“It’s why we traded vehicles?” she wanted to know. “Is Jamison’s bulletproof too?”
“As soon as we hit the straightaway, we’re going to turn on the guys behind us and open fire. Everly and Sam will keep going. Jamison will be—”
“No,” she said, instantly terrified. “I don’t want to split up. I want to stay with him.”
“We’ll catch up to him. I swear on my life, that boy is as safe as he can be right now.” The opening to the meadow loomed. “Stay down, and hold on.”
She obediently gripped the handle and sank lower in the seat. “I’m so killing you if we make it out of this alive.”
Roman’s car cleared the mountain pass, and Ian started the countdown. “Three.”
Everly’s car cleared the pass. “Two.”
His car cleared the pass. He lowered his window halfway. The icy wind burned his lungs.
“One.”
Ian turned the wheel and hit the brake. While Roman’s vehicle spun to clear the road for Everly to pass, Ian made an abrupt about-face in the middle of the road. His weapon was already pointed out the window when he came to a stop. Roman skidded up behind Ian at an angle, using his vehicle as a shield.
The drivers of the two pursuing SUVs scrambled to avoid a collision. Both came to a stop just inside the mouth of the canyon.
Ian’s mind quieted with intense focus.
More bullets pinged off the SUV. Savannah muffled a squeal.
Ian rested the barrel of the Glock on the edge of his window. The passengers of the SUVs swung their doors wide, using the metal as shields.
A distant rumble saved the shooter of the white SUV from a double tap to the brain. Ian eased back on the trigger, searching for the source of the thunder.
“Hear that?” he asked Roman.
“Affirmative.”
“Cops twenty miles behind you,” Sam cautioned. “More ch
anging direction and headed toward you. Eight miles ahead.”
The rumble grew louder. Ian looked up and found the very top of the mountain shattering at the seams.
“Avalanche!” Savannah yelled. “Ian!”
“Roman, bail,” he yelled into the mic. “Bail.”
“Affirmative.”
Ian and Roman peeled out of the frozen field. With Roman leading the way, Ian floored the gas. The tires spun, then grabbed, and the SUV shot forward.
Savannah turned in her seat, and Ian watched in the rearview as snow pummeled the mountainside, crashed across the road, and swallowed their assailants.
The sight stole Ian’s breath.
“Ho-ly shit,” he muttered, watching in awe as the wrath of nature buried them under more and more snow. “Didn’t see that comin’.”
“Oh my God.” Savannah’s murmur was laced with equal parts shock and terror.
“Mother nature saved us a few bullets,” Roman said.
“You’re going to need them,” Sam cut in. “Because the cops just passed our hideout on the only side road for miles, which means you’re trapped between that avalanche and the cops.”