HERS TO PROTECT

Chapter 26

Trust in the Shadows

Lia's knuckles whitened as she gripped the steering wheel, her eyes darting between the rearview mirror and the road ahead. Gunshots echoed around them, almost drowning out the roar of the engine. "Hang on, Lucas," she muttered, swerving sharply to avoid another oncoming vehicle.

Lucas, still disoriented and grappling with his amnesia, clutched the seat, his heart racing. According to Major Ocampo, he had some idea why armed men were chasing them, but his memories remained elusive. He glanced at Lia, desperation mingling with confusion. "Who are they? Why are they following us?"

Lia shot him a glance, her expression intent and concern. "I'll explain everything once we're safe. Just trust me, okay?"

The soldiers in the pursuing car continued their barrage, bullets narrowly missing them as Lia maneuvered through traffic with the skill of a seasoned racer. She took sharp turns that barely avoided collisions, her focus unwavering.

Lucas searched his brain for aid, but it was a wild tornado. "We can't just keep running like this, especially if we run out of gas," He demanded, his voice increasing. "We need to fight back."

"I know," she replied, her tone calm amid the chaos. "But right now, we can't outgun them. Just trust me."

"I don't trust people I don't know."

His words struck Lia like a physical blow, and she tightened her grip on the wheel, fighting back tears of frustration. In her rage, she pushed the automobile harder, her eyes full of purpose.

Another round of gunfire shattered the rear window, sending glass cascading into the car. Lucas instinctively shielded his face, panic rising within him. "Lia, they're getting closer!"

She didn't respond; her focus remained solely on the road. Veering down a side street, she managed to lose their pursuers.

With a swift motion, she cut the engine and the lights, reclining the seats to hide them from view. They could hear the fast-paced cars whizzing by, their pursuers seeming to have beaten them. Fortunately, a large dump truck shielded their vehicle.

"We lost them," she whispered, her voice strained yet relieved.

"You're amazing, ma'am!" one of the soldiers couldn't hide his admiration for Lia. Lucas turned to the man, his brow furrowing. "You're a real daredevil, ma'am."

Lia smiled weakly, acknowledging their praise. "Sorry about earlier," another soldier said, his tone apologetic.

"It's okay," Lia replied, then glanced at Lucas. "Are you okay?"

Lucas didn't respond, his gaze fixed firmly ahead, avoiding eye contact with Lia as uncertainty coursed through him.

The car raced down the empty highway, each moment a frantic bid to outrun the shadows of their pursuers. Lucas's distrust hung heavily in the air, a palpable tension that suffocated any budding connection between him and Lia. Suddenly, Lia's phone rang, shattering the silence. She glanced at the screen and saw Major Ocampo's name.

"Hold on," she said, swerving slightly to answer the call. "Major, we're on the run."

"Sorry, I couldn't answer earlier, lieutenant. I had someone tailing me; I had to shake them off first. They know Lucas has the flash drive," Major Ocampo's urgent voice crackled through the phone. "You must get to my safe house. It's a secluded place outside the city. I'll send you the coordinates."

"Copy that," Lia replied, ending the call. She swiftly inputted the coordinates into the GPS, which recalculated their route. "We need to go to a safe house. Major Ocampo owns it. It's our best chance for safety right now."