Read Riding Shotgun (Mercenaries 3) for Free Online Page B

time. She let herself merge with it, looking for any signs of weakness. Nothing. At least that wasn’t an issue, but she certainly hadn’t reinforced the outside structure. This wasn’t supposed to be a demolition derby.
    A car appeared up ahead of her. There might be safety in numbers. She sure as hell hoped so. Bracing herself for the next impact, she concentrated on pouring everything she had into catching up with the leaders.
    The next hit came out of the blue. Instead of ramming her bumper from directly behind, the truck swung wide and hit the right rear panel.
    For a single split second, she could see the driver’s face. Rage contorted his features, but the eyes were what sent a chill down her spine. This was personal. He wanted to hurt her. And she had no idea why. Or who the hell he was.
    The off-center impact had her reeling, her forward momentum sending her into a complete spin before she managed to get the vehicle under control. Shit. Shit. Shit.
    This guy really meant business. What the hell? She no longer cared about the race, she just wanted to cross the finish line alive.
    She glanced around wildly, hoping to spot an alley too narrow for the other vehicle to follow her. No such luck. This end of town didn’t sport those handy little things. Too bad.
    The truck hung behind her for a full mile. Taunting. Letting the tension build. That glimpse of the driver’s face haunted her, but she shook it off. Right now who and why was so less important than getting out of this alive.
    If she could just hang in for another five miles…
    The hit was calculated to take her out of the race. Permanently. Every hit leading up to this had been a game.
    Cat and mouse. The memory of a cat, playing endlessly with its victim before ending its life with a simple toss in the air, snapping the little neck with casual disregard, went through her mind. Same game. Hopefully not the same results.
    Time slowed. The car spun. Endlessly. Kalie squeezed her eyes shut. Willed her stomach to stay put. Thank God there was no cliff edge here. No solid walls to crash into. She slammed the shifter into neutral, letting the car go where it needed to until the revolutions slowed.
    The final hit she expected, the end game, never materialized.
    The car slid to a halt. She opened her eyes, blinking to clear her vision.
    When she finally managed to focus, she saw three trucks. Her nemesis, the black behemoth, stood with its doors open. The other two were easier to recognize. Relief flooded her. Shotgun’s ride stood guard on one side of the black truck, while the mercenary group’s jeep crowded close on the other side. The driver of the black truck stood defiantly in the middle of the group of ex-soldiers, his hands up in a defensive position.
    Kalie watched as Shotgun stalked into the circle, rage showing in every line of his muscular body. He didn’t say a word, didn’t hesitate. Bringing his fists up, he hammered the other man with a series of quick jabs before sending him staggering with a roundhouse punch to the side of the head.
    Seriously? If anyone got to beat the crap out of this guy, it should be her. Opening the door, she leaned against the car for a moment as a wave of dizziness swept over her. Okay. Maybe not up to beating the crap out of anyone at the moment, but she at least wanted to know why. She was positive she’d never seen that guy before.
    “Kalie. You okay?” Trace left the circle to come to her side.
    She shook off his helping hand. The last thing she wanted was to appear weak in front of an enemy. And know him or not, it appeared she had one very determined enemy. “I’m fine. And I want to talk to that asshole before Shotgun kills him.”
    Trace grinned, relief in his eyes. He raised his voice. “Hey, Shotgun, your lady would like a word with your punching bag.”
    Shotgun slowed. Turned. Looked straight at her. The relief in his eyes was palatable. “Kalie.”
    Her name. That’s all he said but it resonated