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“Excuse me,” Jax says, and the man outside the window hops from the side of the truck, giving him room to open the door.
Jax climbs out and pulls the fire extinguisher from beneath his seat. The officer checks it over to make sure it’s charged before putting it back in its rightful place. The safety triangles are kept in a side box behind the door, and Jax has to step away from the truck to access them. The DOT officer remains just outside the door, and I can’t tear my eyes away from him. Everything in me screams that this is my chance to signal for help.
If I’m going to do it, I’m running out of time.
Satisfied with the gear, the officer glances at me. “Along for the ride?”
Now’s my chance. The words climb up my throat.
I’ve been kidnapped. He wants to kill me. Well, not this guy, but the other guy that shares the same body and brain. Maybe I’ll leave that part out. All I have to do is kick this blanket away and rip off the scarf with my free hand.
But I nod. “Yep, just keeping him company.”
The officer’s eyes narrow. “You okay, miss?”
“Oh, yeah, I’m fine. Just pretty tired. We’ve been on the road for a bit.”
The officer nods and turns back to Jax. “Can I see your bills and logs?”
Jax leans over and grabs a stack of papers and hands it to him. “Should all be there. We’re dead-heading right now. On our way to pick up a load in Texas.”
As he settles in his seat, a light sweat pricks my brow.
Jax buckles his seatbelt as the DOT officer disappears around the side of the truck. “You’re doing so good,” he says.
He wouldn’t say that if he knew what was running through my mind. I still have a chance to get away, and I’m not completely sure I won’t take it.
Pup jumps into my lap and settles against the blanket. A low growl rumbles in her tiny chest each time the officer speaks. A glint of silver catches my eye, and I realize she’s moved the blanket and exposed the handcuff. I could leave it. If the officer sees it, that wouldn’t be entirely my fault.
With my free hand, I pull the blanket over my wrist once more.
The man returns to the window and hands the paperwork and the DOT inspection report to Jax. “You’re good to go.”
“Thank you, officer. Have a great day!” Jax says, and I truly can’t imagine Kane saying such a thing.
As the truck begins to pull away, the vans and the people grow smaller in the mirror. For a moment, it’s still not too late. I could lower the window and scream. I could save myself. But I don’t, and the figures shrink until they’re only memories as we pull onto the road once more.
I shift in my seat, and Pup sighs as she settles in for a nap. I stroke her fur and fight back tears. An opportunity just slipped through my fingers, and I don’t know that another will grace my path. I don’t even know how long my path is. Everything could end in ten miles, or it could continue for eternity. I have to find a way to survive that doesn’t involve hurting Jax or Tobin, and maybe that starts with discovering why Kane is the way he is.
“What is Kane hiding?” I say.
“Best not to ask.”
I lick my lips and play my cards. “I just did you a huge favor. Instead of blowing the whistle, I kept my mouth shut. Can’t you reciprocate a little?”
He shifts in his seat and shakes his head. “It doesn’t work like that.”
“Then how does it work?” I blow out a breath and look out the window. “If you can’t answer the big question, at least explain why you had to handle the inspection. Give me some insight.”
He considers this, then deems it safe to answer. “Kane doesn’t do well with people. I’m a people person.”
Pup hops down and trots to the back of the truck as I stare at him. I throw the blanket off my lap. I’m burning up, mostly from sheer frustration. “Why do you protect him?”
His lips tighten. “That’s what I was made for.”
“What does that even mean?”
He chews the inside of his lip. “When the main system goes through something so traumatic that they can’t mentally handle it, they need someone else to. That’s where I came from. I was born to protect Kane.”
