At one point, she’d considered her a guardian angel, protecting her from the improper advances of the man who sat next to her now. Funny how things turn out, eh?
They reached the ramp that led to the highway to Derrick’s place. Cass glanced in the passenger’s wing mirror. Was someone following them?
“I think someone’s following us,” she warned Derrick.
He looked at his rearview mirror and said, “So I’m not crazy then; you think that black truck is following us too?”
He hit the gas a little harder, and the BMW roared, blending into traffic. The black truck did the same, and Cass’s stomach flipped as she saw its headlights dazzle the wing mirror as it came out from the merging lane. The truck sped up, heading towards their car.
“You got to be f*cking kidding me,” Derrick said, his gaze flicking to the rearview mirror. “Not today, not this sh*t.”
Cass trembled as Derrick weaved into the left lane. The engine of the black truck roared as it inched its way closer, cutting in front of another driver, who honked his horn.
Derrick veered across two lanes and drove onto a bridge. The truck caught up quick, but a car in front of the BMW moved slower than Derrick.
“Goddamnit! Move already!” Derrick yelled.
He looked to his right. A heavy line of traffic prevented a merge. Cass sat trying to think of good things, eyes wide with anticipation. We’ll make it safely home…it won’t be long, and I can be in Derrick’s strong arms….
Metal touched metal. With an eardrum shattering screech, the black truck hit them hard on the rear passenger side. Derrick quickly let go of the gas, and the BMW spun out of control on the imaginary divider, veering into oncoming traffic.
Whiplash caused Cass to hit the back of her head on the seat. Disoriented, she heard the blare of a car horn and saw headlights coming toward her as a vehicle connected to the passenger side of the BMW. The force of the collision flung Cass’s head against the side window, and the car spun out as Derrick sat helpless to control his car.
Brakes screeched. The BMW stopped. Cass closed her eyes. Derrick opened the driver’s door and stepped out. He slammed the door shut before she mercifully allowed unconsciousness to claim her.
* * *
Livid, Derrick marched towards the black truck that had parked on the asphalt beside the bridge. He heard the driver from the oncoming car yell, “You okay?”
He ignored the driver. Furious, he focused on the black truck. Someone with a navy blue hoodie stepped out of the driver’s seat. He swung a crowbar, aiming for Derrick’s head, but missed. Derrick ducked, his action denying him a good look at the guy’s face.
Instinctively, Derrick rushed forward, backing the guy against the truck.
“What’s your damn problem?” Derrick said.
Hoodie wouldn’t quit struggling. He arced the crowbar down onto the top of Derrick’s head. Hoodie grabbed Derrick’s head and slammed it hard against the side of the truck. Derrick stumbled towards the ledge of the bridge, suddenly turning around so that his back wouldn’t face his enemy. Hoodie stalked forward and struck the crowbar across Derrick’s chest. Off balance, Derrick tried to grip the ledge but failed.
The sensation of freefalling assaulted him before his body slapped shockingly hard against the surface of the river. Instant submergence grasped his body, the murky water entering his ears, his nose, his mouth, his lungs….
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