Chapter 6 - Highway Through the Storm
Julian’s armored SUV tore through the midnight deluge, slicing down the coastal highway toward the industrial docks of the city. Rain battered the reinforced windshield while Julian expertly navigated the flooded curves. In the passenger seat, Elena studied the digital layout of the terminal displayed on the dashboard console.
""Beatrice has private contractors on site,"" Julian warned, his hands steady on the leather steering wheel. ""Ex-military. They aren't house guards. They get paid bonuses for body counts.""
""I spent four years managing logistics for an inner-city wholesale distributor,"" Elena replied calmly. ""I know how dockyards work. Blind spots, blind corridors, container stacks. You don't fight them in the open; you box them in.""
Julian glanced sideways at her, an eyebrow arched in genuine respect. ""You're wasting your talent as an event caterer.""
""Survival isn't talent, Julian. It’s habit,"" she retorted.
Suddenly, a blinding glare filled their rearview mirror. A heavy-duty black pickup truck accelerated directly behind them, its steel-plated bumper gleaming through the mist.
""Brace!"" Julian yelled, gripping the wheel.
The truck rammed their rear bumper with a deafening screech of metal. Elena’s seatbelt locked violently, holding her back as Julian fought for traction on the slick asphalt.
The pickup surged forward again, pulling alongside them, attempting to force the SUV off the cliffside guardrail toward the crashing ocean below. Through the tinted glass of the truck, Elena saw the driver—a scarred mercenary with a communication headset, grinning wickedly.
""He's trying to push us into the ravine!"" Elena shouted.
Julian slammed on the emergency brakes. The heavy SUV shuddered and decelerated violently. The attacking truck, caught off guard by the sudden drop in momentum, rocketed ahead. Julian stomped the accelerator, steering directly into the truck’s rear quarter panel in a precision PIT maneuver.
May you like
The pickup spun out of control, smashing through the metal guardrail and flipping onto the embankment, exploding in a shower of sparks and broken glass.
Julian didn't look back. He floored the gas. ""Five minutes to the terminal.""
