Page 34 of Exacting Vengeance

“Yes, why?” Victoria twisted her neck to peer out through the rear window. “What’s happening?”

He gunned the SUV. “We’re being followed.”

Chapter Fifteen

Kyle grabbed the mic. “Jack, you there?” He pressed his foot down harder on the accelerator.

“Ten-four, I’m here.”

“We picked up a tail.”

Cursing crackled on the speaker. “How did that happen?”

“No idea.” That was a question that had to be answered, one that would have to wait for another time. This was exactly why he hadn’t wanted Victoria anywhere near this trial. The idea of her getting hurt was painful enough to give him an instantaneous ulcer. “We’re on the Turnpike a few minutes south of the Pulaski Skyway. Get with the state troopers and get them to pull the vehicle over. Deke, can you describe it?”

“Dark sedan is all I can tell you,” Deke said. “Maybe a Caddy.”

“You got it,” Jack said.

“There might be another vehicle,” Kyle added. Because that’s what he’d do if he wanted to lay a trap and take out a witness. He’d have another car stationed somewhere along the assumed route they’d take to get back into the city.

"You called it,” Tommy Gifford, the U.S. Marshal riding shotgun, said, unholstering his sidearm. “There’s a car in the middle lane zigzagging like a lunatic. Looks like he’s trying to catch up to us.”

Up ahead, brake lights came on. Cars were bunching up tighter the closer they got to the Skyway exit. Even if he hit the lights and sirens now, it would take time for all those vehicles to clear the lane.

When Tommy started rolling down the window, Kyle pressed his foot down harder on the accelerator. In the rearview, he caught the look of abject fear in Alyona’s face. Victoria had draped her arm over the woman’s shoulder. Victoria’s face was tense, her worried eyes meeting his. Alyona was a wreck, but Victoria was holding up like a trained Navy SEAL.

He’d thought about her all weekend, cursing himself for ever agreeing to her demands, and now this. If only he’d⁠—

A pop came from outside, followed by a metallic clunk on the front passenger door.

Tommy grunted. “I’ve been hit!”

Gripping the wheel with one hand, Kyle grabbed the mic with his other. “Deke!”

The rear windshield shattered.

Alyona screamed.

“Everyone, get down!” He jerked the wheel to the left, gunning the Explorer onto the shoulder and passing the car in the left lane. The sign for the Pulaski Skyway loomed ahead. He couldn’t exactly stop on the side of the highway with a protected witness and shoot it out. The troopers would never get here in time.

He clicked the mic. “Jack, we’re taking gunfire. Tommy’s been hit.”

Tommy gripped his thigh, leaning down below the level of the window as much as possible. “I’m okay,” he said through gritted teeth. “Don’t worry about me.”

A quick glance in the rearview told him Deke was tight behind him. Manny Vazquez, the other Marshal with Deke, had rolled down his window. He could see Vazquez’s sidearm aimed at the Caddy behind them. A loud pop came as Vazquez fired. The Caddy swerved but stayed with them.

“How you doing, Tommy?” He glanced at the deputy, who’d wrapped both hands around his bleeding thigh. “Can you make it to the courthouse?”

“Yeah.” He hissed in a breath. “Stings, but I’m good.”

“Here!” Victoria leaned between the front seats to hand something to Tommy.

“Get down!” Kyle snapped over his shoulder. “What part about doing what I tell you to did you not understand?”

Ignoring him, she continued waving something—her scarf?—at Tommy. “Tie this around your leg to stem the bleeding.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Tommy took the scarf and quickly wrapped it around his thigh.