AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Prologue
Twelve years ago
Time for a journey. Maybe a short one to test her sense of adventure.
No adults around, and she itched to take her birthday gift out. Forget the fact her father insisted an adult had to be with her because she only had her learner’s permit.
I can do this.
As Kara Wilmington scampered outside, her little brother, Conner, followed. “Kara, where yah going?”
Rolling her eyes, she jingled the keys in her hand. “Nowhere. Get back in the house.”
“Can I go?”
“No.”
“Aw, c’mon, Kara!” His lower lip jutted out. “Dad says you can’t take the car out alone. I’ll tell!”
Kara scowled. Conner was an eight-year-old pain in her butt. “Snitch! What did I tell you about snitches? No one likes them!”
Then he got a sly look in his eyes. “If I go with you, you won’t be alone.”
She had to laugh at his cleverness. “No. I’ll only be gone a minute. Get back in the house or I won’t let you have that sleepover at Dylan’s tonight.”
His face fell. “Aw, Kara. Dylan’s supposed to show me his new gaming system. Don’t be a jerk.”
“I won’t if you won’t. Now get!”
She herded her brother inside and closed the door. Conner was a perpetual thorn in her side. The kid was always trying to spoil her fun. Dylan, their cousin and his best friend, was the same. The two were closer than Kara would ever get to her little brother.
Her phone rang. Guilt speared her as she glanced at caller ID. Mom. Kara walked away from the car to the driveway’s end, pretending to check on the mailbox.
“Everything’s fine, Mom. No need to keep calling me.”
“You know how I worry. We’ll be home by eleven tonight. Keep an eye on Conner. I know he’s a handful, honey. I wish we had hired someone to watch him...”
“We’re fine, Mom. Don’t worry.” She hung up.
Grinning, Kara ran to the 2010 Mustang, climbed in and turned the keys in the ignition. Oh wow, that engine purred like a contented kitten. She backed out of the immense driveway of her family’s house and headed down the quiet street, then hooked a left to access the main road leading to the bridge connecting to the mainland.
On the main road, she drummed her fingers, waiting. Now! Kara turned right and gunned the engine, hooting. This was bliss—new car, her life stretched out before her like the black ribbon of road. Sweet sixteen, indeed.
She pressed hard on the gas pedal and it responded beneath her foot. Kara laughed with joy. The light ahead turned yellow and she slowed, then stopped as it turned red. After counting five seconds, when the light turned green, she accelerated.
The motorcycle shot out of nowhere. Screaming, Kara heard a sickening crunch of metal and glass as the bike slammed into the passenger side. She braked, but the force of impact caused the car to fishtail and slam into a tree. Her seat belt pulled and the car’s airbags deployed.
Jerked forward, she felt pain as the seat belt held tight. Her head hit the glass, cushioned by the airbag. Moaning, she felt blood trickling down her temple. Kara glanced over and saw the crumpled form of the biker against the back window, his face smashed against the glass—blood, God, so much blood! Her gorge rose in her throat.
As the paramedics lifted her out of the car, she saw a small child on the pavement. Still. So still...
“No,” she cried out. How had her brother snuck into the car? She should have known he’d do it. Conner never listened to her...
“Stay still, miss,” one paramedic ordered.
The collar around her neck prevented her from moving much, but she saw enough. Saw the paramedics attending to her little brother. Saw one shake his head with a grim look.
“Conner,” she screamed.
