New Species 02 Slade by Laurann Dohner Read Free Book Online Page B

leaned forward between the seats and Bart still
    drove the SUV. Trisha studied their surroundings, seeing
    they were in a wooded area on a two-lane highway with
    dense trees on each side of the road. The sun had
    lowered in the sky and it would be night soon. She held
    her forehead where it still hurt but then pulled her hand
    back to look for blood. There wasn’t any.
    “Step on the gas harder,” Slade growled. “They are
    going to hit us again.”
    Who will hit us? Trisha turned her head to peer out
    the back of the SUV. She saw a red truck with a metal
    grill coming fast at the back of the vehicle. She knew her
    mouth opened as the truck moved closer, realizing it
    would ram them. She softly gasped as it plowed into the
    back of the SUV.
    The SUV swerved, fishtailing on the narrow road.
    Trisha’s head was thrown forward against the back of the
    cushioned driver’s seat. Her seat belt dug painfully into
    her lap as she realized she had pushed down the
    shoulder belt while sleeping.
    “Oh my god,” Bart sounded as though he were
    sobbing. “They are trying to kill us.”
    “Punch the gas,” Slade roared. “Our engine is bigger.
    They wouldn’t be able to catch us to ram us if you’d find
    your balls and put on some speed.”
    “I can’t,” Bart yelled. “I’ll lose control. The turns are
    too sharp.”
    “Next time, I’m driving,” Slade snarled.
    Trisha experienced fear as she watched the edges of
    the road. There were trees everywhere and one side of
    the narrow road rose uphill while the on the other side,
    the one she sat closest to, dropped off into a vast space of
    trees. She stared downward. They were on some winding
    mountain road heading up.
    “Call for help,” Trisha got out, confused and terrified
    at waking in a hellish situation.
    “There’s no cell signal.” Slade snarled his words,
    obviously furious.
    He turned his head, looking back. He cursed,
    throwing himself into the seat next to Trisha. She was
    shocked by the sight of the weapon he withdrew from his
    back from under his waistband. It was a black handgun.
    “Oh crap,” she gasped.
    The truck rammed them again. Trisha was thrown
    against the door next to her but this time she managed
    not to hit her head. Her hand got smashed instead
    between the door she gripped and her body. Slade was
    thrown into the back of the passenger seat before he
    moved onto his knees and bent into the back section of
    the SUV. He pointed the weapon.
    “Cover your ears, Doc.”
    She did that just as Slade opened fire. Glass
    exploded. The sound of the gun going off was
    earsplitting. The SUV fishtailed wildly as it nearly
    tipped on two wheels. Bart cursed a blue streak, taking a
    turn too fast.
    Trisha twisted around to face the back. She saw white
    steam pour out from under the hood of the red truck, not
    needing to be told that Slade had shot into the engine. He
    had to have hit the radiator or something else. The red
    truck slowed and the SUV pulled away. Slade stopped
    firing. He cursed as he dropped the empty clip and
    shoved in another full one from his side pocket. They
    took a turn and the red truck wasn’t behind them
    anymore.
    Trisha gaped at Slade. His blue gaze flashed to hers.
    “Are you okay, Doc?”
    She managed to nod. “Who was that?”
    Slade shrugged. “My guess is they weren’t friends of
    ours.” He threw himself down on the seat sideways,
    placing the gun down between them. He tore his focus
    from her to watch out the damaged back window. Wind
    rushed into the SUV from the gaping hole. He yanked his
    cell phone out of his pocket. He flipped it open, stared at
    it for a few seconds, and viciously cursed.
    “There’s still no signal.” His gaze met hers. “Where’s
    your cell, Doc?”
    “Mine won’t have one either if you don’t have a
    signal.”
    “You never know. We might have different carriers.
    Where is it? I don’t want to sit here debating. I’d rather
    try.”
    She reached for her purse but it