Page 17 of Her Righteous Protector

GOING TO PASS LEO’S TRUCK AND FORCE IT TO STOP.

Max knew that underneath the seat of each of the cabs there was a submachine gun. They were zip-tied high up so that they wouldn’t be found at the checkpoints, but with the wire cutters in the glove box, they could be easily cut loose. Still, it would take a minute to do it—would Zed have that minute?

WHERE’S ALI? Max texted back. Ali was not on the group text.

HIS TRUCK WAS FIRST. HE DIDN’T STOP.

“Here,” Raiden said as he thrust a T-shirt toward Max, who took it.

The sounds of automatic gunfire came through the pipe, loud enough that Max figured it must be coming from the cab of their truck.

“Raiden, tell me if Zed is texting.” Max started tearing the T-shirt into strips. As soon as he had three good-sized strips, he used one as a compress and the other two to secure it against Ezio’s head wound.

“You can tie it tighter,” Ezio said. “It’s not hurting.”

He was spewing bullshit, but Max tied it tighter; they needed to get the bleeding under control.

“Zed’s not texting,” Raiden said.

“Raiden, text Ali and tell him to pull over.” Every man had Ali’s mobile number.

Screeeccchhhhhh.

Max lurched into Ezio’s body, shoving him against the flat steel bars of the cage. Ezio moaned.

We’re going to tip over!

Max reached out and found Ezio’s head, then curled his arms around it and did his best to roll over so Ezio’s body was cuddled against his chest instead of pressed against the bars.

He heard more automatic gunfire, but it was faint. The pipe had likely broken loose, so the sound could be coming from anywhere.

Crrrraaaccccckkkkkk.

The impact shuddered through Max. They’d been hit. Zed had to have rammed the side of the truck because they were continuing to move forward.

“Ezio? Raiden? You okay?”

“I’m good. Just looked at my phone. Only text is coming from Cullen wanting to know what’s going on.” Raiden replied.

“Ezio?” Max asked as he gently shook the man in his arms. He didn’t get a reply. “Raiden, how bad was his head injury?”

“His skull wasn’t cracked, but a hell of a bump. I’d say he was definitely concussed. What happened to him on the second impact?”

“I fell on top of him and he hit the steel bars. I have no idea if his head hit the steel bars again, but let’s just assume they did.”

“Max, we can’t do anything in the middle of the highway,” Raiden solemnly.

He was right, but Max was pretty damn sure that the hijackers had pulled them off onto some side road, and it was the middle of the night.

The truck shuddered to a jolting stop.

“I can’t reach my phone—text Raiden and Leo, see what’s going on,” Max commanded Raiden.

“Already on it.” There was a pause. “Have mercy, we have good news.” Max heard the grin in Raiden’s voice. “This is the text from Leo.”

HIJACKERS ELIMINATED. WILL ASSESS DAMAGE TO TRUCK. MAX, RAIDEN, AND EZIO, HOW ARE YOU?

“Tell Leo the situation. Find out where in the hell we are and see how fast he can get us unloaded.”