Page 68 of Driven to Love

A flash of the late-day sun peeked through the trees. She smiled as it lit the rock face on the other side of the road. Addison loved this area.

The time on the dashboard reminded her she was going to be late. Shoot. Something in her gut told her this date with Nash was a turning point in their relationship, but which way would it turn?

She clicked the call button on the steering wheel, but before she could give the command, a silver vehicle came out of nowhere.

“Whoa!” Addison slammed on the brakes and swerved to the right. She barely missed the vehicle as it crossed in front of her and turned left.

“Where the hell did that come from?” Driving away, she glanced in her rearview mirror, looking for a road approach. She hadn’t seen one through the trees.

Addison’s heart still pounded as she drove away, adrenaline racing through her like a horse galloping through a field.

“No more distractions. Focus.” Addison clenched the steering wheel, her eyes peeled on the sides of the road. In her mirror, she caught another glimpse of light off a vehicle. It was gaining on her.

It couldn’t be the same vehicle, could it? No, that one was going the other way. But knowing her luck lately, she wouldn’t rule it out.

She squinted into her mirror. They were both vans, but she couldn’t make out much with their lights in her mirror.

She tapped the gas pedal, accelerating five miles an hour. The car behind her mimicked her speed.

Addison swallowed the fear creeping up her throat. The road was quiet at this time of night. Why hadn’t she taken the highway?

“Just had to take the scenic route, didn’t you?” she scolded herself as her gaze bounced from the road to the rearview mirror.

She slowed down and glanced at the vehicle. “Pass already.”

The other driver didn’t take the hint. They sped up, ramming her, throwing her forward and then back into her seat. Addison gripped the steering wheel with more force. “What the fuck?”

Something wasn’t right. This driver was erratic. If anything, Addison should be the one with road rage. Assuming it was the same van, the person cut her off and almost forced her into the ditch.

If this were a normal accident, she would stop and call the police. But her instincts screamed, “Don’t stop!” Every true crime show where the female never made it home flashed in her mind. Hell, no. She wouldn’t stop until she was somewhere safe.

She hit the phone button on her steering wheel. Nothing happened. Frantic, she glanced at the screen on the dash. No service. “Fucking black holes.” She knew there was one between Rochester and Gray Duck Grove.

Fifteen miles to go, then she’d be in town. One more mile, and she’d have service. She blew out a breath and tipped into the gas. Another jolt rocked her. A little farther, and she’d be safe.

Another bump, this one harder, jarred her. She craned her neck. Gravel spewed from the back wheel as she ran over the edge of the shoulder. Addison overcorrected.

She squinted into the rear-view mirror, trying to identify the vehicle as she centered her car in the lane. Between the rapidly setting sun and the glare of the vehicle’s lights, she couldn’t make out squat.

The vehicle grew closer in the mirror.

She braced.

The impact pushed her. A scream filled the car as she sailed over the embankment through the trees. Fast. Too Fast. Her car slammed to a stop.

Addison reached for her door handle. Nothing. The door didn’t budge. “Come on. Open.”

There was a large tree inches from the window. She dropped her head to the glass. A sudden burst of dizziness overtook her. She blinked, focusing on the side mirror. An image stood at the top, on the edge of the road. She couldn’t quite make it out.

“Help.” The word came out weak and thready. She used all her strength to pound on the glass as a coppery taste of blood filled her mouth.

Addison slumped in her seat as darkness crowded her vision. The hope of being rescued slipped deeper into the night, and the realization that there might not be help coming for her but something far worse sent an icy shiver all the way to her toes.

Chapter 20

“Where could she be?” Nash checked his watch for the fourth time that night. In fifteen minutes, he had to pick up Davey. Still no word from Addison.

He texted her. He called her, and it just kept going to voicemail. Why didn’t he have her on the stalker app where he could track her phone like he did for Davey? Because he wasn’t a pervert. This is not like her not to call if something came up. He grabbed his keys and jumped into his truck. Across town, he hit the call button.