Page 78 of Rescuer
“I didn’t understand. I thought you were rejecting me too.”
“Mia, I’ve always loved you. But it was easier to give in.”
Mia’s nostrils flared. “Why stay with him? I’m all grown up. I don’t live with you; he can’t control me. And your parents are gone. Mom, come and stay with me and Gus.”
Carol shook her head. “I can’t.”
Mia backed away. “I know I’m asking a lot. But think about it. Gus has an extra bedroom. And you and I can finally really get to know each other. The way we always should have.”
“I don’t know.”
Mia talked to her mother for another ten minutes, trying to convince her to leave. In the end, her mother gave Mia her new phone number and promised to reach out. Then she urged Mia to leave before Blaine returned.
Mia stepped out the door, saddened by her mother’s refusal to leave. She didn’t believe her mom was in any physical danger, but Blaine was a cold, hard man. There had never been any love in that home. At the very least, her mother should be somewhere that people wanted her to be happy.
Mia took a deep breath, trying to cleanse the stagnant air of that house out of her lungs.
She would never again let Blaine Turner control any aspect of her life.
She got in her car to drive home.
What a messy day. Mia hit the Call button on her phone and dialed Jackson’s number.
She was less than two miles from her parents’ house when a black SUV pulled out in front of her. The window lowered and the barrel of a gun slid into view.
She bit off a word and slammed on the brake. The car jerked to a halt. She yanked the gearshift into Reverse, and the tires squealed as she spun the vehicle, attempting to escape.
“Hello?” Jackson’s voice came though the speaker.
“Jackson!”
Bullets ricocheted off the side of her car. Her back window shattered. The back tire popped, and her car spun wildly out of control. She screamed. In front of her, two boys abandoned their bikes to watch.
She was going to hit them!
“Mia!”
She spun the steering wheel wildly in the other direction, missing the boys and heading straight toward a gigantic oak tree. She was out of control.
She hit the tree, her front end crumpling like an accordion. Her airbag deployed, slamming against her chest.
She was going to die.
Sixteen
“Mia!” Jackson yelled into the phone. Where was she?
He jammed his feet into his boots and grabbed his truck keys. The moment he was through his front door, he dialed the station.
Chase answered.
“Chase! Mia was in some kind of accident. She was in her car. I heard gunshots, then a crash.” Jackson raced to his truck, climbed in, and started the ignition.
“The call’s just coming through. Dispatch is sending help now.”
“Where, Chase? I’m on my way.”
Chase gave him the directions.
