Chapter 24 - The Highway Chase
The moment Madame Cartier’s silver sedan pulled away from our driveway, Adrian moved with terrifying speed.
“Get the kids in the back of the armored SUV,” Adrian ordered, throwing open the pantry door to release Oliver and Emma from the safe room. “We’re heading to the private airfield in Jacksonville. Mateo has a charter plane idling on the tarmac.”
“We’re running?” I asked, scooping Emma into my arms while Adrian grabbed Oliver’s hand.
“We’re not running, Sophia. We’re drawing them out into the open on our terms,” Adrian said, his voice hard as steel. He shoved a secured tactical pack into my hands. “Get in the vehicle. Now.”
Within three minutes, our black reinforced SUV tore down the coastal driveway, spraying white sand across the lawn as Adrian slammed his foot on the gas pedal, heading north toward Interstate 95.
The afternoon sun blazed overhead, casting a blinding glare across the highway. For fifteen miles, the road was clear.
Then, in the rearview mirror, three black, unmarked SUVs materialized over the crest of a concrete overpass, accelerating rapidly to close the distance.
“They tracked us,” I breathed, pulling my Glock from the tactical pack and checking the magazine.
“Of course they did,” Adrian muttered, his hands gripping the steering wheel with white-knuckled intensity. He hit a toggle switch on the center console, activating the vehicle’s encrypted satellite comms link. “Mateo. Status.”
“Boss! We spotted them crossing the St. Johns River bridge,” Mateo’s voice crackled through the speakers, punctuated by the sound of roaring aircraft engines in the background. “The charter is fueled and ready. But you’ve got company on your six.”
“I see them,” Adrian snapped, jerking the steering wheel hard to the left as the lead pursuing SUV slammed into our rear bumper, sending a metallic screech echoing through the cabin.
“Mommy! I’m scared!” Emma cried out from the back seat, burying her face in Oliver’s jacket.
“Hold onto each other! Look at me, kids, close your eyes and hold tight!” I shouted back, twisting around to comfort them while keeping my weapon leveled toward the rear bulletproof glass.
Adrian didn’t hesitate. He downshifted the heavy SUV, drifting the vehicle across two lanes of highway traffic before slamming on the brakes. The pursuing SUV overshot us, skidding wildly across the asphalt.
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Adrian raised his suppressed sidearm through the driver’s side window and fired three rapid shots into the radiator of the second vehicle. Steam hissed, rubber blew, and the SUV veered off the highway into the marshy tree line.
“That’s two,” Adrian growled, accelerating back up to top speed. “One left.”
