My pulse races, and I wish there were something I could do to help.
The car behind us picks up speed.
But then comes another problem.
A second person on a motorcycle drives up beside us.
Great. We have two vehicles behind us now.
“Hold on,” Emilio says, jerking the wheel.
We hit the motorcycle.
The motorcycle spins out, crashing on the side of the road.
My heart pounds against my ribs as I grip the seat.
“As soon as I stop, you run,” Emilio instructs, his eyes on the rearview mirror, watching the other car.
He veers off the road, and plunges us into the trees. The Range Rover crashes through branches, and he slams on the brakes.
I throw open the door and run.
My adrenaline pumps, and the wind smacks me in the face as I sprint away from the SUV and road.
Emilio is right behind me, gun in hand, watching our backs.
The other car’s headlights shine through the trees, and they honk their horn.
“Keep going,guaio!” Emilio shouts as we hear shots being fired. “Ignore them!”
My legs burn, but I push harder.
I gasp for air, and eventually, my legs give out. Kneeling forward, I catch my breath. Emilio doesn’t say a word as he scoops me up and throws me over his shoulder.
He moves us faster than I could, and neither of us says a word. I don’t know how much time passes until he slowly drops me to my feet against a tree.
“I think we’re good,” he says, fighting off his exhaustion. “I doubt the lazy bastards even got out of the car.”
I slide down the trunk, falling on my ass. “Who were they?”
“No idea.” He starts pacing in front of me.
“You still need to get to the hospital,” I whisper. “You have a baby on the way.”
He abruptly halts and crouches in front of me. Grabbing my chin roughly, he gets in my face. “If you tell anyone about that phone call or what we’re about to do, I’ll kill you, Liliya.” His voice is raw, drenched in real threat. “And this time, it’s a promise.”
30
After Emilio’s threat,do I even want to know the truth?
Ignorance is sometimes bliss.
Emilio stands and pulls his phone from his pocket. I stay slouched against the tree. My legs couldn’t stand even if I begged them to.
“Hey,” he says into the phone. “It’s Emilio. No one can get in touch with Andre, and we have an emergency.”
He nods, scratching his jaw, and moves out of earshot.
