but to Carter’s.” He handed her his cell phone. “Call the last number I received a call from. His name is Vincent and he’s part of your new team. Tell him we might have a tail and to keep the line open.” Because Blue couldn’t talk to him when he might have to do some quick maneuvering. And he didn’t have his earpiece with him to give him hands-free capability.
She sucked in a breath, her expression startled, but to Mina’s credit she didn’t question him, just took the phone and dialed. The van behind him hadn’t sped up any but Blue wasn’t taking a chance. He reached for the small keyfob attached to Carter’s keychain and pressed the button to open the gate. They were still about thirty yards out but he could see it starting to open. The gate was new too so as he reached the ten yard mark, it was fully open.
The van behind them jerked ahead, as if the driver realized what Blue was doing.
Gunning it, Blue took a sharp turn into the quiet neighborhood. Since he’d opened the gate himself and he was driving Carter’s SUV he doubted the guard in the small gatehouse would attempt to stop him. Not that he cared.
Short of the guard shooting his tires out, Blue wasn’t slowing down. Next to him Mina was relaying everything to Vincent with a shaky voice, but at least she was remaining calm.
As he shot through the gate, he pressed the button to close it. After a few seconds’ delay it started to close. For a brief moment Blue wondered if he’d overreacted but when the van came into view, racing straight for the gate, a jolt of pure adrenaline surged through him.
“We’re going to park and make a run for the boat. Get ready,” he told Mina. There was no other exit and since he didn’t want to get into a gun battle with their pursuers, escaping was the only choice.
She nodded and murmured what was going on to Vincent before un-strapping her seatbelt. Blue shot a glance in the rearview mirror again. The van slammed into the gate before it could fully close, sending it flying off its hinges.
They had a good lead, but Blue’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. By now the security guard would have already called the police but even if they dispatched this second they’d never arrive in time to help. Neither would the Red Stone team.
“Alex.” Mina sounded terrified as he neared Carter’s home.
“We’re going to make it.” He sounded more confident than he felt.
A look in the rearview mirror gave him a small burst of relief. It looked as if the van had totaled out after ramming the gate. Those fuckers would have to come after them on foot.
Mina turned around and he could practically feel the terror rolling off her. Which made him want to pummel the shit out of each and every one of the men involved in this.
“Don’t look back,” he ordered as he made the sharp turn into Carter’s driveway. “Get ready to go. Jump out and follow me as soon as I park.”
Seconds later, he slowed then stopped completely, the SUV shuddering under the abrupt stop. Mina’s door was open before Blue had his thrown open. As he flew from the vehicle, he withdrew his weapon. When there was time to slow down he’d give Mina his backup but now he couldn’t risk it. “This way,” he said quietly as she rounded the front of the vehicle to meet him.
They sprinted toward the side of the house, but he held back a foot so that she was in front of him. He only risked a quick glance over his shoulder as they rounded the side of it. No one was there. Yet. But he knew they were coming.
To try such a bold kidnapping meant they were desperate. That didn’t bode well for either of them. The more desperate they got, the higher the chance of someone getting hurt.
Thankfully there wasn’t a privacy fence. Not in a neighborhood like this. There were big hedges separating the homes, but a stone walkway led them straight back to the pool area. Breathing erratically, Mina kept pace as they raced past the pool and down the
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