Chapter 5 - The Ambush
Another bullet struck the armored glass.
Emma woke up screaming.
“Mama!”
“Stay down, baby! Hide on the floor!” Claire yelled, unbuckling her seatbelt to reach back and push Emma down.
Damian slammed his foot on the gas.
The heavy SUV surged forward on the wet coastal highway.
In the rearview mirror, Claire saw a dark gray truck speeding up behind them.
“Silas is behind us!” Claire shouted.
“They bypassed him,” Damian growled.
He swerved violently to avoid a civilian car.
The gray truck rammed their bumper. The SUV fishtailed.
Claire grabbed the dashboard, her heart pounding against her ribs.
“Hold on!” Damian shouted.
He hit the brakes.
The truck behind them wasn't expecting the maneuver. It slammed into the back of the SUV, crushing its own radiator.
Damian accelerated again, putting distance between them.
“Are they stopped?” Claire gasped, looking back.
The truck was smoking, limping to the side of the road.
“For now,” Damian said, his eyes scanning the mirrors.
Emma was crying softly on the floorboards.
Claire climbed into the back seat and pulled her daughter into her arms.
“It’s okay, sweetie. It’s okay.”
Damian watched them in the mirror.
“Is she hurt?”
“She’s terrified,” Claire snapped.
“We’re ten miles from the safehouse. We’ll switch cars at the next exit.”
His voice was entirely calm now. The panic from the café was gone.
This was his element.
“You brought this violence to us,” Claire whispered.
“I’m ending it today.”
Damian pulled out a burner phone. He dialed a number one-handed.
“Silas. They’re on Route 1. Clean it up.”
He hung up.
Claire hugged Emma tighter.
“I want to go home,” Emma whimpered.
“I know, baby.”
Claire looked at the back of Damian’s head.
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“If we survive this, you are never coming near her again.”
Damian didn't argue. He just kept driving.
