’re on it,” Lucas called out. “Five minutes till they’re done setting it up.”

The cars below moved evenly in the flow of traffic. “Any sign they know we’re coming?”