Chapter 4 - THE ESCAPE INTO DARKNESS
Heavy rain slammed against the windshield of the black SUV as Jax sped down the winding mountain road.
In the backseat, Lily was buckled securely into a child seat, holding a small plush bear tightly.
Jax kept glancing at the rearview mirror, his senses hyper-attuned to every shadow on the road.
The dashboard clock read 2:15 AM.
His heart pounded against his ribs like a sledgehammer.
He knew Victor’s word meant nothing.
A man like Victor Vance never truly let anyone go free.
Suddenly, two bright headlights appeared out of the thick fog behind them.
The headlights accelerated rapidly, closing the distance between the vehicles in seconds.
"Daddy, the car behind us is driving fast," Lily said nervously, leaning forward.
"Stay down, Lily!" Jax commanded urgently. "Duck your head below the window!"
The black pickup truck behind them slammed directly into their rear bumper.
The violent impact jolted the SUV, forcing Jax to fight for control of the steering wheel on the slippery asphalt.
"Hold on!" Jax yelled, slamming his foot on the accelerator.
The engine roared as the SUV surged forward into the dark, rainy night.
The pickup truck matched his speed, pulling up right alongside the driver's side.
The passenger window of the truck rolled down, revealing an armed masked man.
The barrel of an automatic rifle protruded from the window, pointing directly at Jax.
"Damn it!" Jax cursed, slamming hard on the brakes.
The pickup truck overshot them, its tires screeching as it skidded across the wet pavement.
Jax spun the wheel, taking a sharp turn onto a dark, unpaved dirt road leading into the dense forest.
The SUV bounced violently over rocks and mud, pushing the suspension to its absolute limits.
Behind them, the pickup truck recovered and turned into the dirt road, giving chase.
"Daddy, I'm scared!" Lily shrieked as the car jolted aggressively.
"I've got you, baby, just keep your eyes closed!" Jax yelled back, clutching the wheel with white knuckles.
Up ahead, the dirt road narrowed down toward a dilapidated wooden bridge spanning a raging river.
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Jax gritted his teeth, realizing he had no choice.
He pressed the accelerator all the way to the floor.
