I bit my lip. His car was fast, but that would be little help if he couldn't keep it on the road. After all,hedidn't have four-wheel drive.
No, whathehad was a reckless disregard for his own safety. When I saw him come dangerously close to spinning out, I screamed, "For God's sake, will youpleasestop the car!"
The guy didn't stop.But then again, he hadn't stopped the other times I'd asked either. Going for a new approach, I took a deep, calming breath and tried again. "Seriously, just stop the car, alright?"
With a sarcastic snort, the female said, "It's not a car. It's an SUV, remember?"
This again?I made a sound of annoyance. "You called it a car first."
"Yeah, well you called it onelast."
"It doesn't matter what we call it," I said. "You still need to stop."
From the driver's seat, the guy said, "Shut up! You've got no say in this!"
The female turned to face him. "You'd better be talking toher!"
"I'm talking to both of you," he said. "Now, zip it! I'm trying to drive."
Did I really need to say it?"You wouldn'tneedto drive if you'd just pull over."
He glanced in his rear-view mirror and cursed under his breath. "I can't. He's gaining on us."
Knowing Mason, he'd keep gaining on us. Or he'd die in a ditch. Or, maybe he'd end up twisted around a telephone pole. Just the thought of it made my heart clench and my mouth go dry.
I told the driver, "You can't outrun him, you know."
He hollered back, "Didn't I tell you to shut up?"
"Don't you get it?" I said. "He thinksWillow'sin the car."
"Who the fuck's Willow?"
"His little sister."
For the tenth time, I said a silent prayer of thanks that shewasn'tin the vehicle –anda silent curse that Mason apparently believed otherwise.
The female looked to me and said, "Can't you just call him? Tell him Willow's not here?"
Seriously?
How soon they forget.
"Suuuuure," I said. "Just turn back and retrieve my purse. You know, the one you tossed out the window?"
From the driver's seat, the guy said, "We're not goin' back for nothin'."
I told him, "Well, you can't drive forever. Eventually, you'll run out of gas."Assuming we didn't slide into a ditch long before that.
He gave the rear-view mirror another glance. "Yeah, well maybehe'llrun out first."
"Ormaybe," I said, "he'll catch up with us and beat you senseless for kidnapping his little sister."
The driver shot back, "But his sister's not even here."
"I know," I said through clenched teeth. "But Mason doesn't know that, does he?"
The guy glanced toward his female companion and said, "Why'd you throw out her purse for?"
