Chapter 34

Tears streamed from my eyes immediately as a loud siren screamed outside the car. I could distinguish angry shouts emanating somewhere in the distance.

They know!! They’re looking for me!

A million thoughts raced through my mind. Did the cleaning woman get caught and was forced to tell what she knew? Did they find the guard’s unconscious body in the shower stall? Maybe they went into my room for whatever reason and realized I was nowhere to be found.

As I was preparing myself for the worst, the car suddenly pealed forward, sending me rolling towards the rear of the trunk. Smashing my head against something hard, a sharp pain ripped through my forehead. A trickle of warmth drizzled down my forehead and dripped onto my hand. Crying out in pain, I applied pressure to my throbbing head with my hand.

The car swerved sharply to the left and then to the right. My entire body slammed into one side of the trunk and then the other as the car sped dangerously away from the facility.

Releasing my hand from my gushing wound and spreading my body out, I pressed my hands and feet into the four corners of the trunk to prevent my body from further being flung around like a rag doll.

Blood ran down my face and soaked my hair as I held on for dear life.

My poor baby! I hope you’re okay in there!

The sound and sensation of gravel clunking under the vehicle dominated my little space. There was an occasional tinny noise as tiny rocks rebounded off metallic parts in the undercarriage.

Poor Keanu!

He’d given up everything for us. Keanu most likely wouldn’t be able to see his family again because of me. He was going to end up a fugitive for the rest of his life—if he even lived through the ordeal.

The car’s rear end fishtailed violently as we fled from the dark authorities. Hot, salty tears cascaded down my face as my arms and legs shook from holding my body taut against the sides of the trunk.

Why? Why me? I don’t want this!

Between the rocks beating the underside of the car and the revving of the engine, I couldn’t hear anything else—until I heard a loud banging noise. Every few seconds, I could make out a bang, followed by a sound that reminded me of hail pelting a tin roof.

Bullets!

I nearly threw up with the realization that we were being shot at. The whole scenario reminded me of the cheesy chase scenes depicted in an action movie, only this was terrifyingly real.

With all the noise going on around me, it was startling when everything but the roar of the engine suddenly stopped. The car bounced lightly as it appeared to move from the gravel road to smooth highway. From then on, the car moved at breakneck speeds. The winds whistled around the car as the aerodynamics were pushed to the limits.

Surprisingly, and much to my relief, the gunshots had ceased. Had we gotten away? Did they give up and decide to let me and my baby go free?

Somehow I doubted that.