High Stakes Gamble

Chapter Twenty-Six

Arriving at an out-of-the-way junction much earlier than they should have, Aurora powered up to where two other black and whites were blocking this section of the highway.

Since they’d had to drive the shoulder for the last two miles, she could see how far the traffic had backed up. As they got closer to the incident, they pulled over beside a young beige-uniformed policewoman who had the blockade under control. Flashing her badge, Aurora stopped to question the rookie. “How many are on the scene?”

“So far, there are two officers with back-up and ambulance pending. It’s pretty crazy right now.” Excitement lit her eyes and her voice reflected her emotions. She pointed a bit further up the road to where the Peterbilt had swerved sideways, blocking both lanes. Two cop cars were obstructing its path on this side and it looked as if an overturned van had it gridlocked behind. Many of the annoyed drivers forced to stop were honking their horns and getting nowhere fast.

The hot desert air made the highway setting look like a mirage in the distance. And the cloudless blue sky seemed too intense to be real. Considering the temperature, Aurora was surprised when the shivers attacked. The violent ringing in her head annoyed her, but since it had saved her life more than a few times, she checked the situation out more carefully.

In the distance, she saw a police vehicle speeding toward the flipped van. She had no doubt they’d barricade the area so other travellers would know this procedure was legitimate and supervised by law enforcement.

Testosterone filled the vehicle to where she could literally smell it. Fierce emotions ripped through her, the strongest being anticipation. Soon, God willing, she’d be holding her precious Lily once again.

Shoving the gear into drive, she manoeuvred closer to the action and popped the trunk.

Once they all left the vehicle, everything became more real. Screaming could be heard even from this distance—a man’s voice spitting anger, crazy volatile, on the edge.

Females hysterically crying interspersed with baby’s wails added to the overall image making it even more horrific. Then from the direction of the truck’s trailer a barrage of shots rang out from an automatic rifle. Return fire from one police gun retaliated.

No time to get her vest, Aurora drew her weapon, checked the clip and then edged closer to where the driver had opened one side on the back door of the truck to use as a barricade. The sadistic creep obviously didn’t care if any of his hostages were shot by badly aimed or ricocheting bullets. Bastard!

Once closer, she noticed that the illiterate scumbag had painted the side of the trailer with weird black symbols and big black letters ‘L.A. Truking.’ No wonder they hadn’t picked him up until now since everyone had been on the lookout for a white-sided trailer. She had no doubt—or at least she hoped that the misspelled wording might have been the reason he’d been stopped.

Inching her way forward, Aurora used another of the immobile cop cars to shield herself. A body in the driver’s seat slumped over the dash with blood pouring from a head wound, made her wince. The sicko had killed another cop.

The officer from the opposite car still had firepower and kept the driver pinned down as Aurora worked her way closer. Bullets, hot sun and a screaming maniac made the scene unforgettable. The heat, heightened by the stench of blood made her stomach recoil. Shit!

Heart thumping in time with the angry words spilling into her head, it was all she could do not to just run up and plug the a*shole. Training and common sense kept her sane, but thinking of her baby only a hundred feet away, Aurora knew crazy was close.

Kai and Ham were steadily moving to her position. The whining screams in her head quieted somewhat when she saw Kai safe, carrying her vest and slithering his way to where she hid.

At that moment, the scumbag driver made a move to the front of his truck and Aurora ran into the open to get a clear shot to stop him. One minute she was upright, then tires squealed, close, too close, and her body flew through the air.

Wrapped in the arms of a man who’d taken the brunt of the impact, she felt the wind being knocked out of her. She hadn’t seen the approaching ambulance, and with all the chaos going on around her, she hadn’t noted the sirens. All she’d seen was her chance to kill the killer.

Kai’s grunt of pain woke her from her daze and she quickly flipped herself over to see him kneeling next to her, blood pouring out and staining his shirt.

God no! No!!! The lights went out!

She knew nothing for the few seconds it took to fight her way back from the blackness where she’d hidden.

“Hey Darlin’, don’t go turning all mushy on me now.”

Kai’s husky voice roused her and his wonderful smile made her heart float back into place. Shaky, her voice buried under panic, she forced the words. “Y-You’re okay?”

His eyes were alight with so many emotions, but love blazed the strongest. “Stitches broke from an old wound. But it’s nice to know you care.”

She smiled tremulously and then pushed him away. “Yeah, yeah!” No way could she talk herself out of this, nor did she want to. Right now, they needed to get their child home safe and sound. “Quit grinning like an idiot and help me up. We need to get this finished.” The sound of babies crying in the distance revved up her impatience to get Lily back safely into her arms.

Kai winced when he stood which made guilt kick in for Aurora. He’d grabbed her out of the direct path of danger. The crazy hero had most likely saved her life.