Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155903 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
The Scot moved in front of them to open the back door. She slid in. The partition was up between the front and back. Reuben sat next to her. As soon as the Scot shut the door, the car sped off.
“What the fuck!” Reuben slammed his arm over her to stop her from flying forward. She turned back to find the Scot standing there, his phone in his hand, looking horrified.
Fudge!
What the hell was going on?
“What is this? What’s happening?” she asked as the car sped up. “What is Steven doing?”
“I don’t think it’s Steven, baby.” He buckled her in. “Be ready to undo it when I say so. Fuck!” The car swung between traffic.
“Are the doors locked?” she asked.
Reuben tested them. “Yes.” He hit the unlock button, but it didn’t work. “He’s done something to them. We can’t jump, anyway. He’s going too fast, and we could be hit.” He drew his phone out. “Alejandro? Yes. Nighthawk is tracking us? Yep. Yes. Good.”
He ended the call. “Alejandro is on his way with men. Nighthawk is tracking us. This guy has fucked up. He hasn’t thought this through.”
“Steven? Where is Steven?” she asked.
“Alejandro is going to send someone looking for him.” He fired off another message. “Fuck. Do you have Childs’ number?”
“Yes. Why?”
“He won’t be expecting us to call the cops. But he’s just kidnapped the police chief’s cousin.”
Her breathing grew fast. She drew out her phone as the car swerved between more traffic. She quickly called Smith, putting it on speaker.
“Faith?”
“We’ve been kidnapped,” Reuben replied. “My driver has been replaced by someone that I assume is Darcy Rivers. We’re trapped in the back of the car, and he is driving erratically.”
“Give me your location and the car license plate.”
Reuben gave the details.
“I’m sending people now.”
She sucked in a breath as Reuben ended the call. “Was that a good idea? Won’t Alejandro be upset?”
Reuben shook his head. “Alejandro has too many eyes on him at the moment. He can’t afford to get so visibly involved. And your cousin wants a win, so we give him Rivers. Win-win.”
There were sirens approaching and turning, she saw police cars coming up behind them.
“Baby, you need to do exactly what I say when I say it,” he said firmly. “Understand?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
The partition between the front and back lowered slightly.
“What the fuck did you do?” the man in the front seat snarled.
“You’re an idiot, Rivers,” Reuben told him. “The cops are going to have you surrounded soon.”
“You called the fucking cops?”
He sounded so offended. What an idiot.
“Rivers, you need to give yourself up,” Reuben commanded. “You’re done for.”
“Oh yeah? And what if I just take the two of you with me in a blaze of glory?”
Faith swallowed heavily. What would happen if he did that? Fear threatened to engulf her. But then the guy screamed in anger and the car started to slow.
“They fucked up the tires. Fuck!”
“You could run, you know,” Reuben suggested.
“Or I could fucking kill you both!”
Reuben reached over and undid her belt, hitting the button to lower the screen fully as he dove over between them to grab Darcy Rivers.
“Down, baby!” he yelled.
She slid down immediately, hiding in the footwell as the car spun. A shot was fired and there was the sound of smashed glass.
Faith screamed, certain that Reuben was going to get hurt. She didn’t care about herself. She just wanted him to be all right!
But then the car came to a halt. She was breathing heavily, unsure of what was going on.
All she could hear were the sirens around them. Lights flashed in her eyes.
Please let Reuben be all right.
Please, God.
Please.
Doors opened. There were people yelling as she sat there, terrified and afraid. When the door closest to her opened, she screamed.
Firm hands grabbed hold of her and she cried out as someone pulled her onto their lap. She opened her eyes, staring up at Reuben through blurry eyes.
“Everything is all right, baby,” he soothed. “You’re safe. I’m safe. From now on, everything is going to be okay. I promise.”
She threw herself against him, ignoring the way her body ached and hugged him tight.
“What happened?” she cried.
“He’s still alive. He tried to shoot me, but the shot went wild. I managed to get in a couple of hits and then the car slowed enough for the cops to approach and take over. It’s all over. You’re safe.”
Thank God.
“I don’t want to go through anything like this again.” She clung to him. It was too much.
“You won’t, baby. I’ll make sure of that. From now on . . . it’s just happy times.”
72
“So Reuben is taking you home to see your family?” Cat asked.
She and Charlie were sitting on Faith’s bed while she packed her clothes.
“Yeah. He thinks it would be a good idea to get away for a while after . . . everything.”