Chapter 12 - The Iron Bridge
David slammed the truck into reverse, the tires spinning violently in the mud before finding traction on the gravel alley. He dropped the gear into drive, floored the accelerator, and the heavy truck lurched forward into the rain-swept darkness, smashing through the rotten wooden back fence and tearing onto the county road.
In the passenger seat, Marcus slumped heavily against the window, his hand pressed against his side. Between them, Elena held Maya tightly against her chest. Maya was utterly quiet now, her eyes wide as the dashboard dials glowed a dim, emerald green. The gentle hum of the truck seemed to soothe her, even as the world around her fell to pieces.
""Where are we going?"" Elena asked, wiping rain and sweat from her forehead. ""The highway?""
""No highway,"" Marcus croaked, his breathing growing shallow and rattling. ""They have spotters... at the toll plazas. Take the old logging road to the Iron Bridge. Cross the state line into the reservation. Galloway’s people won't follow... jurisdiction is a nightmare there.""
David glanced at the rearview mirror. Two pairs of high-beam headlights were closing in fast, barely a hundred yards behind them, weaving aggressively through the winding country turns.
""They're too fast for this truck,"" David said, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. ""We won't make the bridge before they pit-maneuver us.""
Marcus slowly opened his coat. From his inner pocket, he pulled out a small, rectangular plastic case wrapped in electrical tape.
""What is that?"" David asked.
""The real ledger,"" Marcus said, a faint, bloody smile touching his lips. ""I lied. I didn't come to kill you, little brother. I took it from Galloway’s safe two nights ago. I came to give it to you.""
May you like
David stared at him in disbelief. ""Why?""
""Because,"" Marcus coughed, his hand reaching out to touch Maya’s tiny ankle, ""she has your eyes. And nobody in this family ever got to grow up honest. Until her.""
